Ireland’s sprint stars travel with expectations

Ireland's stalwart sprint stars Sole Power and Gordon Lord Byron are each set for the 52nd starts of their illustrious careers in Haydock's Betfred Sprint Cup with hopes high among the latter's team in particular that he can repeat his 2013 success in the prestigious Group 1.

That victory was sandwiched between a pair of gallant runner-up placings in the race and although beaten on his previous start at the Curragh, Gordon Lord Byron's trainer Tom Hogan reckons his teak-tough performer remains as good as ever.

“He was a bit stiff after the Renaissance Stakes – he just doesn’t seem to cope that well with the undulations at the Curragh. He prefers level tracks like Haydock and Deauville,” Hogan said.

“I was very pleased with his third place in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville last month, which rates as good a performance as he has ever produced. I think the winner, Muhaarar, is the best sprinter we have seen in Europe for a while and the runner-up, Esoterique, went on to win a Group 1 a week later.

“Gordon Lord Byron tends to have little issues the whole time so some days he is not absolutely on his ‘A’ game and others he is. But we have learned to manage him – he is very precious to us.”

Wayne Lordan again teams up with Gordon Lord Byron but Chris Hayes is entrusted with Lordan's old partner Sole Power for the first time, charged with the task of trying to get Ireland's reigning Horse of the Year home in front for the first time ever over six furlongs.

Fourth

Eddie Lynam’s eight year old has failed in 11 starts to date, including when fourth to G-Force a year ago, and 12th behind Dream Ahead all the way back in 2011, but ran an encouraging fourth in the Nunthorpe at York recently on ground softer than ideal.

The third Irish hope, Due Diligence, is rated an outsider by bookmakers in a race for which the Hungerford winner Adaay, dropping back from seven furlongs, is anticipated to challenge for favouritism.

Lynam will return to York for Sunday’s Listed Garrowby Stakes with the filly Fort Del Oro who will be ridden by Colm O’Donoghue for the first time on just her fourth career start. She should be a major player on the back of a fine third to Mattmu at the Curragh last time.

O'Donoghue can successfully warm up for that task on board Jamesie at Navan today, a meeting where quick ground conditions could help the promising 5lb apprentice Robbie Downey towards a very lucrative afternoon's work. Downey is already on 16 winners for the season and his claim could prove a big help to Godolphin's Shrill in the Premier Nursery. She looked ill at ease on soft going at Newbury last time.

Catwilldo appears to have good claims in the sprint handicap, while a return to fast ground, and a first step up to 10 furlongs, can make Magia Del Corso an interesting option later in the meeting.