RACING:JOHNNY MURTAGH jets back from Dubai to ride at Leopardstown's Guineas Trials meeting tomorrow and can help Cocozza graduate to potential classic status.
Murtagh’s new position for 2011 is as number one rider in Ireland for the Aga Khan but Cocozza is owned by Byerley Racing, whose 85,000 guineas investment in the son of Elusive Quality now looks a good piece of business.
After a narrow defeat at the Curragh on his debut, Cocozza followed up with an easy success at Cork over his stable companion Manieree who won a Leopardstown maiden herself afterwards.
Cocozza is open to any amount of improvement and takes on just three opponents in the 2,000 Guineas Trial. They include the Racing Post fifth Dunboyne Express and the nine-length Navan maiden winner, Exodus.
But despite being the least experienced of the quartet, Cocozza can come out on top.
John Oxx also has three in the 1,000 Trial, including Manieree, but Murtagh’s presence on the Curragh maiden winner History Note looks significant, while the regally bred Wonder Of Wonders is one to watch in the opener.
Today’s Grade Two feature at Navan is the Webster Cup and Made In Taipan can improve on last year’s runner-up placing to Glencove Marina in this race. Tom Mullins’s versatile runner ran well when runner-up to Stonemaster at Leopardstown a month ago.
Paul Townend is hot favourite to land the Irish jockeys’ title now that Davy Russell is out injured for a fortnight and he can strike again today. Tawaagg should relish better ground in the novice chase and Bold Present can notch a hat-trick in the handicap hurdle.
