Charlie Appleby expects Pinatubo to prove a difficult nut to crack when he puts his unbeaten record on the line at the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes.
The Shamardal colt has been the celebrity juvenile season of the season – winning each of the four starts, such as stunning displays from the Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Vintage at Glorious Goodwood.
The kind of the latter race in particular could barely be working out better, with all the horses – Favorable and Lope Y Fernandez – equally winning at Style level .
Pinatubo checks the water in Group One level for the first time Sunday, with Appleby bidding for successes 12 weeks ago.
“It looks a great race, but that is exactly what you expect if you step up to Group One level,” said the Newmarket trainer.
“Our horse is in great order. He looks well, and his kind is still working out well.
“He’s not doing anything different to what he had been doing earlier in the summertime. He is not a workhorse that is fantastic, however he appears to produce his.
“It is his first start in Group 1 level. But his planning has gone , and I think he is the one they’ve got to beat.”
Aidan O’Brien has saddled 11 winners of the National Stakes – and also a assault is fired by this year.
The chief contender of the Ballydoyle handler seems to be Armory, who maintained his third win from four starts from the Futurity Stakes within this course and distance last month.
Armory is linked with Arizona – champion of the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and then fourth in the Prix Morny – as well as outsiders Iberia and Toronto, together with.
He explained:”Armory is in great form. No one wants to see races they all would like to observe the horses conflict.
“You win some and lose weight. You learn in case you need to enhance or if you’re good enough.”
Jim Bolger’s Geometrical, the Mark Johnston-trained Monoski along with Roman Turbo out of the yard of Mick Halford are another hopefuls.
The two-year-old fillies get their opportunity to shine with the Albigna the celebrity appeal of Jessica Harrington, in the Moyglare Stud Stakes.
The girl of Zoffany was kept fresh with this Group One assignment since following her up success at this track with success in the Group Two Airlie Stud Stakes at the end of June.
“She’s all set for this, and you would hope the step around seven furlongs will suit ,” said Harrington.
“She’s not run for a while. I hope she is the only one to beat but you don’t know, because there are one or 2 in there who have only won maidens.
“We’ll wait and see what happens daily.”
The biggest threat of albigna Seems to be Roger Varian raider Daahyeh – winner of the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot before being touched by Raffle Prize in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket.
“I’m hopeful of her remaining that the seven furlongs and really happy with her condition,” Varian told irishchampionsweekend.ie.
“The Curragh should not be a problem, but we must find out about the seven furlongs – plus it is a stiff seven furlongs there.
“Nevertheless, she’s a similar type of filly into Cursory Glance, that obtained the Moyglare to us in 2014, with also won the Albany.
“She boasts a number of the finest juvenile filly shape and contains strong credentials from the race, even if it is almost always a hot race at the Curragh.”
James Tate’s Under The Stars is another contender – while Aidan O’Brien runs Tango, Precious Moments Beautiful and Love.
The Ger Lyons-trained Soul Hunt and Bolger’s unraced filly Assurance complete the nine-strong field.
The first of four Group Ones on a day is the Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes.
The probable favourite for the five-furlong sprint is the Soffia, who makes her first appearance in July of Eddie Lynam.
Lynam is happy connections of Nunthorpe hero Battaash decided against a trip to Ireland, but is currently taking nothing for granted.
He said:”This has been the program, and it surely helps we do not need to take on Battaash. That said, the second (Soldier’s Call), third (Thus Perfect) and fourth (Mabs Cross) in the Nunthorpe are there.
“It is going to be hard, but I’d be very happy with her”
Michael Dods is expecting Mabs Cross will get back on the winning course, having finished on her last 3 starts behind Battaash.
“We had already decided we’re going into the Curragh before news came out Battaash was heading directly to France for your Abbaye, but obviously I am very happy Battaash isn’t going to flip up,” stated the Darlington-based coach.
“I think that the track will satisfy , and we need a wonderful pace to aim at.
“The sprinters do look more powerful over six furlongs – however, it’s nevertheless a Group One race, and they require a bit of winning. We’re pleased with her anyhow.
“We don’t require soft earth. It was quite quick ground for the Nunthorpe – I just hope it’s not that quick.”
Mick Appleby’s Caspian Prince, the Invincible Army of James Tate along with Martyn Meade’s Houtzen signify Britain.
The latter – formerly trained in Australia – created her trainer an encouraging start in Goodwood.
“Clearly she has had to adjust to a different training routine over here,” said Meade.
“In Australia they train them in the trail, but she is actually probably well-suited to the way we train here. She is not a sprinter that is typical – she.
“Her run at Goodwood was outstanding. I think that the ground and monitor will be fine for her at the Curragh, and she will then probably go to the Prix de l’Abbaye.”

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