THE DANDY Nicholls-trained Hindu Kush makes the long journey from Yorkshire to Roscommon for this evening’s Listed feature but could have to give best to an Aidan O’Brien dark horse in Von Jawlensky.
They are among six runners for the Lenebane Stakes over a mile and a half that also includes the Gallinule Stakes runner-up, Alaivan, who represents the John Oxx-Mick Kinane team.
Hindu Kush beat another Oxx horse (Alandi) in the Saval Beg at Leopardstown before running sixth to Yeats in the Ascot Gold Cup. Tonight’s mile and a half may be on the short side for him and there is no guarantee he will relish soft ground. In contrast the trip and conditions look ideal for Von Jawlensky, who beat little in a Curragh maiden over Derby weekend but could hardly have been more impressive doing it. In Johnny Murtagh’s continuing absence, Séamus Hefferan steps in for the ride.
Camira has a 5lb penalty in the fillies handicap for winning at Fairyhouse last week but can defy that while ground conditions shouldn’t be a problem for Wellforth in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle.
- Aidan O’Brien’s Westphalia ran far too freely in taking fifth place behind the Karl Burke-trained Lord Shanakill in the Group One Etihad Airways Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly yesterday.
