RACING:AIDAN O'BRIEN is looking forward to running St Nicholas Abbey again after the colt confirmed his early promise with a brilliant victory at Chester.
The four-year-old had not won since lifting the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster in October 2009 before he spreadeagled the field in the Ormonde Stakes on Friday.
He has lots of entries, including the Tattersalls Gold Cup, the Coronation Cup, Ascot Gold Cup and Coral-Eclipse.
“I felt I made a total mess of him last year by running him in the 2000 Guineas,” said the Ballydoyle trainer.
“It just went wrong one day after another and that’s why we kind of pulled up and didn’t get to run him at the end.
“It was lovely to see him start back at the Curragh (third to Unaccompanied). He ran a lovely race and came forward from it.
“We were delighted the other day and Ryan (Moore) was pleased with him. You saw what he did at Chester and you couldn’t say he wasn’t back to his best when he put up a performance like that. Hopefully he’ll go on to his third run now.”
And Kieren Fallon gave a glowing endorsement for one of O’Brien’s other charges, seeing no reason why Recital cannot put up a good performance in the Investec Derby.
The six-times English champion jockey partnered the colt to victory in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown on Sunday.
And he compared Recital to High Chaparral, who won the Classic trial before going on to glory at Epsom in 2002.
“I could have ridden a nicer, smoother race and I think he’d have been more impressive,” said Fallon.
“He still got the job done. This is one of the strongest trials we have before the Derby. He’s a typical Montjeu horse – a lovely, easy horse. I think you could take this horse anywhere as nothing fazes him.
“I got to the front too soon and he spooked a little. When Aidan takes him home and does some work with him, he’ll be a different horse.
“At this stage it is probably one of the strongest trials we have up until the Derby.
“Look at the good horses like High Chaparral that won it in the past and went on to win the Derby. I can’t see why this horse wouldn’t be in the same calibre.”
O’Brien added: “He’s a horse with a lot of speed at home and always tried to concentrate on getting him relaxed.
“The horse learned a lot and Kieren would have learned a lot.” Recital earned mixed reviews after his victory and his price varies between 9-2 and 7-1 for Epsom on June 4th.
At Roscommon last night, 16-1 shot Information was the convincing winner of the handicap chase for trainer James Brennan.
The winner took control of proceedings after Sigma Lifestyle crashed out three from home, with jockey Eddie O’Connell steering his charge to a seven-length success. Maya Quest destroyed his rivals to spring a 25-1 shock in the bumper.
