Azores looks poised to recoup losses
The daughter of Danehill Dancer was the medium of some inspired support on that occasion, backed from 10-1 to 7-2.
She looked all over a winner passing the furlong pole, but ironically was chinned near the line and beaten a neck by her unconsidered stable companion, 33-1 shot Sapphire Pendant.
Two lengths further away in third was John Oxx’s Cape Of Good Grace, who looks safely held on that running.
The overall form appears reasonable, considering Sapphire Pendant took second behind shock winner, Ballybacka Lady, in a Group 3 at Leopardstown on Sunday.
Dermot Weld’s Notable Graduate can land the three-runner Rooftop Restaurant At Gowran Park Race over a mile and a half.
He is a useful sort, following his second to Marksmanship at the Curragh by making no mistake with clear-cut success at Tipperary.
It will be a major surprise should Gort Na Mona prove good enough, but Aidan O’Brien’s Last Crusade is interesting, having beaten fellow Ballydoyle inmate, Pirate Chest, at Dundalk in early December.
Weld can also supply the answer to the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden for three-year-olds with Cannon Hill.
He’s been second three times in-a-row, but has met some smart horses along the way and there was little wrong with his reappearance when chasing home Tommy Stack’s highly-rated Parkers Mill at Tipperary.
The selection is down in trip now — two furlongs — which is hardly a help but that should, hopefully, be offset by a drop in class.
