RACING:RECITAL IS set to take the first step towards possible Derby glory in Sunday's Group Three PW McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown.
Some bookmakers rate the son of Montjeu as Aidan O’Brien’s number one hope for the Epsom Derby after a two-from-two juvenile career that ended in November with a top-flight success over ten furlongs in the Criterium De Saint-Cloud.
Recital was an impressive five-length winner in France and is as low as 10 to 1 in some ante-post lists for Epsom.
O’Brien has won the Ballysax on six occasions, most famously with both Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002), who went on to complete the Epsom-Curragh Derby double. The champion trainer also scored with another son of Montjeu, Fame And Glory, in 2009.
Ballydoyle have six of the 13 entries left in the Ballysax after yesterday’s forfeit stage and they include the 105-rated Treasure Beach, third to Frankel in Ascot’s Royal Lodge Stakes last September.
Jim Bolger won the Group Three event with Puncher Clynch last year and has entered the Galileo filly Claiomh Solais this time, although she also holds an entry in the mile and a quarter maiden on the same card.
Ground conditions at Leopardstown yesterday were officially “good” ahead of a meeting that will also include the Listed Heritage Stakes over a mile.
Last year’s winner Famous Name is one of eight possible runners and Dermot Weld’s stalwart six year old could attempt to secure a seventh success at the Co Dublin course. Weld has also entered the former Italian Guineas winner Libano.
“Famous Name is well and the plan is to run. He’s a joy to train and such a good horse. He has been very rewarding for his owner and all his connections,” Weld said.
Aidan O’Brien has left in last year’s Irish 2,000 Guineas third Viscount Nelson.
The Fielden Stakes at Newmarket next week is the likely kick-off point to the season for Marcus Tregoning’s classic hope Yaseer.
“He’s in really good form and we’re very pleased with him, but he’s a late May foal so we’ll have to bear that in mind. He’s going to Newmarket for the Feilden Stakes and even if he wins, we need to remember he’s a May foal so he might need time between his races – I don’t know,” Tregoning said.
“I’m very keen on the horse. He’s very athletic and he’s had a super winter. All things being equal he’s one of our better ones. He’s well bred and is out of the family of Height Of Fashion which is one I know very well.
“I know he won over a mile last year but he’s not short of speed, he has plenty, but we’ll see how his trial goes and see what Sheikh Hamdan wants to do,” he added.
