One of the feature races on the afternoon at the Curragh is the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup over 10.5f and what a race we have in prospect.
A superstar for the yard over the last few years, winning four straight races in 2021 making a mockery of his handicap mark At Newbury and York off 90 and 105, he then finished that season at Newmarket when landing the Listed James Seymour Stakes by 1/2 a length from Majestic Dawn.
Back last term with bigger races on his plate he put in a unreal performance in the Group Three Brigadier Gerard Stakes to beat Mostahdaf by five lengths, but then went to Royal Ascot and could not chase down State Of Rest from the front in the Group One Prince Of Wales’s Stakes over 1m2f.
Running below par in the Group One Coral Eclipse at Sandown when fifth of six finishing four lengths behind the winner Vadeni, with Mishriff, Lord North and Native Trail just ahead of him.
He was not seen again until his final run of the season in October at Ascot in the Group One Champion Stakes and under a superb ride by Richard Kingscote he went on to defeat Adayar, My Prospero and Baaeed in a race for the ages.
Back as a five year old this term he made his seasonal debut in the Group One Prix Ganay over at Longchamp on ground slower than he would of liked he finished a good third behind a mud lover.
On quick ground having already had his first run of the season he has proved he has the ability and can go close.
Vadeni is the big danger for me but he did see him off fairly easily last time albeit he might have not been 100% fit.