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Nurtagh admits soft spot for Rip.
In an interview this afternoon, Johnnie Murtagh admitted he has a liking for Rip Van Winkle, and although not confirming the fact he will ride the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas fourth in the Investec Epsom Derby, reading between the lines, it sounds very much like he will remain loyal to the three year old in June's Classic.
Mastercraftsman destroys his rivals in Curragh mud.
Aidan O'Brien's Viceroy of India set a good pace in the Boylesports Irish 2,000 Guineas, and Richard Hannon's Soul City and favourite Mastercraftsman followed on at their own pace. But at the two furlong pole, the race suddenly turned into a procession, as Johnnie Murtagh pushed the go button on Mastercraftsman, and he galloped away from his field, finishing six lengths in front of the running on Rayeni, with Soul City staying on for a solid third place.
Brian Meehan's Delegator tried to quicken at the three furlong pole, but he could not cope with the heavy conditions at the Curragh, and was unable to reproduce his form shown on firm ground in the Stan James 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
Utmost effort earns Respect for Greenlands victor.
Giving weight all round in today's Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh, Richard Fahey's Duke of York sprint winner Utmost Respect had to follow irish challenger Jumbajukiba in the early stages of the six furlong contest, but gradually he found his way to the rail, and started to wear down the leader, eventually going on to win his second Group race in ten days. Jumbajukiba stayed on to hold off another british rival, Icelandic, for second place.
After the race trainer Fahey commented,
"I was a little worried this race would come too soon after York, but he showed he loves soft conditions, just wearing everyone else down over today's trip. He has definitely improved this year, and with entries in all the big sprints, the only danger we will have to avoid is over-racing him".
Alyarf franks Craven Stakes form.
Always up with the pace in today's seven furlong contest, Craven Stakes third Alyarf took up the running in Newmarket's Listed King Charles II Stakes at the two furlong pole. He then held on to repel a late challenge from Nasri, maintaining trainer Barry Hills's fantastic start to the 2009 flat season.
As Saeed bin Suroor indicated earlier in the week, Breeders Cup Juvenile winner Donativum needed today's run, and this was supported by his head strong performance, which saw him only finish fourth after pulling strongly in the early stages of today's race.
Look Busy wears down Borderlescot.
Alan Berry's super filly Looks Busy handled the mud at Haydock better than favourite Borderlescot, just capturing the race by a head in the shadow of the post. Wee Dud, who had led at one stage, stayed on for third place, thereby lodging his best performance in nearly two years.
Palavicini hangs on from Father Time.
The Listed Fairway Stakes at Newmarket witnessed Big Bound and Palavicini battle for the lead right from the start, the latter taking it up at the two furlong from home pole, and when Palavicini could have been expected to falter as favourite Father Time started to pick up in the final furlong, John Dunlop's three year old founrd plenty, and held on for a deserved win.
On the evidence of the race, Henry Cecil's Father Time needs further than ten furlongs, and he probably needs a good surface, as he looked unbalanced on today's firmish ground.
Mud enables Festoso to recapture two year old form.
In the Cecil Frail Fillies Listed contest at Haydock Park, it seemed Pusey Street Lady had made the decisive break at the two furlong pole, But Harry Dunlop''s Festoso seemed to recapture her two year old form in today's heavy conditions, (having finished third in the Cheveley Park Stakes as a juvenile), and despite running around in the final furlong, she wore Pusey Street Lady down and scored quite a cosy win.
Nashmiah to swerve Curragh classic.
With the ground for Sunday's Irish 1,000 Guineas expected to be on the heavy side at the Curragh, trainer Clive Brittain has decided to withdraw Nashmiah from the one mile contest.
"She is in excellent condition, but her win at York was on very soft ground, and I am worried another race on testing conditions in two weeks could end up being too much".
"Having had a thorough discussion with connections, we have decided to go for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot instead".
Tregonning temporarily closes his yard.
With a viral infection sweeping through the one hundred horses in his Lambourn yard, trainer Marcus Tregonning has been left with no option but to suspend all racing activity, and to close his facilities until such time as the infection subsides.
Epsom to provide memorial race for Sir Clement.
In conjunction with new Derby Meeting sponsors Investec, Epsom racecourse are to stage a memorial race in honour of Sir Clement Freud on Derby day.
We are sure Clement is looking down and saying in his inimitable way,
"Why didn't you do it when I had a chance of picking the winner".
Geordieland likely entrant in Henry II Stakes.
Connections of last year's Ascot Gold Cup runner-up Geordieland have confirmed he is an intended runner in next Thursday's Henry II Stakes at Sandown Park. With the probability he will meet Sir Michael Stoute's Conduit in the Group 2 Betfair sponsored race, it will provide punters with a good yardstick for this year's Ascot Gold Cup betting.
Cat holds off Piranha attack.
Australia's leading sprinter Apache Cat scored his eighth Group 1 when winning today's Doomben 10,000 in Brisbane. But he had to fight off a late determined challenge from Black Piranha to land his second consecutive Doomben 10,000.
Set alight by jockey Damien Oliver as the runners entered the home straight, Apache Cat seem scalded as he shot away from his rivals, but in the final furlong, Black Piranha made relentless progress, just failing to get up by a fast diminishing head.
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