JOHNNY MURTAGH travels to Longchamp tomorrow to team up with a couple of Classic contenders, including the Derby fancy Black Bear Island.
The full-brother to the 2002 Derby hero High Chaparral, currently a 14 to 1 shot for Epsom, is one of six lining up in the Group Three Prix La Force over a mile and a quarter.
“He needs the experience so he will go to France. The ground is good and should be fine,” trainer Aidan O’Brien said.
The champion trainer also saddles the Champagne Stakes winner Westphalia in the Group Three Prix De Fontainebleau over a mile, a race O’Brien has used before as a French Guineas trial for the likes of Landseer (2002) and Aussie Rules (2007.) Set Sail, the mount of Séamus Heffernan, is also set to run in the race.
Today’s home feature is the Listed Salsabil Stakes at Dundalk, where John Oxx’s course winner Timabiyra, a daughter of Timarida, can get the better of five older fillies.
Empirical Power might prefer a furlong longer than today’s six furlong handicap and could be vulnerable to the double-course and distance winner Romeo’s On Fire.
Cork’s feature is the Listed Imperial Call Chase which looks a good opportunity for the Tom Taaffe-trained Emotional Article.
