King Of Aragon and Washington DC can spark Ballydoyle brace
The Ballydoyle team is gradually cranking into top gear, as evidenced by a maiden double in Cork on Monday.
And both King Of Aragon and Washington DC showed enough in recent outings to suggest they should be capable of opening their respective accounts.
A son of Montjeu, King Of Aragon, unplaced behind Mohaayed in his only juvenile start in Navan, showed clear signs of inexperience when runner-up to Edelpour in a mile and a half maiden in Gowran Park two weeks ago.
That experience should stand to the Ballydoyle colt tonight and, unless Jim Bolger’s Godolphin-owned debutant Jaleo is useful, he should get off the mark.
Recent Dundalk and Curragh juvenile form will be put to the test in the opener, a four-runner maiden for two-year-olds, as Aidan O’Brien’s Washington DC, beaten a neck by Blood Moon on the polytrack last Friday, faces the Dermot Weld-trained Hoppala, third to Mimicking on Sunday.
Preference is for the O’Brien runner on the basis that he might improve more from his debut run, while Ger Lyons’ debutante Birdcage (by Showcasing) is also worthy of note.
And Mick Mulvany’s Battleroftheboyne, who has flattered in two recent efforts, at Limerick and Navan, might earn his reward in the five-furlong handicap.
In the hurdle action, Mark Walsh, out of action since late February, might enjoy a comeback winner when he partners the Mick Winters-trained Bitsandpieces in the concluding three-mile maiden hurdle.
This fellow had two subsequent winners well behind in third and fourth when beaten by Goulane Chosen on his debut at Thurles in February and, likely to be suited by this faster ground, should prove tough to beat.
