Group company next after Bible thumps rivals
On the track I was a little disappointed with Remember Alexander in Debutante Stakes at the Curragh last Sunday. She was beaten less than five lengths behind Maybe but she just never fired on the day. Unfortunately, those things happen.
I was delighted with the performance of Magical Memoir when she finished second - another second for us! - behind Muirhead at Ballinrobe on Monday. She’s only a handy filly but she jumped well and gave everything. She’s likely to go back to Ballinrobe for a four-year-olds’ handicap.
On Tuesday, we had a great meeting at Gowran Park with Bible Belt winning the Listed Hurry Harriet Stakes by five lengths.
I was really delighted with her but I didn’t think she’d do it as easily as that. The rain may have helped. That’s not to say she wouldn’t act on fast ground - she’s just never run on it before. She’ll have to take a step up in class after that performance and will probably go for the Group 3 Dance Design Stakes, with the possibility of a tilt at the Group 2 Blanford Stakes afterwards.
Steps To Freedom ran a good race behind Priomhbhean later on the same card. The winner is a tough filly and she just kept pulling out enough to deny him.
I was also happy with Fairy Wing, who finished second behind Legendary Times in the Apprentices’ Handicap. That was his first run for us and I didn’t know a lot about him so I was very pleased.
Silver Sycamore ran a solid race in the fillies’ maiden at Leopardstown on Thursday and she looks like she needs a step up to a mile now.
Canaille finished in front of the O’Brien hot-pot (Mannheim) in the colts and geldings’ race but his outsider, Astrology, flew home to deny us victory.
Crystal Morning finished fourth in the Leopardstown Cup and will get a break now, while Space Race didn’t like being squeezed up in the closing stages of the Apprentices’ Handicap but ran well to finish fifth.
With no runners at Tramore this evening, I have a rare Saturday off. Native Palm is my only runner at the Waterford venue tomorrow and he has a good chance in the Beginners’ Chase. He was runner-up on his chasing debut at the Galway Festival and should go close here, although he is a bit of a quirky character.
Baffles Brains is our first runner at Dundalk tomorrow but he looks poorly drawn (13 of 14) in the EBF Maiden.
In the two-year-old fillies’ maiden Gush has a better draw and I’m hopeful that she will go close. She was fourth on her debut in a Curragh maiden in June, and she has come on a lot for that run. She’s in good form and should go well.
Back Burner seems to be getting streetwise with experience. He wasn’t beaten far when sixth behind Rock Critic at Galway, where the trip was too short for him. The step up to a mile and two for tomorrow’s August Handicap will suit.
At Roscommon on Monday, Lady Geronimo is likely to take her place in the opening maiden. She finished fifth behind Phoenix Stakes winner La Collina when both were making their debut, at Limerick back in June. She’s come on quite a bit since then and I hope she can land her maiden.
Laughing Lashes is in very good form and will go for the Yorkshire Oaks on Thursday, provided the ground is not firm. All the top middle distance fillies are entered and she’s entitled to be in there. She ran a brilliant race when fourth in the Irish Oaks and I have no doubt whatsoever about her ability to stay the trip. I’m very hopeful of a big run from her.
On Thursday, Bellewstown is hosting a race dubbed ‘The legends riding again for The Legend himself’ to raise money for a new Arkle statue, and I have entered Bullock Harbour. I’m hoping to get Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle-winning jockey Conor O’Dwyer to ride him.
On the national hunt front, more of the jumpers keep coming back in. Bostons Angel won’t be back in for a few more weeks but Oscars Well and Saludos, amongst others, are back in light work. It really is a case of no rest for the wicked.
