The Art of war can be a textbook example today
EASTERBY’S ACE SET TO MAKE THE TRANSITION
IMPRESSIVE in a handicap at Royal Ascot, British raider Art Power can make a successful transition to stakes company in today’s finale at Naas.
Trainer Tim Easterby has sent this progressive grey son of Dark Angel on a brace mission, against Group 2 winner Royal Lytham and Millisle, fifth in Royal Ascot’s Commonwealth Cup last time.
But Art Power has looked exciting, winning three of his four starts, a York maiden last October, a novice at Newcastle five weeks ago and, of course, his Royal Ascot romp, all with daylight to spare.
At Ascot, racing off 97, Art Power was sent off a red-hot 6/4 favourite for the 21 runner Holyroodhouse Handicap over five furlongs.
And his supporters never had a worry as Silvestre de Souza’s mount was tanking all the way and won comfortably by three and a half lengths from Keep Busy.
Now rated 110, he faces a much tougher task here. But, open to plenty of improvement, he’s expected to round off what could prove a very good day for former champion Colin Keane, who will be on board Even So for his boss Ger Lyons in the listed Irish Stallion farms Naas Oaks Trial.
Third to Lemista over a mile on this track on her seasonal bow back in March, Even So was beaten less than four lengths when filling fifth spot behind Peaceful in the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas.
This longer trip should suit the Glenburnie filly and, in receipt of 3lb from Jessica Harrington’s Silence Pease – whose narrow defeat of stablecompanion One Voice in the Salsabil at Navan was boosted by her victim in the Blue Wind at Leopardstown – gets the vote.
Recent maiden winners Laburnum and Slaney East are open to plenty of improvement. But I’ll stick with Even So.
Although disappointing when brushed aside by Numen in a Leopardstown maiden last time, Lough Cutra looks well-treated off an initial mark of 84 for Lyons and Keane in the one-mile three-year-old handicap.
This colt’s earlier maiden form ties in with the likes of Irish Derby runner-up Tiger Moth and Investec Derby hope Russian Emperor.
He makes plenty of appeal here on his handicap debut.