SIGNS OF Blessing and Marsha look major contenders for the King’s Stand Stakes, which brings me round to Acapulco, the new Aidan O’Brien inmate who is joint-favourite with Lady Aurelia for that race.

Acapulco reappeared in the Listed Sole Power Sprint at the Curragh on Sunday and scored readily, if not especially impressively, by half a length from Ardhoomey.

The latter, who was conceding Acapulco 10lb, got a timefigure of 112 – the highest of the week in Britain and Ireland – with Acapulco on 103.

Acapulco has a 117 from her juvenile days but more than that could well be needed from her at Royal Ascot next month.

There was a clear-cut win later on Sunday’s card from the Mick Halford-trained Irishcorrespondent, who beat the useful Homesman most impressively by four and a half lengths. A 107 timefigure has Irishcorrespondent knocking on the door of group class even at this early stage.

WORKMANLIKE

The previous day at the same course, Turret Rocks landed the Group 3 Blue Wind Stakes in workmanlike style from Laganore, though the performance was nothing special on time, worth just a 95 timefigure.

The Blue Wind had been run at Naas previously, and the 2016 winner Zhukova can be considered its best winner (just ahead of Banimpire and Pleascach).

Zhukova ran a 117 timefigure in the Blue Wind and probably achieved something similar when well placed to win a weak Man O’War Stakes on rain-softened ground at Belmont on Saturday by six lengths.