Rousing return for star Oisin
BRITISH raider Rousing Encore might give Oisin Orr a dream return to Ireland by landing today’s €300,000 Ballyhane Stakes in Naas.
Orr has made an instant impact in his new role as stable-jockey to Richard Fahey and this Acclamation colt, a well-drawn, dualwinner, has rock-solid claims if reproducing his excellent run in Royal Ascot’s Coventry Stakes.
The selection made most of the running that day before fading to finish sixth, beaten five lengths, behind Badsell.
But that form is outstanding as the runner-up Persian Force and third Royal Scotsman have both gone on to win at Group 2 level while the fourth, Blackbeard won the Prix Robert Papin (Group 1) in France.
On that evidence, Rousing Encore sets the standard for the third running of this event. And Ger Lyons, who won last year with Sacred Bridge, might provide the biggest threat in Apricot Twist, so impressive on her debut over this course and distance less than two weeks ago.
Thirteen of the 24 runners are previous winners, many of them holding realistic chances. And a possible dark horse is the Lyons-trained Gypsy Woman, an eye-catching fifth to the classy Never Ending Story on her debut at the Curragh.
On the supporting card, Aidan O’brien, who failed to hit the target with his two-year-old runners in Galway, might strike with Dame Kiri, third to Thornbrook on debut in Leopardstown in the opener.
Meanwhile, in Cork, Matt Smith might build on his Galway exploits with
Ronald Pump, twice runner-up to Honeysuckle in the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace, in the Buy Tickets Online At corkracecourse. ie Hurdle, if the nineyear-old has recovered from his exertions (when seventh) in Wednesday’s Galway Plate.