FOLSOM BLUES

Group 1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes

I was really happy with his work today [at the Curragh]. He came back to six furlongs last time, so the focus today was that he relaxed and learned that he wasn’t going to be racing from the drop of the flag here in a week or so’s time.

So he just followed his lead horses, relaxed well and finished off easy. It was a psychological exercise as much as a physical exercise. I think he’s a high-class colt. He’s proved that already, and he’s ground versatile. I think he’s a live contender.

GREEN DREAMER, JESUS GREEN, ZARAK PASHA

Group 1 Golden Fleece Stakes

It looks like the first running of this race as a Group 1 is going to be as good a two-year-old race as will be run anywhere.

Green Dreamer ran great in the Futurity [third to Giant Sequoia], he was very strong at the line.

He will love going back up in distance. Jesus Green was second on his debut at Leopardstown and worked nicely this morning.

It’s a big ask for him on the back of one run, but he’s a colt we think will be making his way into some nice races.

They could be joined by Zarak Pasha, who won his maiden here at the Curragh a few weeks ago.

THUNDERING ON

Group 2 Moyglare Jewels Blandford Stakes

She had a mid-season break with a view to focusing on an autumn campaign and this is a lovely starting point for her. It’s a Group 2, but it will be as good as a Group 1.

It looks like there is potential for some rain next week, which won’t do her chances any harm. She has won on good to firm, but I think she’s most effective on an easier surface, like she got at Epsom. I think she’ll be a contender.

TRUSTYOURINSTINCT

Group 1 Comer Group International Irish St Leger

I think he will be our main contender. He loves the Curragh and comes in off the back of a career-best here. Scandinavia is going to be hard to beat, but he’s a good horse and is ground versatile. I think he has a live chance. He’s been around a long time, but we’re still learning about him in terms of tactics. He keeps getting better.

GREEN EMPRESS, DANCING DESTINY

Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes

Green Empress has been doing great since she won the Debutante here and will be joined in the Moyglare by Dancing Destiny, who finished second to her the last day. It looks like they are going to meet Sun Goddess and Alpha, so it will be a really strong race. Green Empress has finished second to Sun Goddess twice, but she’s getting closer to her and we’re not afraid to take her on again. Sun Goddess looks the best around, but stepping up to seven furlongs will probably suit us.

OTHER RUNNERS

Andab could run in the Sovereign Path. He’s a bit ground dependent so he’ll go wherever it’s drier. Cowardofthecounty is a very solid stakes horse and could run in the Solonaway. Both have outside each-way chances. I’ve a nice two-year-filly named Star Of State who might run in the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes.

She’s off the back of a nice run at York and should like the Curragh. She’s an interesting one to watch.

ADMIRED BEAUTY

Listed Ballylinch Stud Ingabelle Stakes

I was very happy with her piece of work here this morning. She’s fit and ready to go. She was a bit unlucky first time out [finished second in a Curragh maiden in July].

The next day [finished eighth in a conditions race], she slipped leaving the stalls and pulled a muscle in her hip, but she is fully recovered now.

I don’t want to pitch Sparan Nua in against the colts this year, but I’d expect she will line up for the Irish Champion Stakes next year, please God.

HOTAZHELL

Group 1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes

He has come out of his last race in Germany well. He won a Group 1 in Munich by a short head, just like he won the Futurity in Doncaster as a two-year-old. He grinds things out and, even though he didn’t win a race last season, he never really ran a bad race. You could say the only race he left behind was the Saratoga Derby, where he got no run in the straight and finished fourth. He also finished fourth in the Irish Champion Stakes, having been caught wide as Delacroix went up the inner. Arguably, that was one of the best races run anywhere in the world last year. Hopefully things can go right for him there next weekend. He enjoyed the ease in the ground when working at the Curragh this morning, so any rain that falls between now and next Saturday will be welcome.

GREEN IMPACT

Group 3 Kilternan Stakes

He just came out the wrong side of a photo-finish with Ethical Diamond at Leopardstown on his latest start. His form at Leopardstown is scarily good - he won all three of his previous starts there. He seems to relish that track.

His latest race was his first over a mile and a half, apart from the Irish Derby, and he appeared to see it out really well. The only problem is that next Saturday’s race is looking like it’s Group 1 quality.

