Causeway ready

With such a weekend focus on steeple-chasing's ultimate test, it seems almost incongruous to be thinking of the flat classics…

With such a weekend focus on steeple-chasing's ultimate test, it seems almost incongruous to be thinking of the flat classics but Giant's Causeway will provoke an immediate switch of attention to the Curragh tomorrow.

Unbeaten in three races as a juvenile including the Prix de la Salamandre, the Aidan O'Brien trained Storm Cat colt is as low as 4 to 1 for the 2,000 Guineas with Ladbrokes, has a rating of 120 and on the book should be easily capable of taking the Castlemartin Stud Gladness Stakes.

It might not be as easy as all that however. On a recent press day at Ballydoyle, Giant's Causeway looked well but also that a little more time may not do him any harm.

There is also the matter of the opposition which includes the decent handicapper Tarry Flynn and the Group winner Show Me The Money as well as ground that may not be as quick as O'Brien would like.

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Having said all that though, it will still be seriously disappointing if Giant's Causeway isn't able to cope with these factors although in the light of Apollo Victoria last weekend, it may not be judicious to take too short a price.

The Ballydoyle team can also score in the conditions fillies race with the unbeaten Eyrefield Stakes winner Chiang Mai whose stamina should be enough to take care of this field.

In the light of the wonderful form being shown by the Jim Gorman trained horses this term, a value bet tomorrow could be Dragon Triumph in the ten furlong handicap.

The former Ulster Derby winner started last season on a rating of 100 but a five race campaign yielded little but a drop to 85 for today.

Dragon Triumph was gelded towards the end of the term, a process that did wonder for Gorman's Cobourg Lodge last weekend and a return to his best would see this horse being a value, each way bet.

Rush Brook is just preferred to his Fairyhouse conqueror Cobourg Lodge at a difference of 3 lbs. over the six furlongs of the Duffy Handicap and even on the ground, the Theatrical colt Media Puzzle is taken in the ten furlong handicap.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column