WAYNE Lordan might have been a little disappointed not to be making a trip to Epsom this day two weeks ago, but he must have quickly realised a significant opportunity had arisen.
With Seamie Heffernan, Padraig Beggy and Emmet McNamara leaving the country and therefore unable to ride for two weeks after due to quarantine protocols, and Ryan Moore still basing himself in Britain for the same reason, Lordan has basically been Ballydoyle’s number one for the last fortnight.
He has made hay, with a double at Limerick yesterday meaning he has ridden nine winners for Aidan O’Brien since Derby day, and three for other trainers.
The Cork jockey probably earmarked this day as the biggest opportunity and that is how it has transpired because he has a serious book of rides at the Curragh.
He rides Memorabilis in the Group 2 Curragh Cup (4:45), Lancaster House in the Group 2 Minstrel Stakes (5:45), Merchants Quay in the Group 2 Railway Stakes (6:45), and then Ennistymon in the Irish Oaks (7:15). Tomorrow he has another good book of rides, including Mother Earth in the Airlie Stud Stakes (3:10).
Since joining O’Brien, Lordan has achieved his first two classic wins, and Ennistymon, runner-up to Love at Epsom, is a 2/1 shot to give him a third.
Michael Hussey is another Ballydoyle jockey stepping in for big opportunity as he bids to land his first classic on board Munster Oaks winner Snow, a full-sister to Ballydoyle’s recently retired star Kew Gardens.
Looking for her second classic is Jessica Harrington whose Cayenne Pepper looks just about the one to beat following her excellent seasonal debut second to Magical in the Pretty Polly Stakes.
Despite the travel protocols, it is somewhat surprising that today’s feature contest does not have a British-trained runner. Amazingly, given the strength of Aidan O’Brien in Irish classics, the Irish Oaks has only been won by an Irish-trained filly twice in the last 11 years with British raiders accounting for eight wins and one going to France.
That is not the case with the Paddy Power Scurry Handicap (6:15) which hosts four British runners. It’s also worth noting that a number of the Irish-trained horses are British exports, including the favourite Laugh A Minute, aiming to provide another big handicap success for the Ado McGuinness team.
JAMIE Spencer has been given the all-clear to resume race-riding at York today.
The classic-winning rider has been out of action since the middle of April, after breaking his hip during an accident on the gallops in Newmarket.
Spencer, 40, sustained the injury when a David Simcock-trained two-year-old he was partnering spooked and slipped over close to the gallops on Warren Hill.
Writing in his Unibet blog, Spencer said: “It has been a long three months since I suffered my injury, but I am delighted to say that I passed all the relevant tests on Wednesday afternoon and I have been cleared to return this weekend.”
Spencer has two decent rides for David Simcock at York today: Universal Order, who is second favourite for the Group 3 John Smith’s Silver Cup Stakes (1:55), and Prejudice in a mile-and-a-half handicap (3:40).
THE Railway Stakes (5:45) is where it all began to get serious for Ger Lyons with Siskin last season, the Juddmonte horse showcasing his deadly turn of foot for the first time in Group 2 company.
The Glenburnie trainer is operating at a 27% strike rate with his juveniles this season with eight individual winners already, so it is surely significant To Glory is his chosen dart for the Railway Stakes board today. The Toronado colt looked sharp winning on his debut at Limerick at the end of last month and is bidding to give Lyons a third win in this contest in three years.
Lyons also has a big chance of landing the fillies’ equivalent race, the Airlie Stud Stakes tomorrow (3:10), with Frenetic. This daughter of Kodiac showed a really good attitude when winning the Listed First Flier Stakes by five lengths, having raced mostly on her own for that five-furlong trip at this course.