RACING ROUND-UP:SEA THE STARS plundered Newmarket on Saturday but the reverse could be the case when Luca Cumani brings Curtain Call back to the Curragh again for one of this Bank Holiday Monday's triple Group Three features.
The ex-Jessica Harrington-trained colt won the Beresford Stakes here as a two-year-old before joining Cumani’s yard and was an unlucky fifth behind Frozen Fire in last season’s Irish Derby when coming off worst of all in interference caused by Alessandro Volta.
Today's start in the High Chaparral Mooresbridge Stakes is his first since running down the field in the Grand Prix de Paris and Curtain Call's combination of proven stamina and ability to act in testing conditions looks the best bet among the seven runners.
They also include last year’s French Derby runner-up, Famous Name, who is rated to be a big danger.
However, the form of Dermot Weld’s colt tailed off significantly last season and his stamina may not survive a real slog, a comment that also applies to Kargali who steps up to 10 furlongs.
“Curtain Call is in good form, working well and will like the ground,” said Cumani yesterday. “It’s quite a tough race but I’m hopeful of a good run.”
Jim Bolger’s Vocalised returns to the course and distance over which he won earlier this season for the Tetrarch Stakes and does so on the back of an impressive Greenham Stakes success.
He is a clear form choice for the seven-furlong event and a strict reading of the book gives Vocalised a clear edge over What’s Up Pussycat, who finished third behind the colt last month. However, David Wachman’s filly didn’t appear to get the run of the race on that occasion, being held up the back off a slowish pace, and it’s significant that she is back for another crack at Vocalised.
The day's other Group Three, the Athasi Stakes, sees a clash of the generations, particularly with the four-year-old Mad About You up against the Bolger-trained Maoineach, who is on a retrieval mission after disappointing at Newbury last time.
She was impressive before that, won on her debut on soft ground, and looks worth another shout.
Dermot Weld’s Cheltenham third Rite Of Passage will be hard to beat in the bumper if still at his best, while Alfred Nobel should land the opener based on a fine debut effort at Naas.
Ruby Walsh travels north to Down Royal for another promising looking book of rides and Persian Citylooks the best of them in the conditions hurdle, while in Limerick Splurgeis a very interesting starter over fences in the Beginners Chase.
