Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Charge of right Brigade
FIRE BRIGADE can burn the bookies at Doncaster this afternoon.
Ryan Moore came very close to winning this race on Oh This Is Us 12 months ago when finishing second and could go one better this time around.
There was plenty of market support for the Michael Bell-trained Fire Brigade earlier in the week, which saw his odds slashed from double-digit figures.
The five-year-old has been incredibly consistent since a gelding operation and looks to have a great chance here.
He has finished in the money in 10 of his 12 starts since being gelded, winning five of those races.
Amazingly neither Moore or Bell have tasted success in this contest, but that could all change today.
Last year’s winner could have an each-way chance again off bottom weight, but you have to go back to 1958 since a horse won this contest two years in a row.
Top jockey Moore enjoyed an incredible day here 12 months ago and came agonisingly close to stinging the bookies for an estimated €40million.
He rode a 575-1 treble in the first three races before finishing a neck second in the Lincoln.
Fresh back from riding the winner of the Hong Kong Derby, his other mounts, (2.25) and (3.00), deserve close consideration.
Meanwhile, Ireland’s flat season kicks off tomorrow at Naas, where conditions look set to be fairly heavy.
That could see a number of horses withdrawn, with already a casualty.
Aiden O’brien’s star filly was due to line up in the Group 3 Lodge Park Stud Irish EBF Park Express Stakes, but has been taken out of the race. In her absence, preference is for the Ger Lyons-trained who finished a neck ahead of Making Light over course and distance when last seen.
This looks the perfect opportunity for last year’s champion jockey, Colin Keane, to get an early winner on the board for this campaign.
In the Irish Lincoln, the nod is for for trainer Michael Halford.
He was last seen finishing ninth of nine in a Leopardstown contest won by Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling, with Irish Derby winner Capri in fourth. He has since been gelded and won his maiden on soft ground, so conditions might not be a problem. The booking of top jockey Pat Smullen is eye-catching.