Gesture ruled out of Oaks
The Galileo filly was part of a memorable day at Epsom for trainer Ralph Beckett as she followed home her stablemate Talent, three and three-quarter lengths in arrears.
Beckett tweeted: “Secret Gesture will not run in the Irish Oaks, she has picked up a knock on a hind leg, which will take a few days to recover from.”
Secret Gesture had previously won the Oaks Trial at Lingfield in some style.
Beckett can still call on Talent for the Curragh showpiece, for which she is 5-2 joint-favourite with the Lady Cecil-trained Riposte.
The latter was supplemented on Monday at a cost of €40,000 and has been popular in the ante-post market with a number of firms.
Coral’s David Stevens said: “Riposte has been well-backed in the last 24 hours to give Lady Cecil what would be an emotional first Classic success, and she now shares favouritism with the Epsom winner Talent.”
Riposte and Talent are the 11-4 joint-favourite with Paddy Power, who said: “Riposte looked very good when winning the Ribblesdale and punters are clearly hearing Lady Cecil who says that the filly has come on again since.”
* Jockey Brian Toomey has been moved out of intensive care as he continues to recover from serious head injuries suffered in a fall at Perth on July 4.
Toomey, 24, was hurt when the Lisa Harrison-trained Solway Dandy fell heavily three out in the Book Now For 2014 Perth Festival Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.
He was taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, where he underwent an operation to reduce swelling on his brain on July 7.
Toomey is attached to the North Yorkshire yard of Kevin Ryan, and is the partner of the trainer’s daughter, Amy.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Lisa Hancock, CEO of the Injured Jockeys Fund, said “I have just spoken to Kevin Ryan and we are pleased to say that Brian’s progress continues and today he has been moved from the Intensive Care to the High Dependency Unit.”
* David Marnane is eyeing a tilt at the Ayr Gold Cup with Red Dubawi following his creditable run in defeat at Fairyhouse last Sunday.
Following a winter stint in Dubai, the five-year-old ran well to finish third on his first three outings in Ireland, but was unable to make an impression in the Group Three Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh.
He ran more encouragingly when fourth in last weekend’s Belgrave Stakes and his trainer sees him an ideal candidate for the Ayr feature on September 21, by which time ground conditions should be more to his liking.
“I was very happy with how Red Dubawi ran. The ground was a bit quick for him, but considering that I thought he ran a solid race,” said Marnane.
“I’d love to have a live chance in the Ayr Gold Cup and I think he has the right profile for the race, so we’ll look after him for a while and probably aim towards that.
“He might have a prep run at the Curragh beforehand.”
Red Dubawi’s stable companion, Nocturnal Affair, ran far more disappointingly in the Belgrave Stakes, trailing home last of seven.
Marnane said: “Nocturnal Affair came back a bit sore, so we’re going to give him some time and check him over before we make any plans.”
* Ken Condon is monitoring ground conditions closely before deciding whether to commit Bold Thady Quill to Saturday’s Invesco Pension Consultants Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh.
The local trainer admits he would like to run the six-year-old in the Group Three contest over seven furlongs, but he will not risk the gelding if he feels the going is too quick. Should Bold Thady Quill not turn up, Condon will look at the Listed Platinum Stakes over a mile at Cork early next month.
“It’s only 50-50 he runs at this stage. He’s a horse that shows his best form on slow ground,” said Condon. “They are watering and we’ll see how it is when the race is declared. He’s in great form and we’d like to run him, but we want to do the right thing by him.
