Riviera to coast home
Aidan O’Brien runs three, David Livingston, Astrology and Vault — all winners last time — as he bids for an eighth Futurity win.
But Riviera Poet impressed when winning his maiden at the Galway Festival, is highly regarded and looks capable of giving Rosewell House success in this prestigious juvenile event.
Riviera Poet picked up well to collar odds-on, Ballydoyle colt Learn at Galway in a race described by his trainer as “probably the best of the week” as the leading duo pulled thirteen lengths clear of the third.
Learn went on to land his maiden next time at Leopardstown and provides a form link to the selection’s chief danger today, David Livingston, having finished third to that colt when making his debut over today’s course and distance.
It is safe to assume, however, that Learn had improved significantly from that debut run ahead of his Galway display, leaving little between the two chief protagonists today.
Riviera Poet’s debut run, a promising third behind subsequent stakes winners Power and Remember Alexander over six furlongs at the Curragh in May, also looks rock-solid.
In what promises to be an intriguing clash, Riviera Poet and Pat Smullen might prevail.
Returning after a summer break — since his Ascot Gold Cup triumph in June — Fame And Glory will be sent off at a prohibitive price for the Irish Field St. Leger Trial.
The high-class five-year-old, a Group 1 winner from ten furlongs to two and a half miles, must concede weight to his six rivals but he looks a cut above them and should make a winning start to his autumn programme.
In the listed two-year-old action An Ghalanta, which belatedly opened her account at Tipperary last time, might hold off Group 3 -penalised Experience in the www.thetote.com Curragh Stakes.
The 101-rated Soon, winner of her maiden at Galway before finishing sixth to her classy stable-companion Maybe in the Debutante Stakes over this course and distance, might prove best in the Loder Fillies’ Race.
Ballinrobe stages a National Hunt card tomorrow and Magical Memoir, runner-up to Muirhead over a longer trip last time, looks best, despite top-weight, in the E.P.S. Pumps Handicap Hurdle.
