GAVIN CROMWELL: With runners at The Curragh on Friday, Gavin previews their chances and picks out his Royal Ascot highlights as the yard prepares for a busy few weeks ahead.
RUNNERS AT THE CURRAGH
Innamorare is all set for this afternoon’s seven-furlong fillies’ handicap (4.50pm) at the Curragh.
Chris Hayes dropped his whip a furlong out when riding her the last day and she was probably a bit of an unlucky loser. He takes the ride again and we’re hopeful of a big run.
The question mark is the trip, as she’s probably better over a bit further.
Depending on how she runs today, she could go for the big £100,000 handicap over 1m2f at Leopardstown in a fortnight’s time.
Mutadaffeq is going to be a big price in the closing race (6.00pm) on the Saturday but he’s a definite place chance.
This is his first run on the Flat for us since coming over from David O’Meara’s yard, where he was rated in the nineties at one point.
He’s now off a mark of 79, we’ve booked Wayne Lordan, which has to be a positive, and we’re hopeful he can outrun his odds.
It’s hard to know exactly where we stand with him in on the Flat, as we’ve campaigned him exclusively over hurdles since he joined, but he looks well-treated on old form.
Legal Spin, representing Willie Mullins and Ryan Moore, looks the one to beat.Before that, all eyes will be on the Irish Derby (5.20pm).
I’d be delighted to see Madhmoon win it for Kevin Prendergast, and when you look at the Derby form
from Epsom there isn’t a lot between him and favourite Anthony Van Dyck.
You could have put a blanket over the first five home, and if you had run that race another three or four times then we may not have got the same result.
Anthony Van Dyck looks too short based on that and I can see Madhmoon getting up at a better price.
It’s a busy time for everyone as we’re now gearing up for a couple of the big festivals like Killarney and Galway.
We plan on having plenty of runners at both and the yard seems in good form.
ROYAL ASCOT HIGHLIGHTS
Blue Point has to be the highlight of the week. Winning two races at the meeting in the space of five days is a very special achievement.
In terms of eye-catchers, I thought Pinatubo was very impressive. He broke the two-year-old track record and it will be exciting to see how he progresses.
The other big story of the week was Frankie [Detorri]. He’s just absolutely brilliant and showed once again that he truly is the best man for the big day.
He really enhances the sport and he’s an exceptional rider.
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