Hartani's ability on testing ground to prove crucial

RACING:FOR HARTANI, today's Group Three Curragh feature lives up to its Gain Feeds Irish St Leger Trial title, and then a little bit more.

John Oxx’s progressive three- year-old is in contention for a classic tilt at the Irish Leger but is also a general 16 to 1 shot for the English Leger which is run on the same day in three weeks time.

Whether or not Hartani tackles Camelot at Doncaster or stays closer to home will depend to a large extent on how he gets on today.

The versatile grey faces just four opponents including his stable companion Aklan and last year’s Beresford winner David Livingston who returns for a first start since flopping in the Chester Vase in May.

On figures the 106 rated Ursa Major is by no means out of this either but in an all-three-year-old contest, Hartani’s proven course and distance ability on testing ground can prove crucial.

In prize money terms the most valuable pot of the day is the €95,000 Cambridgeshire and while some of Learn’s form makes the Aidan O’Brien-trained colt a standout he has been largely disappointing.

In contrast the five-year-old Sadler’s Mark is in the form of his life after wins at Galway and Naas within four days of each other and could complete a valuable hat-trick despite a 7lb penalty.

Considering he is a Group One runner-up, and 103 rated, it is remarkable that Leitir Mor is still a maiden after seven starts and that losing-streak could stretch to eight after the Listed Curragh Stakes.

Gale Force Ten’s Norfolk Stakes second to Reckless Abandon ensured he started favourite subsequently for the July Stakes at Newmarket but he ruined his chance by pulling too hard in the early stages and hanging under pressure. Aidan O’Brien applies first-time-cheek-pieces today and that can give Gale Force Ten an edge over Leitir Mor who he has beaten already.

The classically bred Where will be fancied in the opening Nursery but David Wachman should know where he stands with the Ballydoyle hope through his Tipperary winner Awakened Spirit.