O’briens set for further glory

FIGHTFORTHEROSES should open his account for Aidan and Donnacha O’brien in the 2019 Membership Now On Sale Maiden, the seventh of eight races on today’s card in Naas.

A half-brother, by Galileo to Pour Moi, an Epsom Derby winner and sire of an Epsom Derby winner, this lightly-raced colt looks certain to appreciate the step-up to a mile and a half and, with the likes of Crecerelle and Leaderboard setting the standard in terms of ratings, the Ballydoyel colt should be tough to beat.

The selection ran twice as a juvenile last year, showing a glimmer of ability when fifth to Whirling Dervish in a Tipperary maiden almost a year ago.

Fightfortheroses made his belated return to action at Gowran Park recently and produced a solid effort to finish second to a proven hurdler David’s Charm.

Sure to improve for that run and for today’s longer trip, Fightfortheroses is napped to get off the mark.

Earlier, the O’briens have obvious prospects in the two-year-old maidens, with newcomer San Andreas, a Dark Angel colt, in the seven-furlong event and both Eminence and Norway in the mile maiden, in which Michael O’callaghan’s I Am Superman is an obvious danger on the evidence of his debut second to Breaking Story at the Curragh.

Norway took a significant step forward from his debut when third to stable-companion Sydney Opera House at the Curragh, when shaping like a certain future winner.

But it’s significant that Donnacha rides Eminence, the only Sea The Stars colt in Ballydoyle and a pleasing fourth on his debut at Leopardstown in July. He gets the vote.

The handicaps look treacherous. But Perfect Tapatino, tackling a mile and a half for the first time, might prove the solution to the finale.

Elsewhere, Henry de Bromhead admitted his surprise at the change of tactics employed by Dylan Robinson on board Ornua, which outpointed favourite Cadmium in the Grade 3 Ballymore Novice Chase in Roscommon yesterday.

Seven-year-old Ornua, normally a front-runner, was settled early by Robinson, jumped his way into contention before taking the lead at the fourth last and stayed on to score convincingly, recording his third success over fences.

“I was surprised by the change of tactics but, fair play to Dylan, he gave the horse a brilliant ride,” said de Bromhead.

“He got to use his jumping from half-way and he won well.”

On the supporting card, Mark Walsh completed a double for owner J P Mcmanus on Light Of My Life (trained by Edward O’grady) and Robert Tyner’s consistent mare Don’t Kick Nor Bite.

And the training honours went to Noel Meade, who doubled-up with Lord In Red and Clara Sorrento.