Toshizou should prove tough to beat in the Irish Stallion Farms Star Appeal Stakes, one of two listed events for two-year-olds on tonight’s Dundalk card.
Joseph O’Brien runs both this Galileo colt, winner of his maiden in Tipperary last time, beating the well-regarded Baseman with subsequent winner Matchless fourth, and dual nursery winner Magnanimous.
And Toshizou probably has more scope for improvement and, with Declan McDonogh on board, gets the vote.
Shane Crosse, who partners Magnanimous and who has three rides in Longchamp tomorrow, Pista, Mythical and Ancient Spirit – all for different trainers – will be on board O’Brien’s Larado, my Friday nap, in the seven-furlong nursery.
Third to matchless in Listowel, he’ll be helped by the return of blinkers and should prove too strong for top-weight Fight Zone.
Johnny Murtagh, whose stable star Champers Elysees is bound for the Sun Chariot in Newmarket tomorrow, with Colin Keane (now level with Shane foley in the title-race) on board might land the earlier Legacy Stakes with Measure Of Magic, a good third in the Group 2 Flying Childers at Doncaster last time.
Gowran Park stages jumps action today and tomorrow. And Buildmeupbuttercup should land today’s listed Pat Walsh Memorial Mares Hurdle for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.
Fifth to stable-companion Aramon in the Galway Hurdle before scoring in a weak affair in Killarney, she finished fifth to Halimi in a premier handicap, on the flat, last time.
*Following the withdrawal of Love, due to unsuitably soft ground, Ryan Moore will now ride Mogul in the ‘Arc’ on Sunday, when Aidan O’Brien will also be represented by Sovereign (Mikael Barzalona), Japan (Yutake Take) and Serpentine (Christophe Soumillon).
Meanwhile, Gowran Park stages jumps action today and tomorrow.
And Buildmeupbuttercup should land today’s listed Pat Walsh Memorial Mares Hurdle for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.
Fifth to stable-companion Aramon in the Galway Hurdle before scoring in a weak affair in Killarney, she finished fifth to Halimi in a premier handicap on the flat last time.
