COUGAR MOUNTAIN looks the class act on show at Leopardstown on Thursday and gets his chance to shine after facing some stiff tasks this season.
The Ballydoyle colt has been pitched into some of the best races around this summer and has emerged with plenty of credit behind stars Golden Horn and Solow. He probably didn’t quite stay when fourth in the Eclipse and a mile looks his best trip.
He hasn’t been beaten far in two of the top mile events behind French star Solow, going down by less than four lengths in the Sussex Stakes last time and running a cracker at Royal Ascot when only a length-and-a-quarter behind the same rival in the Queen Anne. That form puts him on a level above the opposition he faces in the Desmond Stakes tonight and he should gain a confidence boosting victory.
The main danger in the Group Three may be Convergence who has the potential to progress. He battled well to score in the Ballycorus over seven here in June after a decent enough run to finish seventh in the Irish Guineas.
On that bare form he’d need to step up but trainer Ger Lyons seems sweet on him and thinks there is a lot more to come.
Raydara has shown she’s a decent mare and she gets a nice bit of weight from the colts here which could leave her in the mix. She had Classic aspirations coming into this year but things just didn’t work out for her in the Irish Guineas where she met traffic problems and was reported in season after the race.
She ran a fine race to finish fourth to Wedding Vow in Group Two company at the Curragh last month and on that form she wouldn’t be far away.
Ballydoyle dominated the meeting at Leopardstown last week but don’t have the same presence tonight.
Unicorn should be winning for them in the mile maiden, however, after a seriously eye-catching run at Galway. There was plenty of support for him in the opening night maiden but he ran much too green and only got going in the closing stages.
Like so many of the yard’s runners he is sure to be a different proposition with a run under his belt and he’ll be hard to beat.
Juliette Fair looks the one they all have to beat in the opening fillies’ maiden after finishing second in a very strong contest at the Curragh on her debut. She was no match for the smart Rockaway Valley then but had subsequent Group places horses Air Vice Marshal and Only Mine in behind.
Captain Power and Ishebayorgrey had a great tussle here last week and the former is fancied to confirm placings despite a 5lb turnaround. He just appeared to hit the front a bit soon last time having travelled there with ease.
COLDSTONESOBER has been a real star for Tipperary trainer Jimmy Finn and he can land a nice pot on the opening night of the Tramore festival.
The nine-year-old has taken his racing remarkably well this summer and the quick turn around from Downpatrick on Sunday doesn’t look a problem as he’s done it plenty of times in the past and held his form. He ran really well over timber on Sunday when chasing home Childrens List in a decent little conditions event.
A disappointing run at Galway previously can be put down to the ground and that is his only poor effort recently. He’s already a winner twice this summer and has also won a couple around here in the past which is a big plus around the tricky track.
In fact he seems to excel on these undulating courses having also been successful at Downpatrick, Galway and Sligo in the past.
Best Value looks a danger after a good run over timber at Limerick a few weeks ago. He was pulled up on his previous start over fences but lost his action then so that can be discounted. He needs the ground like the road according to connections and should get it fast here.
David Mullins has some record recently in the Gigginstown colours and Easter Hunt wouldn’t be without a shout. He was beaten when headed at Wexford last time but probably would have plugged on to finish close enough so the fact that he has been dropped 2lb gives him some hope.
