Boitron maintains his unbeaten record at Newbury
Boitron maintains his unbeaten record at Newbury

Boitron could take National test at the Curragh


Connections of Boitron are to seriously consider supplementing the unbeaten two-year-old for the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at the Curragh on September 16.

The Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp and the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket are the other possibilities for the Richard Hannon-trained colt, who will have just one more race this season.

The National Stakes is currently the favoured choice, ahead of the Dewhurst. Both are over seven furlongs, while the Lagardere on Arc day is over a mile.

The latest of Boitron's three victories came over seven furlongs in the Listed Denford Stakes at Newbury, after which his rider Silvestre de Sousa advised the team to stick to that distance for his next race.

"We've had a good chat and have spoken to Silvestre. He thinks seven is spot on just for now," said Tim Palin, director of racing for owners Middleham Park.

"He wouldn't necessarily stretch out to a mile next time. We're going to save that for next year.

"The Lagardere is definitely an option, but it's probably plan C of three options we have for him.

"Plan A at the minute is to go for the National Stakes at the Curragh, a race Toormore won for us in 2013.

"He's not actually in that race. It would mean supplementing on the Tuesday for €35,000 to go in.

"At the minute, looking at the horse and what his requirements are, we just think seven furlongs on good, good to soft at the minute is him playing at home.

"Because we'll have to supplement him we'll get the chance to see what might turn up there and see what the going is like and the weather forecast for the week.

"If it's going to be heavy ground there we probably won't go and if it's quick we probably won't, but if it's good, good to soft, that is probably our plan A.

"Plan B is the Dewhurst. We only want to run him one more time and Timeform say he deserves his chance at Group One level.

"If he wasn't quite right or the National Stakes wasn't the right race, we'd wait for the Dewhurst.

"If he does run in Ireland, Silvestre will go across to ride."


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