RACING CURRAGH REPORT:AIDAN O'BRIEN'S opening salvo on Europe's prestige prizes may have fallen badly short at Newmarket but Fame And Glory's return to winning form at the Curragh yesterday appears to be just a fraction of the ammunition the champion trainer is now planning to bring up from the Ballydoyle armoury.
O’Brien put in some Bank Holiday overtime with a dozen horses working after racing including another four-year-old star in Rip Van Winkle as well as Jan Vermeer who could return to action in Sunday week’s French 2,000 Guineas.
Johnny Murtagh rode Jan Vermeer in a mile workout with a lead horse and afterwards, O’Brien said; “Jan Vermeer is a possible for the French Guineas, although it might come a bit quick. There is also the Irish Guineas for him.
“The Irish Guineas is the plan for Steinbeck and he has done incredibly well. We’re looking at the Irish 1,000 for Lillie Langtry and Rip Van Winkle could start off in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot.”
The champion trainer also reported St Nicholas Abbey to be fine after his disappointing sixth in last Saturday’s 2,000 Guineas, while Devoted To You got struck into when disappointing in Sunday’s 1,000 and will be given a break. St Nicholas Abbey remains favourite for Epsom next month but O’Brien will start to cover his Derby options this week with Encompassing set to run in Chester’s Dee Stakes and Rocket Man in the Vase.
Captain James Cook and Don Carlos are possibles for the Lingfield Trial on Saturday while At First Sight and Midas Touch are due to fly the flag in Sunday’s Derrinstown at Leopardstown.
Fame And Glory is a proven Group One operator and he will return to the top-flight at the Curragh in just under three weeks when lining up for the Tattersalls Gold Cup. The 30 to 100 favourite duly won yesterday’s High Chaparral Mooresbridge Stakes by a cosy five lengths and both O’Brien and Johnny Murtagh are expecting more improvement by the Tattersalls.
“Johnny says he is coming forward all the time and he liked that even gallop,” O’Brien said.
Lolly For Dolly will also be back at the Curragh in 19 days when Tommy Stack’s filly will carry a definite chance, as well as an unbeaten record, into the Irish 1,000 Guineas after yesterday’s win in the Athasi Stakes.
BALLINROBE PREVIEW
SOME CHOICELY-BRED horses line up in this evening's conditions hurdle at Ballinrobe, but they can be trumped by the Willie Mullins-trained Cuchulains Son, writes Brian O'Connor.
Up against the Mullins’s runner are Kauto Relko, a half-brother to Kauto Star, and Sinntaran, a half-brother to Sinndar, but Cuchulains Son can make it third time lucky on his comeback. He was over two years on the sidelines but returned with a third at Naas in March and then ran a decent race at Punchestown until falling at the last in the race won by Our Gar.
Another Mullins runner to fall at Punchestown was Clear Gold but consolation looks to await Paul Townend’s mount in the handicap chase despite the presence of Jigalo.
Life Of Reilly started odds-on to win a bumper at Fairyhouse last November but had to give best to Tornedo Shay. That came on the back of good third over hurdles at Naas and that sort of form looks good enough for the opener.
Maucaillou has his sixth career start over fences in the Beginners Chase and this smart handicap hurdler could put that experience to good use.
