RACING NEWS:YEATS HAS been installed a 25 to 1 shot for October's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after owner John Magnier signalled his intention to enter the legendary stayer for Europe's premier all-aged race.
Speculation that Yeats would be retired after his historic four-in-a-row in last week’s Ascot Gold Cup appears to have been wide of the mark and jockey Johnny Murtagh’s contention that the eight-year-old could run well in an Arc seems to be shared by Magnier.
“His future will revolve around Goodwood, the Curragh and the Arc weekend. It will be a mixture of those options,” the Coolmore supremo reported. “He will be entered in the Arc but there is no guarantee he’ll run. But history tells us that good stayers can run well in the Arc like Levmoss and Ardross,” Magnier added.
Levmoss was an Arc winner in 1969 while Ardross was narrowly beaten by Akiyda in a tight finish to the 1982 Arc. Paddy Power’s reaction to the news was to make Yeats a 25 to 1 shot to win against Europe’s best middle-distance horses.
The former Irish Lincoln winner Crooked Throw would relish some ease in the going at Sligo this evening and is rated to come out best in the 10-furlong claimer off a mark of 90. Charlie Swan’s 10-year-old gets 7lb from All About Timing who won a similar race at Ballinrobe last week but is rated over a stone superior.
Wayne Lordan could have a good evening as he again teams up with the Tramore winner Daisy Mae Bates whose 8lb ratings hike puts her on top of the weights in the opening handicap.
Lordan is also on the Killarney winner Banna Man in the second handicap and Saturday’s Down Royal third can get the better of the novice chase winner Sonnium.
