O’Brien not without hope
Joseph O’Brien faces an uphill struggle, two behind the joint leaders, Ben Curtis and Gary Carroll, but has a strong book of rides and is not without hope.
He is fancied to land at least a double aboard a pair trained by his father, Aidan, Empowering and Regent Street.
Empowering, making a quick reappearance after running here five days ago, is the nap choice in the Irish Stallion Breeders’ EBF Fillies Maiden.
She made most of the running then, but in the end was outclassed by John Oxx’s newcomer, Kirinda, and beaten three parts of a length. The selection struck well to her task, however, and should prove hard to pass, stepping up another furlong.
The once-raced Regent Street, a son of Galileo, is a confident choice in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden. He made a particularly promising debut at Navan in October, fifth behind his talented stable companion, Recital. That contest was run over a mile and, with Regent Street doing all his best work at the end, this extra two and half furlongs looks perfect.
O’Brien partners Anam Chara, grabbed late here on Wednesday by Banna Boirche, in the Crowne Plaza Race And Stay Package Race. She will surely make a bold bid from the front, but may not resist the expected late surge of hold-up horse, Finicius.
