Pat Smullen’s Forgotten Rules could be St Leger surprise

Free Eagle may be Pat Smullen’s priority at the upcoming Longines Irish Champions Weekend but he reckons forgetting about Forgotten Rules’ Palmerstown Estate Irish St Leger chance could be costly if ground conditions at the Curragh are soft.

Considering Free Eagle wants quick going for the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes the day before, that could provide the champion jockey with a dilemma, but Smullen remains hopeful of a return to form by Forgotten Rules.

After finishing third in the Ascot Gold Cup, the stayer failed to fire in the Curragh Cup just ten days later.

“He’s had a long break since and is coming back nicely,” Smullen says. “He is ground-dependent though. There’s only one Ascot Gold Cup and we had to go for it but we did learn he has to have soft ground to be seen at his best.”

Forgotten Rules is a general 4-1 shot for Leger glory on the second day of Champions Weekend and Smullen’s other likely Group 1 ride next weekend is set to include the unbeaten Tanaza in the Moyglare Stud Stakes.

The season's leading rider has half a dozen Sunday rides on Dundalk's all-weather which could be a rewarding session for Connor King. The apprentice is closing in on a century of career winners and can use first-time headgear on High Pitch to help him along.

Black Wolf Run could also score in the apprentice maiden.