All eyes on Order Of St George in Navan
ORDER OF ST GEORGE is the star attraction in an eightstrong field declared for the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan tomorrow. An impressive winner of last year’s Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, the son of Galileo suffered a shock defeat when defending his crown in the Irish St Leger, but bounced back to finish a fantastic third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for trainer Aidan O’Brien (above). He rounded off his campaign on a disappointing note when beaten into fourth in Ascot’s Long Distance Cup, but is still likely to be a warm order as he bids to add his name to a roll of honour that features Ballydoyle aces like Yeats and Fame And Glory. Dermot Weld, trainer of the great Vintage Crop, relies upon Forgotten Rules. The seven-year-old won this prize in 2015, but has been largely disappointing since finishing third in that year’s Gold Cup and is fitted with blinkers for the first time. Forgotten Rules and the Jim Bolger-trained Twilight Payment were both placed behind Jessica Harrington’s Torcedor when he impressed in a conditions race at Leopardstown at the start of the month and the trio renew rivalries. Red Stars, Lustrous Light, Morga and Dew Line complete the line-up. DABYAH bids to boost her Classic hopes in the Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Newbury — 72 hours after her John Gosden-trained stablemate Daban did just that. While Daban is more likely to go for the Qipco 1000 Guineas after her win in the Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket, the French equivalent is seen as likely for Dabyah, should she come through her test in the Group Three heat over seven furlongs. Dabyah created a big impression with a nine-length romp over this course and distance in September, before finishing third in the Prix Marcel Boussac at Chantilly. ‘She’s working very well, as was the filly who won the Nell Gwyn on Wednesday,’ said Bruce Raymond, racing manager for owner Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah. ‘We are hoping she can emulate that filly. There’s no reason why she can’t. ‘She has got very classy form in France and she gets the trip well.’
NOT many jockeys achieve the dream of winning the Grand National and fewer still manage to achieve the double of following a win in the most famous steeplechase in the world with success in the Scottish National at Ayr. Brian Fletcher managed it in 1974 on the great Red Rum and 30 years later Graham Lee emulated him with success on Amberleigh House at Aintree and Grey Abbey at Ayr. This afternoon, Derek Fox has a chance to add his name to that duo. The 24-year-old from Co Sligo admits his feet have hardly touched the ground since he won the Grand National 14 days ago at Aintree on One For Arthur for Perthshire trainer Lucinda Russell and the gelding’s owners, the Two Golf Widows — Belinda McLung and Debs Thomson. It was only Scotland’s second winner of the race, joining Rubstic who was successful in 1979. The home-trained drought of winners in the £215,000 Scottish National winners extends almost as far back to Ken Olivertrained Cockle Strand in 1982. Fox teams up with Scotland’s only runner, Seldom Inn, trained in Berwickshire by Sandy Thomson. The jockey, whose post Grand National celebrations have involved being guest of honour at a civic reception in his home county, said: ‘It’s been very hectic. All the parties have been great but I hope I can get back into the swing of things now. ‘I think Seldom Inn has a real good chance. He is a very nice horse who has won a couple of races this season and I am looking forward to riding him.’ Fox’s one previous ride in the Scottish National was on Thomson-trained Harry The Viking, eighth to Wayward Prince two years ago. Twelve months ago, Thomson went close to ending Scotland’s drought when See you at midnight, ridden by Fox’s cousin Steven, was headed at the final fence before finishing third to Vicente. Success in Kelso’s Premier Chase last month plus second at the track to Yala Enki, go down as career-best performances for Seldom Inn and Thomson feels the longer trip and drying ground will suit a contender still on an upward curve of form. Thomson said: ‘With his breeding, I have always felt he would stay four miles. He has been a late developer and his last two runs have been his best. ‘Last year did not work out for him and he had had a lot of problems with ulcers but that is now in the past.’ Race sponsors Coral took a big hit north of the Border when One For Arthur won at Aintree. It wiped out their profits made in the south. They are equally fearful patriotic betting on Seldom Inn could hurt them this time around. Lining up will be two previous winners — 2016 scorer Vicente, a firstfence faller at Aintree, and 2014 winner Al Co. With a week of the season left, for champion trainer Paul Nicholls, even a 1-2 from Vincente and Arpege D’Alene does not look like being enough to claw back enough of the £300,000 he trails title leader Nicky Henderson, who himself has potent challengers in Premier Bond and Sugar Baron.