RACING/Curragh preview: Ad Valorem produced a gutsy display in the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket yesterday to provide his trainer, Aidan O'Brien, with a long-overdue first Group One success in Britain this season. The Ballydoyle handler has seen several of his high profile horses fail to come up with the goods when sent abroad, but Ad Valorem made no mistake with a workmanlike performance in the £180,000 feature.
Jamie Spencer had the son of Danzig smartly into his stride and he settled him just off the pace, which was set by Prince Charming tracked by the winner's stable companion Russian Blue.
Al Valorem (9 to 2) moved up to challenge going into the Dip and quickly getting on top, he had plenty in reserve to hold the late charge of Rebuttal (9 to 1) by three-quarters of a length.
Meanwhile at the Curragh today, the Group Three CL Weld Park Stakes looks an ideal opportunity for Pictavia to gain compensation for a three-quarter length defeat in the Group One Moyglare Stakes.
That effort behind Chelsea Rose was Pictavia's first run for three months and although it was the same distance back to the third Saoire, there was little doubt about which was the most eye-catching effort. The Bolger filly looked no danger at the furlong pole, but then seemed to find another gear to be finishing best of all. It gave the impression that a mile would be ideal, but with testing conditions likely today the Curragh's seven will be a greater stamina test.
The Aidan O'Brien runner, Virginia Waters, looks a filly of some potential but right now it looks like Pictavia's opportunity.
Tolpuddle also returned from an absence last time out when running behind Troubador and if the ground continues to soften nothing in the Listed stakes will relish it more.
There is Grade One action at Tipperary tomorrow when Solerina's appearance in the John James McManus Hurdle is as clear a signal of the approaching winter as you will wish to see. James Bowe's star stayer is reported "in the form of her life" ahead of her first start of the season, but against that is the two-mile trip around the tight Limerick Junction track. What is certain, though, is that Solerina will relish the forecast soft going.
The Group Three Coolmore Concorde Stakes has the return of the seven-furlong specialist Abunawwas who was not suited by the fast ground in the Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh on Oaks day.
