True Solitaire can shine for Dermot Weld
The half-brother to connections’ dual Group 3 winner Carla Bianca caught the eye in defeat on debut, when he finished runner-up behind Turret Rocks.
On Thursday last the winner gave the form a real boost when finishing third behind Tanaza and Alice Springs, in a fillies’ Group 3, from which the first two home are long-odds favourites for the Newmarket 1000 Guineas and Epsom Oaks.
It’s fair to say True Solitaire wasn’t given the hardest of introductions, at Gowran, and looks a sure-fire improver.
With Brontide likely to go forward from an ideal draw, the selection can sit behind the pace before striking for home in the straight.
He gets the nod ahead of newcomer Unicorn, which jockey Joseph O’Brien prefers to stable companion Johannes Vermeer.
Weld also has undeniably strong claims in the Easyfix Rubber Products Handicap Hurdle with Defining Year, and it’s quite possible he could prove the best handicapped horse of the entire week.
Runner-up in a Group 3 race on the Flat a couple of years ago, and still rated in the mid-80s in that sphere, he had three quick runs over hurdles back in late 2013/early 2014, and earned a mark of 109 for his efforts.
On the last of the three outings, he travelled particularly well and looked a real danger until fading late to finish seventh behind the very smart Sizing Codelco.
There were numerous other decent sorts in the places in that race, giving plenty of reason to believe Defining Year could be very well treated for his first run in a handicap.
Having to carry 11-12 shouldn’t be an issue for the seven-year-old, and he can make the breakthrough in the hands of Davy Russell.
Two interesting rivals are Eric The Grey and King Of Oriel. The former finished runner-up to Beckwith Star in this race last year, and may be able to reverse that form with the winner.
He hasn’t much experience over hurdles but his trainer, Denis Hogan, is a shrewd operator and is sure to have had this in mind for some time.
Two recent runs on the level should have blown away the cobwebs, and he has strong each-way claims.
King Of Oriel also ran in this race last year, and was closing fast when tipping up at the last. He wouldn’t hold a candle to the selection off today’s weights if it was a Flat race, but he’s clearly unexposed over hurdles and could outrun his odds.
The feature on day one is the Connacht Hotel Qualified Riders’ Handicap, and Tony Martin, who won the race in 2013 and 2014, holds a very strong hand in his hat-trick bid with Ted Veale, Spacious Sky and Encrypted Message.
The first-named gets the nod as he looks very well handicapped on old Flat form, and showed he remains in good form when runner-up over hurdles last time out. Stephen Clements was aboard the stable’s winner in each of the last two renewals, and his booking is another positive.
The danger may come from top-weight Awesome Star. He ran a super race behind Digeanta last time, and may have been a shade unlucky as he went for home early, and was caught late. That form gives him strong claims.
