O’Brien set to make strong bid for 12th Beresford win
O’Brien has taken out Derby favourite Mars, but he could still be represented by Afonso de Sousa, Eye Of The Storm, Kingston Jamaica, Lines Of Battle, Nevis, Sir Walter Scott, The Ferryman or Battle Of Marengo – the conqueror of Trading Leather in a Listed race at Leopardstown.
First Cornerstone and Trading Leather are two of the star names among a total of 16 horses left in the race.
First Cornerstone was last seen winning the Futurity Stakes for trainer Andrew Oliver last month, while Jim Bolger’s Trading Leather was an impressive winner last weekend but also holds an entry for the Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket 24 hours earlier.
Oliver said: “We will wait until later in the week before making a decision about Sunday’s race but First Cornerstone could not be in better form and has thrived since his last race.
“While he has never won on extremes of ground, we would not be concerned about testing ground for him because we know from the last day that he handles it well.”
David Wachman has two to choose from in runaway maiden winner Galileo Rock and Probably, while Muaanid, Noor Al Balad and Orgilgo Bay complete the possibles.
Meanwhile, Laugh Out Loud is set to bid for Group One glory in Saturday’s Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket.
The three-year-old won a York Listed race and a Group Two at Chantilly earlier in the season, prompting trainer Mick Channon to head to Royal Ascot.
While she failed to land a blow when well fancied for the Coronation Stakes, Laugh Out Love was given a break after that sixth-placed finish.
The Clodovil filly returned to action with a creditable fourth in a blanket finish to the Matron Stakes earlier this month, beaten a length by Chachamaidee after trying to make all of the running.
The winner, along with third-placed Emulous and fifth La Collina, are all in the frame for the mile contest.
Richard Hannon has declared Havana Gold and Glean as he bids to win the Somerville Tattersall Stakes for the third time in four years at Newmarket on Thursday.
The champion trainer took the Group Three heat over seven furlongs with Sir Parky in 2009 and Crius 12 months ago.
Havana Gold is his first string after chalking up three wins from his four starts.
The Teofilo colt is unlucky not to be unbeaten as he was leading when unseating Ryan Moore 100 yards from the finish in a Listed race at Deauville on his third appearance.
However, he bounced back to win in good style at Haydock earlier this month.
Glean made a successful debut at Newbury last month and was runner-up to Cap O’Rushes at Salisbury three weeks ago on his only subsequent start.
Richard Fahey saddles Unsinkable, winner of his two outings to date, while Mick Channon runs Chilworth Icon, who has a 3lb penalty for a Group Three victory at San Siro in July.
The Patrick Prendergast-trained Canary Row is the sole Irish challenger, while the eight declarations are completed by Ebn Arab, Ocean Applause and Well Acquainted.
Elsewhere, Marcus Tregoning has booked William Buick to ride Bronze Angel in Saturday’s Betfred Cambridgeshire with regular rider Hayley Turner unavailable.
Bronze Angel has not raced since finishing third to Fast Or Free in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot in June. Tregoning gave the three-year-old a break as he had been on the go since January.
“His big advantage is that he’s coming into this race deliberately fresh,” said Tregoning.
“He has had a nice break and he is certainly working very well at the moment. The weights need to go up a little bit just to help us.
“He’s in very good order and if the ground was on the easy side it wouldn’t worry me for him.”
