Make it Manalapan

Patrick Prendergast’s Manalapan is fancied to have the legs on Aidan O’Brien’s El Salvador in the mile and five Her Majesty’s Plate at Down Royal tonight.

Both horses come into the contest in good shape and the tactical battle should prove fascinating.

The admirable El Salvador has battled strongly to win his last two races, at Bellewstown and Killarney last week, but does have 8lbs to find with the selection at the weights. Manalapan has always been a durable and consistent sort and arrives now on the back of a career best effort at Leopardstown eight days ago.