THE PUNTER
Wayne Bailey and Michael Verney mark your card for the bumper Champions Weekend
LATROBE bids to make history and become the first horse in 64 years to claim the Irish Derby/Irish St Leger double in the same year with four Group One prizes up for decision at the Curragh tomorrow.
Joseph O’Brien’s star is one of many hoping to light up the Kildare track but there’s also a juicy undercard including the €300,000 Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sale Stakes (5.25).
Three of the five renewals have been won by English raiders and they account for eight of the 20-strong field runners and the unbeaten Flashcard – trained by Andrew Balding – is one to keep on side after two impressive wins at Salisbury.
Dermot Weld has farmed the Group Two Blandford Stakes (2.35) winning three of the last four runnings and the 111-rated Eziyra – four times successful at Group Three level – will prove a tough nut to crack under Declan McDonogh.
Third behind the brilliant Sea Of Class in last month’s Yorkshire Oaks, there’s a lot to like about the daughter of Teofilo and she can come home in front while one eye should be kept on Ger Lyons’ Who’s Steph – twice a Group Three scorer – which makes her return after a break.
Action commences with Irish Stallion Farms EBF sprint handicap (2.0) which is a minefield for punters, but with the last four winners from the UK, it could pay to side with David O’Meara’s well-drawn Summerghand which may get the better of the four-in-a-row seeking Urban Beat.
The Northfields Handicap (6.0) is the final chapter on Irish Champions Weekend but punters hoping to leave with a winner should be cautious as Jessica Harrington’s Charcor is given a tentative vote to bounce back from his no-show in the Irish Cambridgeshire two weeks ago.
3.05 Group One Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes 5f RTE2
Making its debut as a Group One, this is a top tier contest in name only with an absence of star quality as nine go to post.
Aidan O’Brien accounts for a trio of runners and Sioux Nation will be there or thereabouts if back to the form which saw him take a Naas Group Three in May.
Darren Bunyan’s Hit The Bid returned from a profitable spring in Meydan with a fine second in a Listed contest at Tipperary last month but may find Karl Burke’s course and distance winner Havana Grey one too good in a sub-standard renewal. Verdict: Havana Grey can strike gold.
3.40 Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes 2yo 7f RTE2
Skitter Scatter is one of the most underrated horses in training despite her impressive Debutante Stakes win here last month and Patrick Prendergast’s filly commands respect in a strong renewal.
O’Brien is triple-handed with little to choose between Zagitova and Just Wonderful although the latter is preferred in the hands of the trainer’s son Donnacha following a comfortable Group Three victory here two weeks ago.
The English challenge is feared with the Charlie Appleby-trained Group 2 winner Beyond Reason and Mark Johnston’s Main Edition, a winner at Royal Ascot and Newmarket’s July meeting, but Skitter Scatter can continue her upward curve.
Verdict: Ronan Whelan can get the job done on the likeable Skitter Scatter. 4.15 Group One Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes 2yo 7f RTE2
The breeding ground of future champions with the likes of Churchill (2016), Gleneagles (2014), Dawn Approach (2012) and Mastercraftsman (2008) all taking this and O’Brien’s Anthony Van Dyck looks to already fit that mould.
The Galileo colt is prominent towards the top of the betting for next year’s English 2000 Guineas following a hat-trick of wins, most recently in the Group Two Futurity Stakes here last month but the presence of Appleby’s 115-rated Group Two winner Quorto adds considerably to the intrigue.
O’Brien has won three of the last four runnings with no horse priced bigger than 11/4 prevailing in the last ten years and five favourites obliging so this could be between the top two in the betting. Verdict: Anthony Van Dyck to highlight his Classic credentials.
4.50 Group One Comer Group International Irish St. Leger 1m6f RTE2
Having sidestepped the English St Leger with Latrobe, Joseph O’Brien takes aim at the €500,000 prize which is wide open following this week’s retirement of twotime winner Order Of St George.
Ballydoyle saddle half of the six-runner field and hold live chances with Idaho and Flag Of Honour with the latter edging Jim Bolger’s re-opposing Twilight Payment by a neck in last month’s St Leger Trial over course and distance.
Both are guaranteed to stay the trip – Latrobe isn’t – and while John Gosden’s Ebor winner Weekender also has to be respected, the progressive Flag Of Honour can provide O’Brien with a fifth win in this race. Verdict: Flag Of Honour to fly highest.