RTÉ Racing presenter Robert Hall gives his thoughts on the Irish Field St Leger and the National Stakes at the Curragh.
Watch coverage of the Irish Field St Leger live on RTÉ ONE this Saturday from 2.30pm.
In the St Leger, Yeats is the horse with all the form coming in to the race. He won the Ascot Gold Cup; the Goodwood Cup and he’s favourite for the Melbourne Cup. To me he’s a definite, as he ticks all the right boxes
A one-time favourite for the Derby, he has come back as strong as ever as a five-year-old and just looks to have everything. It would be one of the shocks of the season if Yeats was beaten. He should come home with authority.
Victory of course would give Aidan O’Brien his first victory in the Irish St Leger; likewise for jockey Kieren Fallon. It’s hard to believe that the duo are still waiting for success in the Classic, but with Dermot Weld’s Vinnie Roe dominating the race in recent years, I suppose they have had to bide their time!
John Oxx’s Kastoria, who has won his last two starts at Leopardstown and the Curragh and Geoff Wragg’s old warrior The Whistling Teal could fight out the battle for the placed positions. Of the others maybe the Yorkshire Cup winner Precussionist is worth considering. He will relish the ground if the rain comes and he’s got a nice weight.
Sunday’s highlight is the National Stakes and here the best two-year-old’s in these islands should make for a fascinating clash, with Holy Roman Emperor taking on Teofilo. Aidan O’Brien’s ‘Emperor has won three of four starts this season. His only reverse came at Royal Ascot, but last time out he was highly impressive in seeing off Hellvelyn in the Phoenix Stakes.
Teofilo has a clean sheet from three starts, even though he struggled a bit to see off Eagle Mountain in the Futurity Stakes at the Curragh the last day. That day he was in front too far out. If I have to choose, I’ll go for Jim Bolger’s hope to see off the Ballydoyle challenger.
Looking further ahead to the ‘Arc at Longchamp (October 1), Hurricane Run’s second place at Longchamp last weekend will probably not put his fans off, but I think the Japenese horse Deep Impact can collar him.
He has worked well in a spin at Longchamp recently and connections are bullish enough to send him to the race without a prep run. If he stays in good shape, his current price of 4/1 would represent good value as they leave the stalls in just over two weeks.
In conversation with RTÉ Publishing's James McMahon.
