RACING: NAVAN PREVIEW:FAME AND Glory returns to Navan tomorrow for the first time in two-and-a-half years when he takes a significant step towards possible Ascot Gold Cup glory.
Aidan O’Brien’s 2009 Irish Derby hero made his debut at the Meath track in late 2008 when a maiden success was a prelude to a Group One success in France.
Fame And Glory has won at the top level three more times since in a glittering career that would have glittered even more had he not been foaled in the same year as a certain Sea The Stars.
The Listed Vintage Crop Stakes hardly seemed a likely option for the strapping horse on those days when he was runner-up to Sea The Stars in the Epsom Derby and the Irish Champion Stakes.
His record would have been sufficient for most bloodstock operations to have sent him off to stud by now, but Coolmore’s supply of Montjeu blood looks to have opened a potential new career avenue for Fame And Glory.
Paddy Power have installed him as 6 to 1 for the Gold Cup, and tomorrow’s race was the usual seasonal kick-off for the legendary stayer Yeats, who won it in 2007 and 2008.
One difference is that Fame And Glory will race in the colours of Fitri Hay, also involved in Cape Blanco, and the Hay’s retained jockey, Jamie Spencer, travels to Navan for the ride.
O’Brien’s star faces six opponents as he travels over a mile- and-a-half-plus for the first time, and, on official figures, he has a stone in hand on his rivals.
Tomorrow’s other Listed highlight at Navan is the Salsabil Stakes, in which O’Brien has three of the nine runners, including Gemstone, who kicked off her 2011 campaign with a second to Lolly For Dolly in a Group Three.
An interesting contender, though, is John Oxx’s Kirinda, who is already 33 to 1 for the Epsom Oaks despite having raced only once. That start came at Dundalk in December when comfortably beating Empowering, and the Aga Khan filly’s classic entries also include the Irish 1,000 Guineas and the Irish Oaks.
Oxx has given an upbeat bulletin on her progress this spring and Kirinda can highlight a fine afternoon for Johnny Murtagh.
The former champion jockey will also carry the Aga Khan’s colours on Zanughan, one of three Oxx runners in the concluding mile-and-a-quarter maiden, and the form of this one’s Curragh third to Marksmanship and Noble Graduate looks very strong.
Murtagh also teams up with Ger Lyons for Reasons Unknown in the mile-and-a-quarter handicap.
Shifa has been an expensive failure in four starts in Ireland, but she has Ruby Walsh on board for the first time in the mares maiden hurdle at Gowran tomorrow.
