Unbeaten Pinatubo and globe-trotter Cross Counter might give Godolphin, Charlie Appleby and William Buick a Group 1 double on a superb nine-race card at the Curragh on Sunday.
Four Grade 1 races will provide plenty of food for thought. But, for many, the main attraction will be the ‘Pat Smullen Champions Race For Cancer Trials Ireland’, featuring Ruby Walsh, Tony McCoy, Charlie Swan, Johnny Murtagh, Paul Carberry, Kieren Fallon, Richard Hughes, Joseph O’Brien and Ted Durcan.
Unbeaten in four races and hugely impressive when slamming subsequent Group 3 winners Positive and Lope Y Fernandez in the Qatar Vintage Stakes in Goodwood, Pinatubo will be a strong odds-on favourite for the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes.
Pinatubo looks an exceptional juvenile and is expected to prove too strong for Aidan O’Brien’s progressive Armory, winner of the ‘Futurity’ (group 2) last time and the choice of Ryan Moore, and ‘Coventry’ winner Arizona.
In the final classic of the Irish season, the Comer Group International Irish St Leger, Melbourne Cup and Dubai Gold Cup victor Cross Counter boats the best recent form and, on that basis, gets the vote.
Beaten less than two lengths behind super-stayer Stradivarius in the Ascot Gold Cup, the Godolphin hope finished third behind John Gosden’s star and Dee Exx Bee in the Goodwood Cup last time.
Leading opposition to the selection is Aidan O’Brien’s Kew Gardens, winner of the English St Leger a year ago and Joseph O’Brien’s pair, last year’s Irish Derby winner Latrobe, back to winning ways at Leopardstown last time, and Master Of Reality a close third in the Ascot Gold Cup.
Jessica Harrington’s tremendous season with her juvenile fillies might be crowned by unbeaten Albigna in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes.
This Zoffany filly has won her two outings.
This longer trip should bring more improvement. And Shane Foley’s mount might have the edge over form choice Daahyeh, representing British trainer Roger Varian and coming into the race on the back of an Albany Stakes win at Royal Ascot and a very good second to Raffle Prize in a Group 2 at Newmarket.
And Eddie Lynam’s improving filly Soffia, successful at listed, Group 3 and Group 2 level, landing the Sapphire’here last time, might make her Group 1 breakthrough in the Derrinstown Stud Flying Five.
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