FOUND OUT FOR HONOURS
FRESH f r om t heir easy English 2,000 Guineas victory with Gleneagles, the formidable Aidan O’Brien-Ryan Moore alliance can follow up on the double in stakes races at the Curragh, which s hares today’s Bank Holiday date with Down Royal.
Heading towards the Irish equivalent en route to Royal Ascot, O’Brien’s record seventh mile Newmarket Classic scorer Gleneagles is a valuable colt indeed for the Coolmore partners as a close relat i on by Galileo to Giant’s Causeway.
Not considered ready for yester- day’s fillies highlight in Newmarket, Found, which was ante-post favourite for that Classic, resumes at the Curragh this afternoon and will be a warm order to oblige again for Moore after their impressive Group One breakthrough l ast October at Longchamp’s Arc meeting.
Found, off a mark of 117, has yet to race on the testing ground expected at headquarters but should cope with today’s six Athasi Stakes rivals and, presumably, book her place in the Irish 1,000 Guineas field later this month.
Moore maintains his association with Found’s stablemate The Warri or i n the preceding Power Tetrarch Stakes and this course winner earlier in the campaign looks suited by seven furlongs in the soft after finishing well for third money behind English Guineas fourth Bossy Guest.
The son of Exceed And Excel clearly has the advantage of race-fitness over a couple of decent rivals, notably Dermot Weld’s Tombelaine and Joe Murphy’s debut course scorer Shepherd’s Purse.
In the absence of Tapestry, last summer’s Yorkshire Oaks heroine for O’Brien (right), just four have survived for the Group Three Mooresbridge Stakes and punters will probably concentrate now on Jim Bolger’s recent course and distance winner Parish Hall and Fascinating Rock from the Weld yard.
Though t hat durable mare Euphrasia could give the market principals something to think about, I will be surprised if these underfoot conditions don’t swing it for Fascinating Rock which bounced back to form in a mile Listed event at Leopardstown.
Foiled at Newmarket yesterday when compatriot Legatissimo outstayed Lucida for Classic glory, Bolger and Kevin Manning can secure some compensafor Godolphin as their Invincible Spirit filly Mim- icking takes on State Of Emergency and Blood Moon in the opening Zoffany Race.
There’s no rest for our jump jockeys as the new season starts this afternoon at Down Royal where the ground was only yielding yesterday as Marinero, under champion Ruby Walsh, seeks better fort une in t he Sean Graham Bookmakers Hurdle.
Mark Walsh, who shared the limelight with unrelated Ruby at Punchestown, may also hit the target with Gordon Elliott’s Ulster National hero Riverside City in the Handicap Chase.