Tennessee Stud can making winning return at Down Royal
CONSISTENT PEFORMER: Tennesse Stud kept top company last season and bagged a Group 2 win at Longchamp in October. Picture: Healy Racing
The clash of 112-rated pair Tennessee Stud and Carmers in His Majesty’s Plate will be the most fascinating aspect of this evening’s Flat card in Down Royal which clashes with the opening stage of Tramore’s traditional two-day Whit weekend meeting.
Both horses were successful at Group 2 level last season and, although Carmers will be helped by a recent run in the Vintage Crop at Navan and use of a first-time visor, preference is for Joseph O’Brien’s colt Tennessee Stud, whose three-year-old form included solid efforts in the Betfred Derby in Epsom and the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh.
The Carriganóg colt finished third to Delacroix in a Derby trial at Leopardstown before filling the same position behind Lambourn in the Epsom Classic and fourth in the Curragh equivalent, won by the same Ballydoyle colt.
Later, he finished fourth in the Prix Niel at Longchamp before returning to the Paris track to land the Prix Chaudenay, at the expense of stable-companion Emit.
Tennessee Stud has the qualities to develop into a high-class stayer as a four-year-old and, assuming he’s close to peak fitness for this seasonal debut, gets the vote over Paddy Twomey’s Carmers, winner of the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot last June.
Carmers also finished second in York’s Great Voltigeur and a close fifth in the English St Leger won by Aidan O’Brien’s Scandinavia.
He filled the same spot, behind Scandinavia, in the Vintage Crop on his seasonal return and might have a fitness edge but Tennessee Stud looks a better long-term prospect and gets the nod.
Another likely winner for Joseph O’Brien at the northern venue is 79-rated What About Us, runner-up to Glyfada in Killarney, in the seven-furlong fillies’ maiden.
Meanwhile, a big crowd will be expected in Tramore where Gavin Cromwell’s Endless Talking, a runaway winner of a recent maiden hurdle in Downpatrick, might make a successful start over fences in the Tramore Derby July 7th Beginners Chase.
This five-year-old, winner of a point-to-point in Stradbally, made all in Downpatrick to slam Aboras Mahler by 20 lengths, having earlier finished a close third behind Master Haku and subsequent Ballinrobe scorer The Store Boy in Kilbeggan.
He looks sure to make his mark over fences, should be suited by the tight Tramore track, and is expected to foil Henry de Bromhead’s Kilbeggan maiden hurdle winner Costacurta, off the track since October.
Another to note is Pat Flynn’s class-dropper Highlander Addict, seventh to Adaboy Mushy in a hot Punchestown contest, in the bumper.
4.50 A Snow White Park
5.20 Endless Talking (NB)
5.55 Lady Doyanne
6.30 Luciole Des Bordes
7.00 Zolpharine
7.35 Eastmore
8.10 Highlander Addict
4.50 Journey So Far
5.20 Costacurta
5.55 Stuntman Steve
6.30 Poetic Twist
7.00 Tedworth
7.35 The Monkey Pole
8.10 One Day In May
4.30 This Guy
5.05 What About Us (Nap)
5.40 Amemri
6.15 Imnotleavinyou
6.50 Tennessee Stud
7.25 Our Lucky Lady
8.00 Pierre Grosse
8.30 Nermal
4.30 Mini Cotai
5.05 Cactus
5.40 Faoladh
6.15 Beau Army
6.50 Carmers
7.25 Mephisto
8.00 Harmani
8.30 Maxminelli
