Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Title chaser is Keane on World domination
WAR FOR JOCKEY’S CROWN GATHERS PACE
TEN-RACE maiden World War might belatedly open his account and boost Colin Keane’s title aspirations in today’s Racing Again November 25th Maiden in Gowran Park.
Keane leads Pat Smullen 82-81 in the battle for the Jockeys Championship. And both men have obvious prospects on todays’ eight-race card.
World War has filled-the runner-up berth in five of his 10 starts, including creditable early efforts behind Douglas Macarthur and Rekindling.
Disappointing in his subsequent efforts as a juvenile and, last spring, he was gelded after finishing fourth in the Magners Ulster Derby in mid-july. Since then, he has resumed his run of second placings.
Called a few names in his time, World War has done little wrong in his recent starts, when chasing home Tudor City in a Fairyhouse handicap and, last time, when outpointed by the progressive On The Go Again at Tipperary.
With a rating of 92, World War should be capable of success in an autumn maiden. And, from a low draw, he should deliver.
Keane also has prospects on handicap debutant and top-weight Inscribe, formerly trained by Sir Michael Stoute and an eye-catcher on his debut for Ger Lyons at Navan, in the www.gowranpark.ie 3-Y-0 Handicap, and the John Kiely-trained Henry’s Girl in the finale.
Meanwhile, Bryan Cooper celebrated the news he’ll ride for owner Alan Potts this season by scoring on fencing debutant Calino D’airy (14/1) in the Galwayraces.com beginners Chase in Galway yesterday.
Cooper, who will ride Exxaro and Mick Thonic in the Potts colours at Ludlow today, will be retained to ride the owner’s English-based horses while Robbie Power, who enjoyed a remarkable run of success for Potts last spring, including a Gold Cup treble on Sizing John, will ride the owner’s Irish-based horses.
Cooper described the news as “fantastic” and stated: “It’s a great opportunity, to ride some fantastic horses,” adding he’ll be schooling some of the Potts horses in Colin Tizzard’s tomorrow morning ahead of the weekend, when he’s likely to ride Finian’s Oscar on his eagerly-awaited chasing bow at Chepstow.