IRISH ANGLE
NAP OF THE DAY
NAPPING one that’s out of the handicap in a race might seem a little crazy but TAKE MY HAND (3.15) loves it around Bellewstown and was only narrowly denied at Gowran Park last time out.
The fiveyear-old was runner-up here too in June and won here two years ago while his trainer Mick Mulvaney has had plenty of winners here over the past few seasons. Stall One is nearly worth those 3lb he’s out of the handicap by and he should go close.
EACH WAY THIEF
ROSS O’SULLIVAN is a favourite trainer of this corner and in the Bluegrass Horse Feeds Handicap his Millyupdahilly (2.40) has an each-way chance in her first handicap.
She was out of the money in her three maidens but wasn’t beaten huge distances and off a mark of just 62 she might run well.
Stall 16 is not great but with 15 runners some bookmakers might pay four places.
ONE TO WATCH
DUCKY MALLON (3.50) has been a grand old servant to Donal Kinsella’s yard and runs for the 79th time at Bellewstown today.
The 11-year-old has won nine times and placed 11 times so far and is something of a
VIP in his yard according to his trainer. He won at the Curragh in August and ran his usual consistent race in two races since.
A win here would bring the house down.
ONE TO SWERVE
THE featured Kilsaran Race is worth €20,000 but has only attracted four runners.
Joseph O’Brien’s yard are flying and plenty will support his Magellan Strait (4.25).
He’s a few pounds to find with Ger Lyons’ filly though and that might just edge it in the favour of Hazy Mehmory.
AIDAN O’BRIEN is confident a mile a half will “really suit” Luxembourg as he bids to buck recent trends in Sunday’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. It is 32 years since Saumarez lifted Europe’s middle-distance championship at Longchamp on his first attempt at a mile and a half.
One-time Derby favourite Luxembourg — Camelot’s son was ruled out of Epsom by a muscle injury sustained when third in the 2,000 Guineas — steps up to 12 furlongs in Paris this weekend, having captured the Curragh’s Group Three Royal Whip Stakes and the Group One Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on his two starts since Newmarket.
Triumph
“We always thought a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half would be within his compass,” said O’Brien, whose three-year-old is a best-priced 4-1 favourite to give him a third Arc triumph after Dylan Thomas in 2007 and Found in 2016.
“We had it in mind that he would go from the 2,000 Guineas to the Derby, and it would really suit him.”
Francis-Henri Graffard blasted French racing’s governing body France Galop after electing to send Verry Elleegant to the Group One Prix de Royallieu on Saturday.
Her French rating meant last November’s Melbourne Cup heroine was not guaranteed a run in the Arc after defeats on both starts since joining Graffard from Australia.
Situation
“They have put us in a very bad situation and I am ashamed by their reaction,” said Graffard.
Meanwhile, trainer Toru Kurita admits it would be a dream come true if Titleholder can provide Japan with an elusive first victory in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Asked what it would mean for his stable to become the first Japanese Arc winner, Kurita said: “It’s a dream for everyone. Many prestigious, very good Japanese horses have come and tried it and haven’t won.
“For me personally it’s really a dream just to be at the start of this race and we will do as much as we can to win it.”