Roderic worth risking in 2,000
But that Newmarket race was the strangest classic I have ever seen and it may well be that today’s contest is far more complicated than at first glance.
Frankel tore off in front and had all of his 12 rivals literally gasping for breath after they had gone only two furlongs.
By half way he was an astonishing distance clear and there was never the remotest possibility of him being reeled in.
Dubawi Gold, often a hard-puller in the past, sat out the back and then ran through beaten rivals to finish a creditable six lengths second.
If that is a true reflection of his ability then he will be hard to beat, but there remains the nagging doubt Dubawi Gold may be greatly flattered by the performance.
I propose taking a chance on Roderic O’Connor, who has absolutely no chance with Dubawi Gold on their running at Newmarket, to give Joseph O’Brien a memorable day.
He finished a mile behind in 11th spot and was in trouble a long way from home. But Aidan O’Brien is a master at getting Ballydoyle inmates back on track and surely Roderic O’Connor hasn’t become a bad horse overnight.
He was a cracking juvenile and his two and a quarter lengths second to Frankel in the Dewhurst at Newmarket in October is still be best piece of form on offer.
Dunboyne Express looks the other for the short-list, but his seasonal debut success at Leopardstown left a bit to be desired.
Whatever the fate of Roderic O’Connor, Aidan O’Brien can provide us with a winning nap in the shape of Power in the T P Waters EBF Marble Hill Stakes.
He showed plenty of speed when landing a gamble at the first time of asking over six furlongs here earlier in the month and dropping down a furlong should not be too much of an inconvenience.
Power beat Remember Alexander then and that horse gets the vote in the Stay At The Brandon Hotel Tralee EBF Maiden.
Little went right for the daughter of Teofilo. She was slowly away, got shuffled back to the rear and the bird had flown by the time she was ready to launch a challenge.
At headquarters tomorrow, Together is fancied to provide the answer to the Etihad Airways Irish 1000 Guineas.
She appears to have trained on especially well and there was much to admire in her display in the English 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, beaten three parts of a length into second by Blue Bunting.
Former Australia superstar, So You Think, won by ten lengths at the Curragh on his Irish debut and is impossible to oppose in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.
The nap vote falls on Apache in the 23-runner Tipperary Crystal Maiden. Beaten a length and a half by Best Hello at Leopardstown at the end of March, he can be expected to come on a bundle for that.
