THERE MAY not be any Aidan O’Brien-trained runners in tomorrow’s races at the Curragh but the new favourite for the 2,000 Guineas, Mastercraftsman, is set to head a blue-blooded team from Ballydoyle in a series of workouts after racing at headquarters.
O’Brien has used the opportunity to gallop some of his top races at the Curragh in the past and is planning to do the same this time.
Last year’s European champion juvenile Mastercrafstman has replaced his stable companion Rip Van Winkle in ante-post betting for the Guineas this week and both are due to have a spin up the Curragh tomorrow evening.
“We’re planning to bring them, and some other horses, to the Curragh to work after racing and we’ll know more when we see how that goes and how they come out of the work,” O’Brien reported.
Today’s Gowran Park fixture starts half an hour earlier than originally scheduled to allow racegoers watch this evening’s Grand Slam game in Cardiff. Those arriving for the first should make the most of it too as Baily Light looks a reasonable bet to score for the Mouse Morris team. The step up to two and a half miles looked to improve the horse on his last start at Clonmel and this more testing course should suit.
Travino, a former Grade One winner over hurdles, has had his career disrupted by injury in recent years but can return to winning form in the Beginners Chase.
He did better on the second of his two Naas starts behind Joncol and could pip Stewarts House if today’s race comes down to a scrap. Ocean Cowboy put in a fine effort when runner-up to Mask Of Darkness at Leopardstown and improvement will make him hard to beat in the maiden hurdle.
