Gunning for magnificent

A QUIET weekend. But just a week to wait for Longines Irish Champions Weekend, when I’ll be hoping for more big-race success.

Last year, I won the Group 2 Clipper Logistics Boomerang Stakes at Leopardstown on our Guineas winner Awtaad and, at the Curragh on the Sunday, I landed the valuable Tattersalls-sponsored Sales Race on Brian Ellison’s Orewa.

And my focus will be on those same races next week, when I’ll be on

in the

Boomerang and in the Sales Race, both for

Fozzy.

Alexios Komnenos is in good shape and working well since his Desmond Stakes win over the Boomerang course and distance.

He’s a colt that has always been highly-rated in Thomastown. We’re hoping he’ll make a big impression next week and, if Fozzy and his team can keep him right, he’ll make a smashing four-year-old.

Goodthingstaketime ran a cracker when beaten a half-length by Treasuring in the Group 3 Curragh Stakes and should run a big race, with just 8-6 on her back, in the Sales Race. But I suppose it would be a bit optimistic to think I could win both races again.

I’m facing a busy day with seven rides in Navan today before sacrificing my day off, a rare Sunday with no racing, to ride Alexios in work tomorrow morning, before sitting down to watch the Hurling Final, when I’ll be cheering for Waterford. Realistically, I’m more hopeful than confident about my rides in Navan which include Mick Mulvany’s in the Premier

Nursery.

I got a bit of praise for winning on this filly at the Curragh recently, when I did a solo up the far side until allowing my filly to drift across to join her rivals.

She was a bit fractious beforehand but enjoyed racing on her own and won well. But she’ll probably struggle off a 10lb higher mark today.

Fozzy runs the form horse of the race, under top-weight. But Dermot Weld’s filly looks ridiculously well-handicapped and is the one to beat.

I ride a couple for Harry Rogers and expect to figure prominently in the sprint handicap, he was badly drawn and could never get competitive at Bellewstown on Wednesday, behind Haqeeba.

I’ll be on for Ross O’sullivan, in the Like Navan On Facebook Handicap, hoping he can overcome an 8lb rise for his last-timeout win for Gary Carroll in Cork.

And it’ll be interesting to see how Andy Oliver’s

fares in the mile maiden. He’s a horse I liked when I rode him in work. He’s lightly-raced, with just one run as a two-year-old and his seasonal debut when sixth to Ringside Support at the Curragh five weeks ago. He’s open to improvement and could run well.