Fame And Glory showed his true colours with a masterclass of a display to provide Aidan O’Brien with a fourth Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh.
Curragh Winner Fame and Glory
And last year’s Irish Derby winner is set for a quick reappearance in the Investec Coronation Cup at Epsom on Friday week, with Stan James trimming him to 2-1 favouritism from 11-4 for the June 4 event. Johnny Murtagh’s mount enjoyed a confidence-boosting win last time out after being turned over on his seasonal bow, and any cobwebs must have been truly blown away as he thundered clear as the 8-15 favourite. Stan James cut today’s Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Fame And Glory from 3/1 to 2/1 favourite for the Investec Coronation Cup at Epsom next month, and from 10/1 to 7/1 jt fav for the Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October after his brilliant victory at the Curragh this afternoon
Dermot Weld’s Bethrah (16-1) got up in the dying strides to prevail in a blanket finish for the Etihad Airways Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh. Owned by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, the Marju filly hit overdrive inside the final furlong for Pat Smullen and sneaked up a tiny gap on the rail.
Aidan O’Brien’s Jan Vermeer (6-4 favourite) put himself right in the Investec Derby picture with an authoritative display in the Airlie Stud Gallinule Stakes. Carrying a 7lb penalty for his victory in the Criterium International in November, Johnny Murtagh was content to settle his mount in mid-division behind the pace-setting Bobbyscot. Stan James cut Jan Vermeer from 14s to 6/1 for the Investec Derby following his victory in today’s Gp 2 Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh.
Goldikova
Freddie Head’s superstar mare Goldikova made the perfect start to her five-year-old career with a cosy success in the Prix D’Ispahan at Longchamp. Nicely positioned behind the good gallop set by the pacemakers, Olivier Peslier asked her to quicken two furlongs out, and the response was fairly immediate.
Stan James kept Kite Wood and Kasbah Bliss unchanged at 8/1 for next month’s Gold Cup at Royal Ascot following the success of the former in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at Longchamp. Runner up Kasbah Bliss was given plenty to do by Thierry Thulliez but never looked like reeling in Frankie Dettori’s mount.
Canford Cliffs won the Irish 2000 Guineas At The Curragh on Satuday, very impressively……
Richard Hughes is relishing the prospect of Canford Cliffs again waging war with Makfi at Royal Ascot. The Richard Hannon-trained colt was a brilliant winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday, but had previously finished third behind the French raider in the Newmarket equivalent. Hughes is, however, confident of exacting revenge upon Makfi when the pair go head to head in the St James’s Palace Stakes on June 15. Royal Ascot is only 3 weeks away! We will be doing Free Royal Ascot Daily Podcasts.
