Hogan’s boy to Make good fist of it

Listed winner up to the Challenge

A four-time winner at listed level, the Denis Hogan-trained Make A Challenge should add to his tally in the rescheduled Abergwaun Stakes in Navan today.

This five-furlong dash was added to today’s card following the cancellation of Thursday’s meeting in Tipperary. And with trip and ground conditions very much in his favour, the five-year-old should defy top-weight and prove himself on course for a crack at the Group 1 Flying Five at the Curragh in two weeks.

Make A Challenge is making a quick reappearance, a week after slamming Downforce in the listed Curragh Sprint.

That was his third success of the truncated 2020 season, coming after convincing wins in the Sole Power at Naas and the Midsummer Sprint at the Curragh.

Beaten a length by A’ali in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes, his only flop this season came behind Speak In Colours in the Greenlands (Group 2) at the Curragh.

But last week’s four length success proved

Make A Challenge’s well-being and, although conceding weight to his nine rivals, including old foes Urban Beat and Rapid Reason, he looks set to register his fourth win of the campaign.

The other listed event on the card, the Irish Stallion Farms Yeats Stakes, sure to develop into a test of stamina, looks intriguing. And it affords Joseph O’brien’s exciting colt Galileo Chrome an opportunity to make his mark in stakes company.

Winner of a Curragh maiden in June, he was a late withdrawal from the Dubai

Duty Free

Irish Derby and didn’t reappear until July 31, when slamming his rivals in a conditions event over a mile and a quarter in Leopardstown – he had his rivals in trouble turning for home and came home six lengths clear of Masteroffoxhounds.

I expect this son of Australia to show even more improvement over today’s longer trip. And he should be tough to beat.

But his task is not straight-forward as the opposition includes Jessica Harrington’s Gold Maze, unplaced in both the Investec Derby and Irish Derby before winning a Curragh maiden emphatically, and the progressive, Johnny Murtagh, inset, trained Red Kelly, successful in the Ulster Derby last time.

And the selection’s stable-companion Degraves, fourth to Armory in the Royal Whip is not without a chance either.

But I’m a big fan of Galileo Chrome and expect him to land the spoils before developing, perhaps, into a Group 1 performer. Runner-up to Emaniya in a hot Cork maiden on her second start, April Showers sets the standard in the twoyear-old fillies maiden.

And Eddie Harty’s David Garrick, up 6lb for an emphatic win in Cork two weeks ago, might be capable of following-up in the Blackcastle Handicap.