Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
POL ON A ROL
O’brien’s in-form filly can Rain in the Kingdom
ROLY POLY, a dual Grade 1 winner this season, will lead Aidan O’brien’s bid for tomorrow’s Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes in Newmarket.
O’brien is closing in on Bobby Frankel’s record of 25 Group/ Grade 1 wins in a calendar year. And, with Ryan Moore on board, Roly Poly will make a bold bid to give Ballydoyle its 23 top-level success of 2017.
The War Front filly has won the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket and the Prix Rothschild at Deauville this season and goes into tomorrow’s 10-furlong test on the back of a sixth to stable-companion Hydrangea in the Matron at Leopardstown.
O’brien, who will also run Alluringly, has won the Sun Chariot twice, with Halfway To Heaven (2008) and Alice Springs (last year).
Two Curragh trainers will target listed prizes in Ascot tomorrow, with Bill Farrell set to run both the progressive Xenobia (Fran Berry) and Orangey Red (Leigh Roche) in the October Stakes.
And Roche will also be on board Darren Bunyan-trained Mister Trader in the Rous Stakes.
Elsewhere, there’s another eight-race card in Dundalk tonight, when the efforts of title-contenders Colin Keane and Pat Smullen will add spice to proceedings.
The listed Star Appeal 2-Y-0 Stakes is the feature. And, Michael Halford, who denied Ballydoyle a five-in-a-row in the race with Ambassadorial last year, might hold the key again with Riyazan.
A convincing winner on his debut at the Curragh, this 103-rated Iffraaj colt has failed to make an impression in two subsequent efforts in stakes company, failing to confirm debut form with Nelson in a Group 3 at Leopardstown before finishing last of five, but far from disgraced, behind Saxon Warrior in the Beresford (Group 2) at Naas.
Pat Smullen’s mount is preferred to Ballydoyle contender Battle Of Jericho, not seen since winning his maiden at Leopardstown in July, and British raider Lake Volta.
Another class-dropper Declarationofpeace should win the opening two-year-old conditions event for Aidan and Donnacha O’brien.
A very impressive course and distance winner in May before flopping at Royal Ascot, he hasn’t been beaten far when filling seventh position in both the Phoenix Stakes and Middle Park, won by stable-companions Sioux Nation and US Navy Flag, respectively.
And the nap vote goes to Michael Halford’s lightly-raced Smugglers Creek, runner-up to Pure Action here last time, in the Crowne Plaza Championship Claiming Maiden.