Curragh preview:New Approach has some famous footsteps to try to follow in at the Curragh but the unbeaten classic prospect can successfully follow the route carved out by his illustrious stable companion Teofilo in today's Group Two feature.
Like Teofilo, New Approach opened his career with a maiden win at headquarters before following up in the Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown. Teofilo went on to win the Galileo Futurity before hitting the Group One mark in both the National Stakes and the Dewhurst Stakes.
The encouraging factor for trainer Jim Bolger is that New Approach's Tyros victory was if anything more impressive than the former champion's and it was enough to send him to the top of some ante-post lists for next year's Derby.
New Approach is also as low as 14 to 1 for next season's 2,000 Guineas and today's event will have a real impact on classic betting since one of the Guineas co-favourites, Henrythenavigator, is scheduled to try to bounce back from his Phoenix Stakes defeat 13 days ago.
The forecast soft ground may not be as bad as it was when Aidan O'Brien's Royal Ascot winner failed to overhaul Saoirse Abu and the extra furlong should be no problem for the colt.
However, Bolger should know exactly where he stands with Henrythenavigator and his already high regard for New Approach can get even higher.
The Futurity has thrown up other star names such as Giants Causeway and Hawk Wing over the last decade but this afternoon's big money highlight will be the €300,000 Tatersalls Ireland Sale Stakes which has attracted a 22-strong field.
A dozen runners come from across-channel, including a pair from Peter Chapple-Hyam's powerful yard, but they could all have to go a bit to cope with Houston Dynimo. Kevin Prendergast's runner is dropping back from seven furlongs but he only just failed to overhaul his old rival Domestic Fund at Leopardstown last weekend after looking to be set quite a lot to do before the turn in.
The Listed Ballycullen Stakes throws up an interesting line up that includes the possible Melbourne Cup contender Galistic representing the in-form Pat Flynn as well as the Curragh Cup-winner Peppertree Lane from Mark Johnston's yard at the top of the weights.
At the other end of the weights scale is Hasanka, a former classic hope, whose return after a four-month absence was confidently expected to be successful only for her to be run out of it in the last strides by Downtown at Cork earlier this month.
Hasanka tackles 14 furlongs for the first time in her short career but it is significant that John Oxx has hiked her in trip and Michael Kinane's mount can use the weight allowances from her elders.
Piltown ran a fine fourth in the Galway Hurdle behind Farmer Brown for which he has been raised 10lbs. That puts him clear at the top of the weights for the four-year-old handicap hurdle on the last day of Tralee but the in-form horse can still see off his rivals.
