Willie Mullins is already the champion trainer over jumps in both Ireland and Britain and he will attempt to extend his success to one of the Flat’s seasons most prestigious races when Lope De Lilas goes to post as one of the favourites for the Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday.
Mullins’s father, Paddy, won the same Classic in 2003 with Vintage Tipple, and Lope De Lilas will set off at around 7-1 after a convincing success in a maiden at Leopardstown in May, when she carried the colours of Mullins’s wife, Jackie. Lope De Lilas has since been sold to race for the Qatar-based Wathnan Racing operation and will be ridden by its retained rider, James Doyle, on Saturday.
“It would mean a huge amount to Willie if he could emulate his father in winning an Irish Oaks,” Mullins’s son and assistant, Patrick, said on Friday. “It would be up there with the top of his achievements. James Doyle came over to ride her work at the Curragh on Tuesday and she worked very well. It’s a big ask but we are very happy going there, so fingers and toes crossed.”
Content, Ryan Moore’s choice from three entries from the Aidan O’Brien yard, is the likely favourite for Saturday’s race at around 3-1, while another runner from the same yard, Port Fairy, is a 5-1 shot to give Wayne Lordan, her jockey, the first Classic success of his career.
Three of the last four winners of the £250,000 Newbury Super Sprint, in which the weights are determined by each runner’s price at public auction, have arrived with strong form at Royal Ascot to their name, but less-exposed types also have a decent record overall in this unusual contest and at around 7-1, Time For Sandals (3.35) could be the pick of the prices in the latest renewal on Saturday.
All the money this week has come for It Ain’t Two, the runner-up in a Listed event at Sandown this month, but while she has an obvious chance on that run, it was the fifth start of her career and not a significant advance on her form in a similar event at Newmarket in June.
It could require another step forward to see off the improvers in Saturday’s field, and Harry Eustace’s filly has solid claims. She showed an impressive turn of foot to make a winning debut at Kempton last month and hails from a yard whose juveniles tend to progress significantly for a run.
Cartmel 1.40 Belles Benefit 2.10 Malangen 2.45 Jolie Couer Allen 3.20 Starlyte (nb) 3.55 Carcaci Castle 4.30 Happy Du Mesnil 5.00 Over Milk Wood
Ayr 2.30 Tilsitt 3.05 Hammer The Hammer 3.40 La Boo 4.15 Eternal Sunshine 4.50 Concert Boy 5.25 Helter Skelter
Windsor 5.18 Spirited Dancer 5.50 Fleetwater 6.20 Izipizi 6.50 Raheen Rode 7.20 Supreme King 7.50 Warren Hill 8.20 Golden Phase 8.50 Adace
Beverley 6.00 Sensorium 6.30 Toptime (nap) 7.00 Tropez Power 7.30 Alice’s Impact 8.00 Twilight Jazz 8.30 Dr Rio 9.00 Princess Niyla
Newbury 1.50: Despite looking distinctly unenthusiastic at times, Al Aasy is still capable of useful form and could be a value price to repeat last year’s win in this race as Jim Crowley, the owner’s retained rider, has opted for the favourite, Alyanaabi.
Market Rasen 2.05: Happy Boy has relatively few miles on the clock for a seven-year-old and he could make further progress with this step up in trip after a wind op.
Newbury 2.25: This step up to two miles is a slight unknown for Dancing In Paris but he appeared to have plenty left when posting a career-best to win at Ascot last weekend.
Market Rasen 2.40: This sharp two miles on drying ground looks ideal for Manuelito, who made short work of his field on his handicap debut at Ffos Las and has not been unduly punished with an 8lb rise in the weights.
Redcar: 1.47 Blueandtangerine 2.17 What’s She At 2.52 Sir Garfield 3.22 Flight Radar 3.52 Classy Boy (nap) 4.27 Garifullina 5.02 Mist Rollin In 5.37 Gibside.
Stratford-on-Avon: 1.50 G A Henty 2.25 Fine By Me 2.55 Dancingontheedge 3.25 In This World 4.00 Brave Knight 4.35 Getmetothemoon 5.10 Up For Appeal 5.45 Ronnies Rules.
Newton Abbot: 2.05 Golden Path 2.35 Outback Frontiers (nb) 3.05 Inictus De Brion 3.35 Wavering Down 4.10 Baltic Voyage 4.45 Jerrash 5.20 Belgarum.
Newbury 3.00: A knocked joint forced Elite Status to miss the Group One Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot last month but a repeat of the form of his win over track and trip in May could well be enough in this lower grade.
Market Rasen 3.15: A return to the front-running tactics familiar from his days over hurdles helped Soul Icon to post his best performance yet over fences at Aintree in May and he looks capable of a big run here with the track, trip and ground conditions all likely to suit.
