Ireland's first Classic of the season and Aidan O'Brien holds a typically strong hand, having four runners in the nine-horse line-up. His first-string horse is Mastercraftsman, who has won four times at this course and looks set to go off a short-priced favourite. Brian Meehan sends his English 2,000 Guineas runner-up Delegator across the Irish Sea and he has sound claims if handling the likely testing ground. Lurking in the line-up is John Oxx's Rayeni, who is unbeaten after two starts and could well be anything.
Aidan O'Brien deserves huge respect in these races and today is no different as he aims to win this race for the fifth time in the last 10 years. After winning it last season with the classy Henrythenavigator, Mastercraftsman has the stable's weight on his shoulders as he aims to improve on his recent 2,000 Guineas fifth, where he finished five lengths behind the wildly-impressive Sea The Stars. This son of Danehill Dancer has won two Group 1 races in his six-start career and he has previous course form having won here last season. After making a winning debut, he went on to win a Group 2, where he beat subsequent Dewhurst winner Intense Focus. After those two wins, his trainer entered him in the Phoenix Stakes, one of the best two-year-old races in the calender, and he absolutely bolted up, proving that he had all the attributes to go right to the top. In September, despite worries over the heavy ground, he went on to take the National Stakes in determined fashion, where he held of Gimcrack winner Shaweel to prevail by a short-head. After a disappointing performance in France, where he was probably over the top after a hard season, he made his seasonal debut in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. He was relatively unfancied as his stable had Rip Van Winkle in the line-up. He ran well there that day, considering the ground was very quick and he stumbled two furlongs from home. He is re-united with Johnny Murtagh, who has partnered him to all four of his wins, and the heavy ground should inconvience him too badly having gone well on it in the past. All is in place for him to run a massive race.
Delegator makes the long trip over for Brian Meehan and has solid form claims after superb second in the Guineas behind Sea The Stars. He arrived at Newmarket as favourite after winning very easily in the Craven Stakes, even though he did not beat much there. His trainer was confident that his star would be up to Group 1 class and his beliefs were proved right as he found John Oxx's classy individual only too strong. Jamie Spencer rode him like a class horse that day and he loomed up going very well but he just failed to contain the winner. He looks like a proper miler, being equipped with a good deal of stamina but also a deadly turn of foot. In his five-race career, only soft has entered the going description once, and that was on his debut where he finished second. He looks ideally suited to quick ground so this bottomless ground holds serious cause for concern but his class may pull him through. This son of Dansili is an interesting runner and he is currently a good price with so many people concerned that the ground may catch him out.
Rayeni arrives here an unknown quantity having won both his starts to date, both in good style and on soft ground. John Oxx is a very shrewd trainer and will not enter a horse if he does not believe they have a serious chance of winning. Also, it is a tip in itself that he is willing to let him make his seasonal re-appearance in a Group 1, against arguably the best milers in the UK and Ireland. After making a fine debut towards the end of last season, where he routed his opposition to score by five lengths, his trainer sent him to Leopardstown to contest the Killavullan Stakes over 7f. That race being a Group 3, Rayeni won a length and half from his more-fancied stablemate and announced himself as a smart prospect. He won comfortably in the end after coming with a late run down the outside. He holds a good turn of foot to match his stamina and to add to his attributes, his stable have a good line of form associating him with the first two mentioned, Mastercraftsman and Delegator. Oxx's stable won the English Guineas equivalent with Sea The Stars, who is now heading the Derby betting. Oxx must know how good he rates Rayeni to those two and he must have a good chance based on reputation. He will handle the ground and trip but must be at his best to overcome the top two in the betting.
Soul City has each-way claims for Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes. He has some very good form to his name from his two-year-old season, including his Goffs Million win at this course where he had some useful types in behind him. He has not had a run this season because of an interrupted preparation but his stable have to run him here as if he wins, he gets a £1 million bonus because of his Goffs success. Recharge has some good form and could go well for Kevin Prendergast and Chrissy Hayes. After coming a close fourth in last year's Beresford Stakes, he went on to win the 2,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown in March, underlining his chances here. He does seem better suited by quicker ground but he is unexposed and could make the placings.
Selections: 1st - Rayeni, 2nd - Mastercraftsman, 3rd - Delegator.
Result: 1st - Mastercraftsman, 6/4 fav, 2nd - Rayeni, 5/1, 3rd - Soul City, 9/1.
Mastercraftsman produced a performance right out of the top drawer as he demolished this high-class field to score by four and half lengths. Heavily backed throughout the morning, he gave Aidan O'Brien yet another Classic winner and looks one to keep an eye on throughout the season, especially on soft ground. He made it five from five at the Curragh under Jonny Murtagh and the result was never in doubt. He was settled in mid-division for most of the race but Murtagh made a wise move to move him alongside his Ballydoyle pacemaker around three furlongs from home. He was cruising at the head of affairs and once asked to go on, he quickly put distance between himself and the rest of the field and galloped on relentlessly in the style of smart horse. He obviously appreciates some cut in the ground and he may well stay further. Rayeni ran on for second after looking unfortunate in-running. He was fairly weak in the betting, indicating that connections were unsure as to how he would shape in the race. He put up a very good performance considering this was only his third career start and his seasonal reappearance. He was held up under Mick Kinane and when he went to close on Mastercraftsman he was forced to switch and then had to wait for a gap to appear. When the split arrived, he quickened up nicely but the winner had already flown. He looks a useful prospect and will do even better when stepped up in trip. Soul City ran a good race in third as he was another making having his first start of the season. He travelled in second throughout and stayed on well to take third. He likes soft ground and stays well so he is one to keep an eye on this season. Recharge ran well considering his inexperience, finishing fourth after staying on down the outside. He was never getting to the winner but shaped as if he has a bright future. The disappointment of the race was English raider Delegator. He came into the race with a sound chance based on form but as expected, the ground was too soft for him and he could not pick up. He was fairly weak in the market prior to the race and the worries surrounding the conditions were proved right as when Jamie Spencer as for maximum effort, the response was limited as he could produce his trademark turn of foot. He still rates as a high-class horse and on better ground, he would be one to keep an eye on.
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