Son to rise in the Phoenix A DREAM VICTORY

BACK to scene of his fourth to Churchill in the National Stakes in September, I’m hoping Son Of Rest can make an impact in tomorrow’s At The Races Phoenix Sprint at the Curragh.

I’m really looking forward to him taking on these hardened sprinters. He’s in great form and bouncing at home. And he has progressed well since his handicap win at the Curragh in early June.

He’s a horse Fozzy, inset, has always liked – he was a maiden when pitched into Group 1 company in the National Stakes. And

I was impressed by his work in the spring and when he won his maiden in Cork.

He bounced back from a disappointing run in the Tetrarch in

Naas to win a five-furlong Curragh handicap easily.

But I don’t know what he has done to deserve a rating of 112, higher than horses like Acapulco.

Tomorrow will be a test. But he’s a smart horse and, if the handicappers are right, he should have every chance.

Based on his work, I don’t think he’ll be far away. And his chance would be increased if the showers that are forecast arrive on the Curragh.

disappointed us the last day in Leopardstown, when fourth to New Direction.

The boss (Kevin Prendergast) has freshened him up since and he’ll be on a retrieval mission in tomorrow’s finale, the Gabriel Curran Memorial Handicap.

He’s in good form and is dropping back to a mile. But he should be competitive at this

level.

My other rides are two-year-old fillies Iiex Excelsia for Fozzy in the Loder Race and James Nash’s Rockafilly in the opening maiden.

Fozzy’s filly, by Excelebration, has been showing the right signs at home. She’s one I like, with a good temperament. And I expect her to run a nice race.

But the Ballydoyle filly Sizzling should have learned plenty from her Galway run and will be very tough to beat.

Iiex Excelsia will be my first ride for my sponsor Mahli Al Basti. I don’t know much about her, other than the fact that she’s by Darasim. And I’ll be hoping she runs well.