Forgotten Hero

Successful in Ascot’s G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup 12 months ago, Moyglare Stud’s Forgotten Rules (Ire) (Nayef) returns to Berkshire with ideal conditions on Saturday as he bids to put an anti-climactic summer behind him. Third in the G1 Gold Cup at the Royal meeting here on ground that was too lively June 18, the homebred may have been coming back too quickly when fourth in the G3 Curragh Cup over 14 furlongs at The Curragh 10 days later, and although below par again was not disgraced when fifth in the Sept. 13 G1 Irish St Leger back at the latter venue. “We were left in front too soon in the Irish Leger after Brown Panther got injured and it didn’t work out,” jockey Pat Smullen explained. “The tactics on the day weren’t right. We’ll change back to dropping him in and taking our time and I think you’ll see the real Forgotten Rules again.” Second in that Curragh feature behind the runaway winner Order of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was Agent Murphy (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who had previously won Newbury’s G3 Geoffrey Freer S. over an extended 13 furlongs Aug. 15, and he is open to further progression tackling two miles for the first time. “The Irish Leger was a big target and this made sense to follow up with,” trainer Brian Meehan said. “He looked very good at Newbury when there was cut in the ground, but I think generally he’s pretty versatile as far as the ground is concerned. He’s in really good shape. I haven’t seen him look so well all year, so I’m pretty confident with him.” Sixth in this last year, George Strawbridge’s Flying Officer (Dynaformer) has gone through his two tests in 2015 with an accomplished air, and enjoyed the perfect warm-up win in Newmarket’s Listed Rose Bowl S. Sept. 24. Qatar Racing’s quirky character Pallisator (GB) (Motivator {GB}), who was third in this in 2014, also arrives on the back of a confidence-boosting success in the Sept. 11 G2 Doncaster Cup over an extra quarter mile. “He’s been so horrible for so long, but everyone likes him. He had his great day at Doncaster and his work has been as good as ever of late,” conditioner Sir Mark Prescott, who also saddles the supplemented 3-year-old Amour de Nuit (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), said. “If he’s on his best behavior, he’s got a great chance.”