RACING:JOCKEY NIALL McCullagh will hope Saddler's Rock can kick-off a memorable weekend when the star Irish stayer lines up in York's Lonsdale Cup this afternoon.
Johnny Murtagh’s fractured cheekbone continues to present his friend McCullagh with big-race opportunities and the 43-year-old rider could have a couple of bumper pay-days to look forward to.
Just over a year ago, Saddler’s Rock provided the Co Carlow native with a high-profile Doncaster Cup victory, a Group Two success that the jockey subsequently added to on another Oxx runner Manieree in the Blandford Stakes.
Coincidentally, Manieree returns to action with McCullagh again on board at the Curragh tomorrow while he also has a ride in Europe’s most valuable handicap, the Ebor, to enjoy on the Knavesmire today.
Royal Diamond, trained by Tommy Carmody from a Curragh yard owned by Murtagh, is a general 25 to 1 shot in betting for the Ebor, a race won twice in recent years by Irish horses – Dirar (2010) and Sesenta (2009) – and which features a strong Irish challenge again. Jessica Harrington uses apprentice claims off both the topweight Steps To Freedom and Bob Le Beau while Dermot Weld also uses Leigh Roche’s 5lb allowance off Sense Of Purpose. Aidan O’Brien, an Ebor winner with Mediterranean 11 years ago, runs Harrison’s Cave.
Dermot Weld has already enjoyed a productive Ebor meeting and reported: “The draw in 22 is not encouraging but she’s a filly who is very very well. My apprentice Leigh Roche is very good, he has one 5lb claim left and hopefully he will lose it in the Ebor.”
Ryan Moore’s broken wrist means Willie Mullins turns to Jamie Spencer for Simenon in the Lonsdale where the double-Royal Ascot winner faces a big task trying to reverse Goodwood Cup form with his compatriot and Askar Tau. “He has a bit of ground to make up with a couple of them from Goodwood and we’re just hoping he can improve,” Mullins said yesterday. “You would say his Goodwood run was as good as his two runs at Ascot as obviously it was a better race.”
Tomorrow’s Group Two Galileo Futurity at the Curragh has been robbed of both favourites for next year’s classics after Aidan O’Brien took out Mars due to the prospect of testing going and Jim Bolger ruled out the Guineas ante-post market leader Dawn Approach.
“Unfortunately the ground isn’t going to be suitable, so he isn’t running,” said Bolger yesterday. “We can manage him at home and hopefully he will reappear in the National Stakes if conditions are suitable there.” Ballydoyle have used the Futurity as grade step-ups in the past for superstar names such as Giants Causeway and Hawk Wing and Aidan O’Brien has three of the five runners this time.
The trainer’s son Joseph has chosen Nevis but conceded yesterday: “Flying The Flag is a very nice horse as well. He also won his maiden in Leopardstown and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was my biggest danger.”
With an unsettled forecast, and the ground already soft at the Curragh, Manieree could have her ideal going on her first start of the season in the Group Three fillies race while Inxile can secure an eighth win in Ireland for Dandy Nicholls in the Flying Five.
