racing

Ryan McElligott

  • 1 This year didn’t have a centrepiece to match the stellar Irish Champion Stakes of 2016 and the poor weather was reflected in a drop off in the attendances.
  • 2 A total of five victories for English trainers is to be welcomed, as significant participation from across the Irish Sea and further afield is absolutely central to the success of country’s highest profile flat fixture.
  • 3 It looked highly probable that Aidan O’Brien would train all five Group 1 winners at the Curragh and Leopardstown, but the Ballydoyle trainer had to settle for three top level triumphs. Churchill could only manage seventh behind shock winner Decorated Knight in the Irish Champion Stakes. He now has questions to answer, a crack at one of the races on British Champions Day remains on the agenda.
  • 4 By contrast, Caravaggio got his season back on track in the Flying Five Stakes. A drop back to five furlongs on heavy ground didn’t look ideal, but he rose to the challenge in fine style. A clash with old foe Harry Angel at Ascot next month will be something to savour.
  • 5 Dermot Weld’s upswing in fortunes this autumn continued as he notched up a double, while Jim Bolger bagged a first Group 1 winner in two years with Verbal Dexterity. The latter, the latest high-end performer from his trainer’s remarkable breeding empire, earned the highest of praise from Bolger, who compared him favourably with the likes of Teofilo, New Approach and Dawn Approach.
  • 6 At present, it is hard to look past the chances of John Gosden’s Enable in the upcoming Arc de Triomphe, but last weekend may have produced a couple of interesting contenders. The imperious Order Of St George, who was third in the race last year, could be heading back to Paris after his Irish St Leger demolition last Sunday.
  • 7 Aidan O’Brien raised the fascainting prospect of Winter stepping up to a mile and a half in the Arc. The brilliant grey’s Group 1-winning spree was brought to a halt by Hydrangea in the Matron, but it would appear as though she is expected to improve a good deal from this latest run. If she can translate her mile brilliance to a longer trip she will be a fascinating Arc contender.CL

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