Haz great chance to hit form
CLASS-DROPPER
Hazapour is expected to return to winning form in tonight’s Group 3 ICON
Meld Stakes in Leopardstown.
Winner of the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial on his last visit to the Foxrock track, Dermot Weld’s charge ran a cracker in the Investec Derby in Epsom, looming large early in the straight with a winning chance before, apparently, failing to stay the mile and a half.
He finished fifth, beaten seven lengths by Hasar and within three lengths of both Eclipse winner Roaring Lion and Saxon Warrior.
Weld immediately indicated he’d drop Hazapour back in trip. And tonight’s race is being used as a potential steppingstone to the Irish Champion Stakes in September.
It’s both significant and surprising that Frankie Dettori, who rode Hazapour in Epsom, is travelling to partner the Shamardal colt tonight as he would surely expect to have other options for the big Group 1 events over a mile and a quarter later in the season.
That classic form entitles Hazapour to the vote tonight. But it won’t be easy, against the likes of hardened older rival Deauville, dropping from Group 1 company, having contested the Lockinge and Queen Anne in his latest starts.
Elsewhere, the five-day Killarney July meeting winds up with a National Hunt card. And Robbie Mcnamara’s Epsilon Indi, an all-the-way winner in Limerick last Saturday, might defy a 6lb mandatory penalty in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap.
The mount today of Conor Mcnamara, the five-year-old five-year-old is 4lb ‘well-in’ for his follow-up bid en route to Galway.
The Joseph O’brientrained Gold Seal appeals off bottom-weight in the Dawn Milk Run Handicap Hurdle. And his cause will be helped by the 7lb claim of Evan Daly leaving the four-year-old with just 9-7 to shoulder.