Eddie Lynam’s Sole Power in good shape for Hong Kong raid

Gordon Lord Byron and Parish Hall make up Irish representation at prestigious event

Craig Williams riding Tom Hogan-trained Gordon Lord Byron   in Sydney, Australia, earlier this year. Photograph: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images
Craig Williams riding Tom Hogan-trained Gordon Lord Byron in Sydney, Australia, earlier this year. Photograph: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Two of Irish racing's most stalwart international travellers, Sole Power and Gordon Lord Byron, will both try to make it third-time lucky in Sunday's prestigious international meeting in Hong Kong. Jim Bolger's Parish Hall will complete the representation from Ireland at the event.

Parish Hall is a 40-1 outsider for the mile-and-a-half Vase, a decade after Bolger famously won the mile-and-a-quarter Hong Kong Cup with Alexander Goldrun.

However, Sole Power and Gordon Lord Byron are general 10-1 shots for the Sprint, a race Sole Power has run in twice, finishing runner-up to Lord Kanaloa last year.

Eddie Lynam’s star challenges this time off a career-best campaign with wins in both the Kings Stand and the Nunthorpe.

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Gordon Lord Byron, a Group One-winner in Australia last March and at Ascot's 'Champions Day' festival, has been fourth in the last two runnings of the Mile at Sha Tin but is switched to the Sprint this time by trainer Tom Hogan.

All three Irish horses arrived in Hong Kong over the weekend.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column