Racing: It's 22 years since Dermot Weld had his only previous success in an English classic but there is growing confidence in Refuse To Bend's chance of bridging the gap in today's Sagitta 2,000 Guineas.
Aidan O'Brien is double handed with Hold That Tiger and Tomahawk but prolonged rain at Newmarket turned the ground "good to soft" yesterday and possibly turned the momentum Weld's way.
The Curragh trainer had been looking for just such a surface for his unbeaten colt who defied a 7lb Group One penalty on his seasonal reappearance at Leopardstown. "I'm very happy with Refuse To Bend and he has completed his preparations perfectly. I'm happy with the rain and the ground should be suitable," said Weld yesterday.
"It's true I had been looking at him as a possible Derby horse but he is not short of pace, he did a good time in his last race and the fourth that day (France) has won a Group race since," he added.
In contrast O'Brien provided a hopeful, rather than confident, bulletin from Ballydoyle as he goes in search of a third Guineas victory to add to King Of Kings (1998) and Rock Of Gibralter (2002.) Hold That Tiger has been a weak ante-post favourite this week and significantly there has been support for his stable companion Tomahawk.
"The better the ground the better both of ours would like it. Hold That Tiger is very well but like every horse having his first start of the season you would hope he will improve and go on. Tomahawk finished well in France last time and on pedigree should get a mile," O'Brien said.
Tomahawk is drawn two but the rest of the main fancies are drawn high including the Godolphin colt Lateen Sails who is 20 of 20.
There have been positive noises from the Dubai operation this week but the bare form of the colt's only start last year, beating the O'Brien colt Powerscourt, doesn't read as something that will scare the Irish team.
O'Brien runs both Yesterday (Mick Kinane) and L'Ancresse (Kevin Darley) in tomorrow's 1,000 Guineas and, even on a first start of the season, Yesterday has her chance.
The sister to the top-class Quarter Moon is a winner on soft ground and is reportedly impressing at Ballydoyle.
At a double figure price she could be a value alternative to the French pair Six Perfections and Intercontinental.
