FORM ROCK SOLID FOR GOFFS MILLION
“The horse that came fifth (at York, Local Dynasty) has won by fourth lengths since, hard on the bridle, the horse in eighth (Chillhi) went and won off 85 in a nursery. The form is as strong as you’ll find.
“He’s been working really well, I’ve been very happy with him, we just have to hope he covers himself in glory at the weekend.
“It’s a wide-open race but there are some very good horses in there and I’m under no illusion as to how difficult it will be to win
so it should be for a race worth €1m.” Meanwhile, Aidan O’Brien sends Adelaide River and Continuous into battle in a bid to continue his total domination of today’s Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford Stakes.
The Ballydoyle handler has saddled a staggering 21 previous winners of the juvenile Group Two, including each of the last 11.
St Nicholas Abbey (2009), Saxon Warrior (2017) and last year’s victor Luxembourg are among the O’Brien stars to have used the Beresford as a stepping stone.
String
The stable’s first string appears to be Adelaide River, who impressed on his racecourse debut on the all-weather at Dundalk before finishing second a Group Three at ParisLongchamp earlier in the month.
Continuous, meanwhile, has his sights raised after making a successful start to his (far left) career at the Curragh.
O’Brien said: “Adelaide River won at Dundalk on his first run and then we sent him to France for a Group Three.
“Continuous is a lovely colt by Heart’s Cry. He won on his debut at the Curragh very nicely over seven furlongs and we think he’ll enjoy stepping up to a mile.”
Adelaide River renews rivalry with the Jessica Harrington-trained Pivotal Trigger, who was only three-quarters of a length behind him in France.
Joseph O’Brien saddles Bellewstown winner Roaring Gallagher, as well as Lakota Seven, who finished fourth in the Futurity Stakes when last seen.