Marnane ponders options for sprint duo
Dandy Boy came from a long way back to be beaten a little under five lengths into 11th by Ortensia, while Nocturnal Affair was one place further adrift.
“I was reasonably happy with them both as the ground wouldn’t have been ideal for either of them after the rain,” said County Tipperary based Marnane.
“Neither of them disgraced themselves and I was quite happy with the way Dandy Boy came home.
“It was his first run over five furlongs and he was a long way back, but he finished off his race really well and might have been a length closer if he hadn’t got in a barging match with our other horse.
“For whatever reason, the horses on the near side of the track were also paddling in the ground a bit.
“We’ll certainly think about Haydock (Betfred Sprint Cup) for Dandy Boy, but it will be ground dependant. We’d love to get him on some decent ground.
“The other option for him is the seven-furlong Group Two race at Doncaster (Park Stakes).
“Nocturnal Affair might also go to Doncaster for a Listed race.”
Meanwhile Royal Rock might bid to give trainer Chris Wall back-to-back victories in the OLBG Park Stakes at Doncaster on September 15.
The Newmarket handler sent out Premio Loco to land the Group Two last season and he may rely upon Royal Rock this time if conditions are suitable.
The eight-year-old gelding, who prefers cut in the ground, was a close fifth to Producer in the Supreme Stakes at Goodwood on Sunday.
“The Park Stakes is a possibility. We’ve not ruled that out just yet,” said Wall.
“We don’t want the ground to be too firm, so we will have to keep an eye on the weather and we’ll see what is likely to turn up there.
“The Supreme Stakes the other day wasn’t really run to suit him particularly.
“He couldn’t get any cover and they didn’t go very quick early on, but he wasn’t beaten far.
“The ones that are likely to turn up in the Park Stakes, I would think, I wouldn’t be afraid to take them on again, but he’s got to have conditions in his favour.”
Twenty-four horses stood their ground at the latest scratchings stage, with Richard Hannon having two smart acceptors in Strong Suit and Libranno.
James Fanshawe is also double-handed with Dimension and Primaeval.
Hughie Morrison’s Pastoral Player and Sir Henry Cecil’s Chachamaidee are among other older horses in the list.
There is a powerful representation among the three-year-olds, including Clive Cox’s Hungerford Stakes winner Lethal Force.
Jersey Stakes heroine Ishvana is part of Aidan O’Brien’s four-strong team which also consists of Starspangledbanner, Reply and Tenth Star.
German 2000 Guineas scorer Caspar Netscher and Irish 2000 Guineas runner-up Foxtrot Romeo are also possibles.
Henry Candy warned he will not run either of his two runners in the Betfred Beverley Bullet Stakes, should the going be soft on the Westwood on Saturday.
The trainer has Amour Propre and Dinkum Diamond in the Listed contest over five furlongs and plans to saddle them both as long as the ground does not deteriorate.
“I’d like to run both of them, but if it’s soft I won’t,” said Candy.
“I wouldn’t run Amour Propre on soft ground and Dinkum Diamond prefers top of the ground as well.
“Dinkum Diamond was third last year and it’s his sort of race, but at Beverley if you have a bad draw it’s hopeless.”
