Following The Rules

In recent times, Navan’s G3 Coolmore Vintage Crop S. has provided a clear marker as to the merit of the big Irish G1 Ascot Gold Cup hopes, with Yeats (Ire) and the Montjeu (Ire) pair of Fame and Glory (GB) and Leading Light (Ire) on the honor roll on five occasions between them since 2007. With Ballydoyle supplying only a likely bit-player this time in Kingfisher (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), it looks likely that Moyglare Stud’s Forgotten Rules (Ire) (Nayef) will be able to extend his perfect tally on the level despite a penalty accrued as a result of his success in Ascot’s G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup over two miles on the heavy ground that prevailed on Champions Day in October. With just 1 3/4 lengths separating the homebred and Biographer (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) there, it may be that if he has stood still over the winter that Bjorn Nielsen’s homebred can turn the tables on five-pound better terms, but Forgotten Rules appeared highly progressive in 2014 and a defeat would be a disappointment. 

“We’re very happy with Forgotten Rules and hopefully with a few more showers, he’ll get his ground and he should run a very good race,” trainer Dermot Weld said. “He’s still a big, immature horse but he’s improving all the time.” 

Biographer’s conditioner David Lanigan is hopeful of a bold show from the British raider and told PA Sport, “He’s done well over the winter and this is a nice race to start him off. If the ground is right, he’d go to [Royal] Ascot and I don’t think the [Gold Cup] trip would be a problem at all. He’s a lazy horse in his races and gives himself every chance to stay.”