Second of 14 beaten 2½L in a 2m handicap at the Curragh at the end of last month on good to firm ground. Likely to improve here for leading national hunt yard.
Formerly with Andre Fabre in France he got back on the winning trail on his debut for this yard on the AW at Dundalk before a runner-up position at Limerick and when fourth of 16 beaten 6½L in the Queen Alexander at the Royal meeting last month.
Won the 53k Irish Lincoln at Naas in March before running well again including landing a Leopardstown listed event in April. Entitled to make the shortlist here.
Followed up on a couple of promising starts in June when winning a Roscommon maiden earlier this month by over 7L. Will need to raise overall performance once again in this company.
Finished in the money in the Listed Saval Beg stakes at Leopardstown before finishing third of seven in the Group 2 Curragh Cup at the start of the month. Likely to run well once again.
Non-Runners
1
(1)
Benkei74
Weight: 9-5| Age: 8
T: H Rogers J: Chris Hayes
NR
Forecasts
Twilight Payment (5/4), Laws Of Spin (2/1), Light Pillar (4/1), On The Go Again (9/1), Benkei (25/1), Regem (33/1)
The proximity of finishing close to Order Of St George may not be as solid as it used to be for TWILIGHT PAYMENT but it sets the standard in this company and should be enough for the Jim Bolger-trained gelding to prevail in this contest. The Willie Mullins-trained Laws Of Spin and Listed winner On The Go Again can battle for the minors.