REST OF THE CARD

FLAG Of Honour made it a third treble in as many days for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore as he saw off stablemate Giuseppe Garibaldi in the Group 2 Comer Group International Curragh Cup, for the Coolmore partners.

A sixth Cup winner for O’Brien, who now joins John Oxx as the most successful trainer in the race’s history, Flag Of Honour finished unplaced in the Prix du Jockey Club last time but relished this longer trip which is likely to set him up for a return to classic company later in the season. Interestingly, he and the runner-up ran identically to their form from last season’s Eyrefield Stakes where they filled the first two placings.

The front-running Flag Of Honour (7/2) pressed on turning for home and his efforts soon left Giuseppe Garibaldi as his only likely danger. The latter could never quite get on terms and he lost out by a length and a half as the three-year-old generation won this race for the fourth year in succession.

ST LEGER

“The trip was no problem for him and he handled the ground well. He goes on this ground and handles an ease so he could be a St Leger horse and maybe one for the Melbourne Cup,” commented O’Brien.

For the fifth time in the last six years, the Group 3 Grangecon Stud Stakes went to Ballydoyle as So Perfect became another to bounce from Ascot in fine fettle with a battling success. Following her fine fourth in the Queen Mary Stakes, the Scat Daddy filly was the 6/4 favourite for her second try at six furlongs.

So Perfect took time to get into full flight and she had to fight hard for this success but she showed a fine attitude to master Cava and Skitter Scatter late on, prevailing by half a length.

“She had a lovely run at Ascot where she was drawn out on her own a bit. She’s a big filly and she’s not there yet so I’d say that there is plenty more to come from her. She and Gossamer Wings are likely to go to Newmarket for the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes,” declared O’Brien.

A quick Group 3 double was in the offing for O’Brien and Moore as Yucatan secured the Group 3 Finlay Volvo International Stakes, belatedly building on the substantial promise of his juvenile career. The former Racing Post Trophy runner-up didn’t make any impression in a Royal Ascot listed race, but he turned in a far better effort in first-time blinkers.

Yucatan, who carries the colours of Flaxman Stables, was the 2/1 favourite to atone for Ascot and he set off in front. He was under strong pressure sooner than a number of his rivals but he responded generously and had this race in safe keeping over the course of the last furlong. He finished with a length to spare over Stellar Mass, who was returning from almost 11 months off.

“He was just slowly away at Ascot and he never got going. He’s a very good mover and enjoyed that ground and I’d say the blinkers helped him, he’s a bit lazy,” observed O’Brien. “We’ll look for another Group 3 with him and he might get a mile and a half.”

Jessica Harrington unveiled another juvenile of considerable promise in Klute (20/1) who accounted for a number of interesting types in the seven-furlong Barronstown Stud Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden. The Kodiac colt made the running for Colm O’Donoghue and moved on with over a quarter of a mile to run, at which point their rivals were struggling to mount a telling challenge.

The chasing Guaranteed closed down the deficit somewhat in the closing stages but Klute hit the line with half a length to spare. The well-supported 20/1 chance Howling Ridge was the same distance back in third, while Norway shaped with promise in fifth, doing best of the three Ballydoyle inmates.

“We’ve always liked him but it looked a very smart maiden. He’s a smashing horse who galloped along and did everything easily,” remarked Harrington, who also owns the colt. “He’s by Kodiac so I was wondering if he’d stay but he’s fairly stoutly bred on the dam’s side. I have entered him in the National Stakes but we’ll take things step by step.”

MOM

Band Of Outlaws put the seal on a momentous weekend for Joseph O’Brien in the valuable Lyndsey & Eleanor Comer Trust Handicap over a mile. The only three-year-old in the field was going nicely only to receive a check with over a quarter of a mile to run.

Wayne Lordan was able to get him back on an even keel and he bided his time for a split between the leaders which arrived nearing the last furlong. Band Of Outlaws (7/1) quickened well when required to post a half-length triumph over last year’s winner, Tony The Gent.

“He had a good run here on Guineas weekend when Donnacha got no run on him and then he was first reserve for the Britannia at Ascot, and when he didn’t get into that this was a good pot to aim towards,” stated the trainer of the Justin Carthy-owned colt. “Earlier in the year we thought he might be a six-furlong horse but he’s more a seven-furlong or mile horse. He got a great ride there from Wayne and we’ll just see what the handicapper does now – maybe he could be one for Galway.”

ENGLISH WINNER

Damien English notched up his first winner at the Curragh as Red Avenger (11/1) took advantage of a career-low rating of 69 in the seven-furlong Westgrove Hotel Handicap. The eight-year-old, who hadn’t won since January 2017, was able to avoid most of the scrimmaging on his inner over the last couple of furlongs.

Rory Cleary’s mount made his way to the front and he held on by a short-head from Kailee. The latter and the sixth-placed Ice Cold In Alex got involved in quite a barging match over the last furlong and a half, which affected several other runners, and Chris Hayes was given a one-day careless riding ban.

“To get my first Curragh winner on Derby weekend makes it a bit more special,” reflected English whose charge carried the colours of Cathal McGuckin.

“I’m delighted for Cathal. He’s been with us for the last year and a half and he’s a big supporter. This horse has been a bit unlucky lately and we’ll keep him going now. Hopefully we can get him on a bit of a run as he’s handicapped to win two or three.”

After reaching the frame with three of his five previous runners over the weekend, Richard O’Brien sent out Maths Prize to post a hugely impressive success in the Troytown Grey Abbey Equine Hospital Handicap. The 11/2 shot, who won over a mile here on his penultimate outing, looked right at home as he tried his hand at 10 furlongs. Billy Lee got him to the front around two furlongs to run and he then surged clear to pull half a dozen length clear.

“All along we were aiming at the mile handicap with him but the ground got very quick so we stepped him up for this race,” reported O’Brien of the Frank Lynch and Michael Hartnett-owned four-year-old.

“He is entered in the Nasrullah Handicap on July 12th but he’s going to get murdered for this so we’ll just have to see.”

ACTING STEWARDS

F. Clarke, Ms. J. Farrell, O. Kearney,C. O’Mahony, P.D. Matthews

Horse To Follow

GEORGIAN BAY (A. McGuinness): This eight-year-old showed up well on his debut for Adrian McGuinness when taking third in the handicap won by Red Avenger. He should make his mark in the coming weeks.