Ansgar Out For More Group Glory

Irish trainer Sabrina Harty believes her stable star Ansgar (Ire) (Celtic Swing {GB}) is ready to do himself justice on his seasonal bow in Saturday’s G3 Jury S. at Haydock. The 7-year-old enjoyed a magnificent campaign in 2014, striking gold in the G3 Minstrel S. at the Curragh, the G3 Supreme S. at Goodwood and the G2 Park S. at Doncaster. Harty, who trains a small string on The Curragh commented, “We’re looking forward to getting started with him. He’s got good and strong over the winter – he’s a stronger horse than last year, for sure. I’m hoping for a bit of luck with the ground. Hopefully it stays good as he doesn’t like it soft. He’ll come on for the run, but I’m hoping he’s fairly straight and all being well he’ll go on to Royal Ascot after this.”

The Irish raider faces a tough task in conceding weight to all his opponents, many being confirmed high class horses. Other contenders in a wide-open contest include David O’Meara’s That Is The Spirit (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), a winner over the course and distance three weeks ago, the highly-tried Captain Cat (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) from Roger Charlton’s yard, and the Charlie Hills-trained G1 Lockinge S. fifth Cable Bay (Ire) (Invincible Spirit [Ire}).