‘Correspondent’ a real threat to Churchill
CHURCHILL is long-odds-on to provide Aidan O’Brien with another Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas win – but it may not be as easy as the odds suggest.
In truth, the Newmarket Guineas could not have gone better for the son of Galileo. His team-mates, so to speak, gave him a perfect tow into the race, and he had the rail to help when the gap opened for him to go and win his race.
He was the outstanding two-year-old last year, showing a cracking attitude, and there is not much depth to today’s race, relative to the English Guineas. However, there was no IRISH CORRESPONDENT at Newmarket and the Michael Halford-trained horse looks the value in today’s race.
The son of Teofilo has no chance strictly on ratings but what is the ceiling of his potential? He cruised to success on his debut at Leopardstown and bolted up in the manner of a top-class prospect at the Curragh.
Michael Halford potentially has the best horse he has looked after – even better than Casemento – and at around 7/1
he looks a threat to Churchill.
Thunder Snow is a remarkable sort but hardly good enough and his inexplicable behaviour at the start of the Kentucky Derby means he has questions to answer.
ACAPULCO is a star in terms of Aidan O’Brien’s older horses and she is trading at around 4/6 in the Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes.
The daughter of Scat Daddy did the job in pretty straightforward fashion at the Curragh on her Irish debut and this speedster, which is in foal, can go on to better things, though there is a suspicion she is more at home at five furlongs. Expect Pat Smullen aboard Blue De Vega, which has every chance, to put pressure on her stamina.
Given the purse of €120,000, the field size in the Lanwades Stud Stakes is disappointing. Opal Tiara, which represents former Southampton striker Mick Channon, is rated 111 – the top mark here – and looks to have a fair chance.
She won in a small-field race in Meydan in February, and ran a blinder last month at Sandown behind Sovereign Debt.
Raymonda is a filly that can do better for Dermot Weld, having gone down fighting against Custom Cut at Leopardstown. She is against her own sex now and looks sure to go close.
The opening Equisoft Irish EBF Fillies Maiden gives an indication of the power of the Ballydoyle barn, which other trainers can only dream about. Not only does Aidan O’Brien have a full sister to Churchill in CLEMMIE, he also has a full sister to Winter (Snowflakes) and another Galileo-bred in Butterscotch.
The cavalry charge that is the Hanlon Concrete Handicap will be a lively betting heat. Jessica Harrington has had a year to remember and ST BRELADES
BAY, which was third at Naas in a decent race last time, is weighed to run well.
The Cold Move Marble Hill Stakes is a cracker. AQABAH was in need of further when winning over five furlongs on his debut for Charlie Appleby; this extra furlong seems certain to suit, with Pat Smullen booked to steer.
Encouragingly, Godolphin runs two in the race, Cristophe Soumillon on Gold Town.
Sioux Nation is the selection of the O’Brien stable. He is a solid and progressive colt, with Ryan Moore booked. Would Be King could out-run long odds.
Smullen’s AYDOUN gets the nap vote in the finale, dropping back in trip after a game effort at Killarney. While Aidan O’Brien (left) should have a weekend of bounty, there was bad news yesterday when Minding was ruled out until the autumn. The superstar filly is reported to have suffered a setback, with Royal Ascot ruled out by O’Brien. She was hot ante-post favourite for Sunday’s Tattersalls Gold Cup.