Gift Horse

There is no doubt that The Curragh's G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup lost much weight after its main attraction Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) suffered a setback and with her exclusion coming after the six-day declaration stage, Sunday's renewal presents an ideal opportunity for those under the radar to enjoy a day in the sun. Currently tied on six wins along with Dermot Weld, Aidan O'Brien still has the opportunity of claiming the record outright with a trio headed by Deauville (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who showed his wellbeing with a latest success in the G3 Huxley S. at Chester May 11. That 10-furlong contest represented his return to the winner's spot that he occupied in the GI Belmont Derby Invitational S. in July and confirmed his liking for a fast surface. He has nothing in hand on his tough stablemate Somehow (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who is out for the fourth time in four weeks. In that spell, she has won the Listed Victor McCalmont Memorial S. at Gowran Park and G3 Dahlia S. at Newmarket at or around nine furlongs and finished fourth in Newbury's G1 Lockinge S. reverting to a mile. Ballydoyle are also represented by the 2015 G1 Criterium International winner Johannes Vermeer (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was last of four in the G3 Mooresbridge S. over a mile and a quarter at Naas at the beginning of the month. “Deauville did it nicely in Chester and is in good form,” O'Brien said before the downpour came in Kildare. “If the ground is good, that will suit him well. He doesn't want to go further than a mile and a quarter, but the trip is fine for him. Jan Vermeer had a lovely run in Naas and has come forward since then. We were going to run Somehow in the group two fillies' race [Lanwades Stud S.], but when Minding came out we said we would let her take her chance. A mile and a quarter is a good trip for her. She has taken her races very well.”

Godolphin's Moonlight Magic (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) is particularly effective around Leopardstown, where he won last year's G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial and finished sixth in a strong renewal of the G1 Irish Champion S. He was third behind Success Days (Ire) (Jeremy) in the G3 Royal Whip S. over 10 furlongs here in August and may struggle to reverse form with that stalwart who was also third in this 12 months ago. It is well-documented that he prefers a softer surface and the rain came in time for him on Saturday. He comes into this off a respectable comeback effort when second in the G3 Dr Vincent O'Brien Centenary Alleged S. at Naas Apr. 9 and trainer Ken Condon was optimistic on the eve of the contest. “It looks an open enough renewal. Even on ratings, quite of few of them are fairly evenly matched,” he said. “We were very happy with his run in Naas, he's been in very good form since and all his checks earlier this week were good, so we're looking forward to it. We're very happy with the horse, he's won at the Curragh before and ran a good race in this race last year.”