THIRTEEN British and two Belgian trained two year olds are declared for today's restricted but valuable Tattersall Breeders Stakes at the Curragh. The draw invariably plays a crucial role with low numbers holding a decisive advantage. Indeed, in the last two runnings the winner was drawn number four on the stands side. Of those drawn 1 to 10 today, five are British, including two of Jack Berry's trio. Berry won this event three years ago with Palace Gate Jack.
The Richard Han non trained Miss Stamper (drawn 10), successful in a valuable Newbury race over five furlongs, a maiden auction at Chepstow and a nursery under 9st 2lb at Newmarket, appears to be on the upgrade. She will be one of the better fancied. However, there may not be much to choose between her and stable companion Pelham (12).
Mark Johnston, who won with Lovememillions three years ago, is now represented with the speedy Top Of The Form, a half sister to the good sprinter Double Quick and an easy winner of a five furlong nursery from three previous winners at York. She was since third in a nursery at Goodwood. She, Miss Stamper and Pelham - narrowly beaten in a nursery at Kempton - look the pick of the raiders, many of whom have little to recommend them. However, Miss Stamper is not well drawn.
Aidan O'Brien, who saddled the first two home from nine runners last year, runs four this time, including well drawn Distinctly West (6). The Charles O'Brien trained Fairy Song is best drawn number one. The filly ran Trapped to half a length at Tipperary but the latter subsequently finished a remote last in a listed race at Leopardstown.
I would have no hesitation in nominating Guntire but to his unfavourable draw (27). He was short headed by the well regarded Beautiful Fire over this course in June and the following month beat Churchland by two and a half lengths over the same course and distance. Declan Gillespie's charge, the mount of Michael Kinane, stays well and he and the Aidan O'Brien trained Melleray (26), an impressive winner over five furlongs here last month, will probably lead the far side home.
Distinctly West, successful over seven furlongs at Galway and Gowran Park, was beaten three short heads in a recent Roscommon Nursery. Go Thunder, who finished second, was an easy winner of a nursery at Tralee on Monday. Distinctly West should be well suited to this six furlongs and is the choice to register another victory for Aidan O'Brien.
Equal Rights, fourth in a Group Three at Goodwood, may be the pick of the four English trained challengers for the Group Three Futurity Stakes. Beautiful Fire and dual winner Swift Gulliver can hold the challengers and of the two I just prefer Beautiful Fire.
