Upgraded to group status for the first time this year, Sunday's G3 Dr. Vincent O'Brien Centenary Alleged S. has often served as the re-entry point for Ballydoyle's chief hopes among their older brigade. This renewal at Naas is no exception, with last year's G1 Epsom Derby runner-up US Army Ranger (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) starting with a clean slate following an anti-climactic second half to his Classic campaign. Creating such a significant impression with his strong-closing second to Harzand (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the blue riband, Susan Magnier's bay was winless in three outings in the last two months of the season but the fact that he was only 7-1 for Ascot's G1 Champion S. suggests that he continues to be held in high regard. Only eighth there, he has had a winter's break to regroup and Aidan O'Brien is hoping he can still make an impact on the main stage. “We just had to give him a little rest around Irish Derby time last year and it just took a few runs to get him back,” he explained. “We were happy with his runs and we've been happy with the way he has done over the winter. He's ready to start and get going again.” Robert Ng's stalwart Success Days (Ire) (Jeremy) is always a hard nut to crack in these type of events and defied a penalty when beating Fascinating Rock (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), with US Army Ranger back in fourth, in the G3 Royal Whip S. at The Curragh in August. “We're pleased with the way he's going at home and hopefully the ground description stays as it is, as it's well-documented at this stage he needs it soft to be at his best,” trainer Ken Condon said of the five-year-old who was last seen finishing 11th in the G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown in September. “The races pick themselves for a horse like him. Hopefully he'll give a good account of himself on Sunday and then we'll go on to the [G3] Mooresbridge and the [G1 Tattersalls] Gold Cup.”
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