Latest news with #AidanO'Brien's
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Minnie Hauk has little to do to complete double
The turnout for the Group 1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks, the feature of the weekend's action in the Curragh, is deeply disappointing, and leaves Epsom Oaks winner Minnie Hauk with little to do to complete the double. Aidan O'Brien's filly was promising last season and has improved with both outings this season, culminating in that narrow success from stablemate Whirl in the British Classic. The form received a nice boost when the runner-up won the Pretty Polly at the Curragh, and if this filly runs to the same form as at Epsom, she will follow up. Wemightakedlongway was five and a quarter-lengths behind the selection in the Oaks and will do well to narrow that gap. That said, she rates the only plausible challenger and her trainer, Joseph O'Brien, has his team in top form. The nap goes to Extravagant, who can get off the mark in the Lavazza Sprint Nursery. Aidan O'Brien's twice-raced colt was quite green on debut but ran a good race to finish second to Green Soul, and while he was beaten favourite on his second outing, it appeared as though the step up to seven furlongs caught him out. Back to six for his first handicap, he can make a winning start off his mark of 83. Old rival Bobby McGee, who has twice finished just behind him, can follow him home. He showed improved form last time and that looks good enough to ensure he goes close here. Al Riffa can record his first win of the season by taking the Group 2 Michael John Kennedy Curragh Cup. Joseph O'Brien's five-year-old has done plenty of travelling and this will be his first run in Ireland since finishing second in the International Stakes at this track in 2023. Last time out, at the Royal meeting in Ascot, he posted a huge effort to finish runner-up to Rebel Romance in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes and, at this stage of his career, it looks as though he will appreciate the step up to today's one-mile-six trip. He is conceding weight to all of his rivals but has a class edge and can make it count. On Sunday's card, the Mark Prescott-trained Tasmania can build on a promising return from a long lay-off by taking the Group 3 Al Shira'aa Racing Meadow Court Stakes. The five-year-old has clearly had plenty of issues, but she made her comeback, after almost a year off, in a Group 3 on Newcastle's all-weather track and caught the eye with her runner-up finish. Bound to be better for the run, and sure to appreciate the bit of ease in the ground, she can make the trip across the Irish Sea a profitable one. Tommy Lyons' picks: CURRAGH (Saturday) 1:30 Seoul Force 2:00 Big Gossey 2:35 Puerto Rico 3:05 Powerful Nation 3:40 Minnie Hauk 4:15 Al Riffa (nb) 4:50 Extravagant (nap) 5:25 Shelbiana Next best 1:30 Action 2:00 Heavenly Power 2:35 Power Blue 3:05 Mgheera 3:40 Wemightakedlongway 4:15 Shackelton 4:50 Bobby McGee 5:25 Proxima Centauri CURRAGH (Sunday) 1:20 Saint Agatha 1:55 Empress Artemis 2:30 Tasmania (nap) 3:05 Lady In Paris 3:40 Room Service 4:15 Desert Power 4:50 Edelak (nb) 5:25 Sunlight Dance Next best 1:20 You'll Think Of Me 1:55 Spicy Margarita 2:30 One Look 3:05 Valorous Power 3:40 Diego Velazquez 4:15 Bille Be Quick 4:50 Light As Air 5:25 Treasure Rose
Powys County Times
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
The Lion In Winter heading back to France for Prix Jacques Le Marois
The Lion In Winter will return to France for his next outing when he will step back up in trip for the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville. Winter favourite for the Guineas and Derby, a setback in the spring held up his preparations for the Classics and he missed Newmarket, making his comeback in the Dante at York when he could only finish sixth before trailing home well beaten in the Derby. Dropped markedly in trip to seven furlongs for the Prix Jean Prat, Aidan O'Brien's charge showed plenty of his old sparkle, beaten just a short neck and a short head into third by Woodshauna. Speaking at Navan on Sunday, stable representative Chris Armstrong said: 'It was lovely to get him back on track after all the promise he showed last year. 'He has come out of the race (at Deauville) very well, and everyone is happy with him at home. 'He is going to go to the Jacques Le Marois next in Deauville. Obviously, it is going to be a fascinating race during the summer. 'In fairness, the horse adapted coming right back from a mile and a half to seven (furlongs) last week pretty quickly. 'Back up to a mile in the Jacques Le Marois should suit him.'
South Wales Argus
14-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
The Lion In Winter heading back to France for Prix Jacques Le Marois
Winter favourite for the Guineas and Derby, a setback in the spring held up his preparations for the Classics and he missed Newmarket, making his comeback in the Dante at York when he could only finish sixth before trailing home well beaten in the Derby. Dropped markedly in trip to seven furlongs for the Prix Jean Prat, Aidan O'Brien's charge showed plenty of his old sparkle, beaten just a short neck and a short head into third by Woodshauna. Speaking at Navan on Sunday, stable representative Chris Armstrong said: 'It was lovely to get him back on track after all the promise he showed last year. 'He has come out of the race (at Deauville) very well, and everyone is happy with him at home. 'He is going to go to the Jacques Le Marois next in Deauville. Obviously, it is going to be a fascinating race during the summer. 'In fairness, the horse adapted coming right back from a mile and a half to seven (furlongs) last week pretty quickly. 'Back up to a mile in the Jacques Le Marois should suit him.'
RTÉ News
14-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Jacques Le Marois at Deauville is next for The Lion In Winter
The Lion In Winter will return to France for his next outing when he will step back up in trip for the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville. Winter favourite for the 2,000 Guineas and Epsom Derby, a setback in the spring held up his preparations for the Classics and he missed Newmarket, making his comeback in the Dante at York when he could only finish sixth before trailing home well beaten in the Derby. Dropped markedly in trip to seven furlongs for the Prix Jean Prat, Aidan O'Brien's charge showed plenty of his old sparkle, beaten just a short neck and a short head into third by Woodshauna. Speaking at Navan on Sunday, stable representative Chris Armstrong said: "It was lovely to get him back on track after all the promise he showed last year. "He has come out of the race (at Deauville) very well, and everyone is happy with him at home. "He is going to go to the Jacques Le Marois next in Deauville. Obviously, it is going to be a fascinating race during the summer. "In fairness, the horse adapted coming right back from a mile and a half to seven (furlongs) last week pretty quickly. "Back up to a mile in the Jacques Le Marois should suit him.
Rhyl Journal
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
The Lion In Winter heading back to France for Prix Jacques Le Marois
Winter favourite for the Guineas and Derby, a setback in the spring held up his preparations for the Classics and he missed Newmarket, making his comeback in the Dante at York when he could only finish sixth before trailing home well beaten in the Derby. Dropped markedly in trip to seven furlongs for the Prix Jean Prat, Aidan O'Brien's charge showed plenty of his old sparkle, beaten just a short neck and a short head into third by Woodshauna. Speaking at Navan on Sunday, stable representative Chris Armstrong said: 'It was lovely to get him back on track after all the promise he showed last year. 'He has come out of the race (at Deauville) very well, and everyone is happy with him at home. 'He is going to go to the Jacques Le Marois next in Deauville. Obviously, it is going to be a fascinating race during the summer. 'In fairness, the horse adapted coming right back from a mile and a half to seven (furlongs) last week pretty quickly. 'Back up to a mile in the Jacques Le Marois should suit him.'
