HORSES TO FOLLOW: 'He looks nicely treated now and has plenty of options' 09 June 2023 Free

Sovereign Duke

(John Hanlon)

Tramore, June 3rd

1 Don’t give up on Sovereign Duke after his fifth place finish to Story Rory in an extended two-mile-five-furlong handicap hurdle at Tramore last Saturday. Shark Hanlon’s gelding arrived into the race with a threatening challenge but failed to see out his final furlong to the desired effect, eventually trailing the winner by 11 lengths. Tramore can catch out plenty of horses and indeed, Sovereign Duke ran much better when a close second to Hi Ski in a two-mile handicap hurdle at Tipperary on his penultimate start. Off a mark of 99 over hurdles, he remains of interest in handicap hurdles, especially when you take into account his flat form in Britain for Henry Candy. (RG)

Global Export

(Gavin Cromwell)

Listowel, June 4th

2 In a slowly-run two-mile contest that appeared to favour the prominently ridden horses, Global Export was a big eye-catcher, staying on strongly from the back for Robert Whearty to take third. This was Gavin Cromwell’s gelding’s first start off a mini-break and it was most encouraging. He began last summer with a mark of 125 over hurdles and 71 on the flat but failed to really make a mark, regressing his assessment in both spheres. He is nicely treated now and will have plenty of options to prove that in both codes over the next few months. (RG)

Mister Wilson

(Gavin Cromwell)

Listowel, June 5th

3 Mister Wilson has been a decent operator on the flat and he has the potential to translate a good portion of that ability to hurdles after he got off the mark at the fourth time of asking when seeing off Suttons Hill in a two-mile maiden hurdle at Listowel on Monday. Gavin Cromwell’s gelding had performed well in his three previous starts but this was a step up, given the level of Suttons Hill’s previous second at Punchestown and given the pair pulled well clear of their rivals. His progress on the flat was gradual, but he has lots of good form, and that may well be the case for him over hurdles. Two of his wins came at Galway so a trip back to Ballybrit is likely to be front and centre of any long term objectives. (RG)

Hialeah

(Charles Weld)

Gowran, June 5th

4 Trainer Charles Weld is seeking his first winner with a licence and Hialeah could be the one to get him off the mark before long, having finished an encouraging second on his seasonal reappearance at Gowran behind a ready winner. A Shadwell castoff bought for €17,500 as a yearling, he hinted at some potential in his early runs last season but started the current campaign with a mark of 63. Gelding him during the off-season appears to have done him little harm and a 2lb rise for this effort means he can crucially remain in the 47-65 bracket. (MB)

Portland

(Aidan O’Brien)

Curragh, June 7th

5 It was likely a strong seven-furlong juvenile maiden that Islandsinthestream won at the Curragh on Wednesday and the Aidan O’Brien-trained third Portland could be tough to beat next time if progressing from the run as anticipated. Bred to be smart as a Dubawi colt out of Galileo mare Zagitova, who finished third in the Debutante Stakes and fourth in the Moyglare Stud Stakes, Portland raced handier that the first two home but kept boxing on well in third and should benefit a fair deal from this initial outing. The winner appears to be highly regarded and the well-backed runner-up cost 115,000gns at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale. This was a lovely introduction from the Ballydoyle colt. (MB)

My Mate Alfie

(Ger Lyons)

The Curragh, June 7th

6 From the beginning of 2021 to the opening two months of this season, Dark Angel delivered more second-time-out juvenile winners than any other sire in Britain and Ireland - representing marked improvement from his weaker strike rate on debut. Given how his progeny can often improve plenty from runs one to two, there was major promise to be gleaned from his son My Mate Alfie’s introductory second at the Curragh in a six-furlong contest won by Railway Stakes-bound The Liffey. Representing a Ger Lyons team who haven’t yet fully reached their usual standard of form this season, this €70,000 yearling purchase made excellent late headway and looks a maiden winner in waiting. He could be quite useful. (MB)

Bindi Sue

(Joseph O’Brien)

The Curragh, June 7th

7 There was lots to like about how well-bred Australia filly Bindi Sue rattled home from off the pace for second behind the experienced, 87-rated Scarlett O’Hara in the mile and a half fillies’ maiden on the same card. Effectively the only one to make an impact at the business end from off the pace, she was eighth and had plenty on her plate with two furlongs left to run but stayed on strongly to get within a length and a half of the winner, with third-placed Aird also running a promising race. Bindi Sue has a lovely pedigree, being a half-sister to Group 2 Superlative Stakes winner Mystery Power, 100-rated handicapper Fayez and Group 3 runner-up Seaella, while she is also a full sister to Aidan O’Brien-trained Curragh maiden winner Yarrawonga. If sharpening up for this debut effort as expected, she should have little issue winning a similar maiden next time. (MB)

My Mate Mozzie

(Gavin Cromwell)

Curragh, June 7th

8 There could well be a decent flat staying handicap in 141-rated hurdler My Mate Mozzie after shaping with some promise on his return from a 213-day absence in a premier handicap at the Curragh. Easy enough to back late on, the Gavin Cromwell-trained seven-year-old, who had Mighty Potter and Impervious behind when beaten a short-head in the 2021 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle, was entitled to need this reappearance run and threw down a challenge before fading a little close home. He was still only beaten four lengths by race-fit rivals, including Ebor-bound Nusret, and it would be interesting if connections turn him out quickly for a tilt at the Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot. He was also helpfully dropped 1lb to a mark of 92 following Wednesday’s run. (MB)

Cash Or Crypto

(David Marnane)

The Curragh, June 7th

9 Cash Or Crypto bounced back to form to run a fine third to Run Ran Run in a five-furlong handicap at the Curragh on Wednesday evening. David Marnane’s colt, racing from 3lb out of the handicap, started slowly again, but the decent pace suited him, allowing him to pick off runners comfortably in the closing stages, and he looked set to win before his effort petered out close home - when he probably wasn’t convenienced by the winner hanging over to him. He had disappointed on his previous run at Tipperary but his second to the very useful Lord Massusus at Naas prior to that was a good run. He strikes as one who could benefit from a big field where a solid pace is near guaranteed. There may be an opportunity there for him land a big pot this season. (RG)

Mobilise

(Ger Lyons)

Leopardstown June 8th

10 This full-brother to the dual Group 2 scorer Threat has been a disappointment so far but on his handicap debut at Leopardstown on Thursday, he showed the first signs of life with an eye-catching run to finish third to Parana Delta. He received a bump just after coming out of the stalls with the result that he was knocked back to the rear but Gary Carroll allowed him to find his way back into the race. The pair weaved their way into contention in the straight but by the time they had clear daylight, the cannily ridden Parana Delta had an unassailable lead.

Nonetheless, Mobilise should be winning very soon off a mark in the high 60s or low 70s, and he could yet improve to be a smart handicapper this term. He is not the only horse from his yard to feature on this page as the Lyons team seems to be getting going. (RG)