Western Daily Press (Saturday)
O’Brien’s dominance appears set to continue
MAGNA Grecia can continue Aidan O’Brien’s dominance of the Vertem Futurity Trophy by taking the final Group One race of the domestic season at Doncaster.
O’Brien has captured this prize eight times, with such future stars as High Chaparral, Camelot and Saxon Warrior last year to be just two behind the record set by the late Sir Henry Cecil.
As usual, the Ballydoyle trainer had plenty to choose from to represent him – and Magna Grecia looks the pick of the bunch. The Invincible Spirit colt is the type of late maturing horse that fits the bill for the Town Moor showpiece, with one eye very much on next year.
Magna Grecia made his debut only four weeks ago over seven furlongs at Navan, where he won in tidy fashion.
He had his second start two weeks later and stepped up considerably on his first effort. However, he lost out by a neck to the more experienced French raider Persian King in the Group Three Autumn Stakes.
He stayed the mile well enough that day and, with plenty of improvement to come, he can go into his winter quarters as a possible Classic contender for 2019.
Meanwhile, Beat Le Bon could not quite peg back Summer Daydream in the Redcar Two Year Old Trophy, but Richard Hannon’s youngster can make amends by defying top weight to open his account in the Scott Dobson Memorial Handicap.
And Ripp Orf, trained by David Elsworth, can gain compensation for missing the cut in the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot on Champions Day last weekend with victory in the crownhotel-bawtry.com Optional Claiming Handicap.
Elsewhere, Bigmartre can make a successful start to the winter jumps season in the Randox Health Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.
Harry Whittington’s young jumper won three of his five starts last term and just did too much in front when well-beaten in the JLT Novices’ Chase. Thankfully, he ended on a winning note at Ayr and could be set for another lucrative year.
Gumball cut no ice in the Triumph last term, but ran a tremendous race when second in the Grade One Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree.
The Philip Hobbs-trained fouryear-old enjoyed a confidenceboosting success at Ludlow after that, and can make a winning return in the Mastersons Holdings Hurdle.