Michael’s Well

(Eddie and Patrick Harty)

Naas, October 12th

It’s been a fine few months’ work for the Eddie and Patrick Harty stable, and they should have little trouble winning a maiden with two-year-old Michael’s Well, with natural improvement from his Naas debut last weekend. This Havana Grey gelding didn’t have a big-field assignment for his introduction, taking on just five rivals, but the winner had a massive experience edge over him. The 85-rated Chicago Pope was making his fifth start, having previously contested the Futurity Stakes and Goffs Million. The winner was always to the fore on the stands’ side, with the rail to help, but Michael’s Well came home nicely from much further back - and attacking the furthest away from the rail. His top speed, as per RaceiQ, was in fact the highest of any runner in the field and he was faster than anything else in the race through the last two furlongs (also quickest in the final furlong alone). In being beaten three quarters of a length here in second, he shaped well and should have opportunities to win an Irish maiden over a sprint trip. He raced in the colours of John Linehan, having previously breezed under the banner of Eddie Linehan’s Lackendarra Stables (went through the ring for 125,000gns to Peter and Ross Doyle Bloodstock).

Convincing

(Ciaran Murphy)

Naas, October 12th

It was an agonising watch for backers of Convincing in the 10-furlong apprentice maiden on the same card, trading as low as 1/6 in-running when sent clear only to be reeled in close home to finish third. This was the four-year-old’s fourth start since joining Ciaran Murphy, having been bought from John Murphy’s yard at this year’s Tattersalls July Sale for 10,000gns, and he definitely got back to the promise of what he showed when beaten a length on his debut at the Galway Festival by subsequent Curragh-winning stablemate Castleheath. Having got further back than ideal last time at Gowran, the opposite probably developed here. The winner and second raced in the back three, well off the pace, for most of the journey in this 16-runner affair, whereas Convincing was right up with the pace and was sent for home not long after turning in with the leader. He picked up smartly when asked to stretch, but got lonely in isolation on the long run for home, leaned left under a right-hand drive and was beaten a length and a quarter. Being raised 3lb to 67 means he’s at least still in the 70 bracket to tackle another of these, though the best of him might be seen next season, given he’s been busy in a short window since joining the stable and has been on the go all season.

Ryefield Dasher

(Tom Gibney)

Curragh, October 16th

Irish Grand National-winning trainer Tom Gibney isn’t renowned for two-year-old runners, but he mightn’t be far off recording the first flat juvenile winner of his career, if bargain buy Ryefield Dasher can build on his 66/1 fourth at the Curragh on Thursday. He actually ran better than a finishing position of 10th suggested on his Naas debut over seven furlongs last month. A wide draw in stall 19 did him no favours then, getting further back than ideal and then picking up while still showing signs of greenness. From four furlongs out to three furlongs out, he was faster than anything in the 16-runner field at Naas. While still not looking like the finished article at the Curragh, he progressed in a definite fashion on his second start. Stepping up to a mile, he came home with purpose and looks to be getting the hang of things (third fastest of 16 runners through the final furlong). This Moyglare Stud-bred son of Time Test had an attractive low weight in this median sires race, but he does look capable of winning races and was extremely well bought by his trainer at €10,000 in Book 2 of last year’s Goffs Orby Sale.

Final Boss

(Matthew Smith)

Curragh, October 16th

Back at six furlongs at the same venue on Thursday, Final Boss was another who was noticed taking a bright step forward from his debut effort when third in a median sires maiden. Matthew Smith’s Invincible Army gelding was drawn wide at Down Royal and never got into it from behind on his debut last month - it can be a tough course and distance for newcomers given how quickly things unfold there on good ground. He got behind at the Curragh too and still showed a fair deal of greenness when asked to improve at first, challenging between runners. He took off approaching the final furlong and a half, though, and was a real eye-catcher in getting up for a never-dangerous third. His final furlong was the quickest of any horse in the race. Another bit of improvement will put him bang in the picture for a similar maiden, and he was also very nicely bought as a yearling for just €10,000 at last year’s Goffs Autumn Sale. Sent off at 80/1 on this occasion, he has far more ability than those odds suggested.