OTHER RUNNERS

Wyman runs in the Petingo Handicap on Saturday and Iron Fist goes for the Northfield on Sunday. Switching Sidesworked well this morning. He took a blow and will have another gallop next week. In the Railway Stakes [fifth], the ground was a bit fast for him.

He goes for the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes. Sarah’s Choice went away from him in a piece of work this morning. She’s a lovely filly, who was a close second to Dancing Destiny in a listed race at Naas on her debut.

She was a bit disappointing on her second run, but she had a dirty scope afterwards. She goes for the Ingabelle. Mr Vettori has been gelded since Galway, where he behaved badly.

He should step forward after another piece of work and will relish soft ground if he gets it next weekend at either Leopardstown or the Curragh. Oro Blanco has had a break since Oaks weekend and goes for the Sovereign Path.

ASAKIR

Group 3 Kilternan Stakes

This is one of my best horses.

We’ve been waiting for soft ground for him. He stays really well. He ran quite well at Royal Ascot [seventh in the Queen’s Vase], but we feel he will appreciate easier ground. He doesn’t need it very soft, but it will just slow things down a bit. He is by Zarak, whose stock - I am told - are late developers. These Aga Khan pedigrees get better with age and I think you are going to see the best version of Asakir at Leopardstown.

OTHER RUNNERS

Sindagan runs in the Sovereign Path. With a rating of 95, it won’t be easy for a three-year-old, but he might be a bit better than a handicapper. Chicago Pope is also in the Sovereign Path on Saturday and the Bold Lad on Sunday. We are hoping for cut in the ground with him. Shaool won a handicap at Irish Champions Festival last year and went on to win a listed race at Leopardstown after that. I’ve been thinking could she do a Barnavara on it and rock up in the Blandford this year and then go on to France? She’ll love soft ground - that’s what we’re hoping for.

DR RASCAL

Group 1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes

I’m very much looking forward to taking him to Ireland. We took him to Newbury for a racecourse gallop last Friday and he worked really well.

I think he did it the hard way at Goodwood [won Group 2 Vintage Stakes], he’s gone up the rail and bumped into the Amo horse (Pikachu) and still won.

He’s got an amazing constitution. When we took him to Newbury, he was very relaxed and taking everything in his stride. He’s got the most amazing mentality and doesn’t get wound up. At Ascot, his jockey Kaiya Fraser was bitten by another runner at the start. Our horse ran loose, but still managed to win.

He’s just very relaxed and very tough, a pleasure to train really. I think he’s still improving and is lightly raced for a reason, he’s a big horse and is one we’re very much hoping will be next year’s horse. He’s just kept on improving and he’ll need to improve again for the next race, but he will go there in very good form and hopefully he will take the journey well. So far, so very good.

Charlie Johnston

PIKACHU

Group 1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes

I’ve just been chatting to the Amo Racing team and this is our key target for him at the moment. He’s been set some tough tasks this season, so we lowered our sights slightly just to get his head in front at Hamilton last time and he came through that comfortably. We feel the trip is likely to be a positive for him.

At Newmarket and Goodwood, we could have gone for a maiden auction at those festivals, but on each occasion we felt that being placed in the Group race was likely to be even more important for the horse than winning the maiden. He was third the Superlative and in the Vintage, so I think that justified those slightly ballsy decisions. Now we can look to be ambitious again.

JENNIFER JANE

Group 2 Blandford Stakes

This has been her target since she won the Prix Chloe. She’s had a really good season, winning the Pretty Polly at Newmarket and then bouncing back from a tough trip to Italy with a good win in Chantilly. The form of that race has been boosted since. We feel our filly is a strong candidate for the Curragh and it’s all systems go.

EVANESCO

Irish EBF Stallion Farms Petingo Handicap

I think the best of our other entries is almost certainly Evanesco, who won the Lanark Silver Bell at Hamilton a couple of weeks ago. That was his first try at a mile and a half, and also the first time this year he has got a bit of ease in the ground, which we always thought was likely to help him.

He’s rated 104, so has nothing to hide from the handicapper, but that was a really strong race in Hamilton, and he was quite impressive the way he travelled through it and put it to bed.

I think on slightly easier ground over a mile and a half, he’s still quite an unexposed horse and, given those conditions again, it would be no surprise if we were still up to winning off this high mark.