The 10-furlong conditions race at Navan on Saturday is an intriguing heat and Harbour Wind is fancied to come out on top.
Dermot Weld’s charge sprang a shock on his debut at Cork in May when the stable’s second string.
He showed a good attitude that day when seeing off Cuban Dawn by a neck and that form looks solid with the second and third placed again since.
On his second outing at Roscommon, Harbour Wind bumped into a smart sort in Pivotal Trigger, who brought a rating of 103 into the race.
That Pivotal colt has since travelled over to Hamburg for the German Derby and was far from disgraced in that traditionally strong Classic, finishing sixth.
Given the fact that Harbour Wind only lost out by half-a-length to that rival last time it’s fair to assume he could be capable of achieving a triple-figure rating himself.
This looks like a lovely stepping stone for the Nathaniel gelding and it’s interesting that Weld sticks cheekpieces on him now, suggesting he thinks there is more in the tank.
Of those with official ratings Nurburgring sets the standard off a mark of 96.
The Zoffany colt has been faced with stiff tasks on his last couple of outings, in Group Two company at Royal Ascot and in a listed contest here previously.
He wasn’t actually beaten that far in the Yeats Stakes when fifth of six behind Peking Opera and is entitled to be a big player in this company.
Joseph O’Brien often claims off horses in these types of races and Hugh Horgan’s 7lb allowance is an asset.
Curragh maiden winner Bright Legend is another potential improver in the field that has to be respected but Harbour Wind could be a stakes horse in the making and can prove that today.
The handicaps on the card look seriously tricky but there are a couple of interesting sprint maidens.
Wooden Head caught the eye on his debut at Cork and may be able to improve enough to strike now in the five-and-a-half furlong contest.
Darren Bunyan’s charge took a while to find his feet first time up but came home well when finishing fourth to Tango Flare in a solid enough maiden.
It looked then like he would benefit plenty from that experience and he is taken to improve past the third horse Paradise Perfect, who has run poorly since.
It could be a good day for Bunyan with Churchill colt Chandigah also looking to hold a leading chance in the opening auction series maiden.
He stepped forward nicely on his second outing when chasing home Mountain Bear at the Curragh in a decent looking maiden.
Having shown plenty of pace that day another drop back in trip should suit.
SELECTIONS
1.20 Chandigah
1.50 Arnhem - Inishmot Prince
2.25 Wooden Head (Dbl)
3.00 Spirit Of Eagles - Havana Notion
3.35 Harbour Wind (Nap) - Nurburgring
4.10 Hasten Slowly - Bringsty
4.45 Thunder Canyon - Stone Crafter
5.20 Stay Local - Barretstown
