Sport

Check the Band set to run big race at Ascot

AIDAN O'Brien despatches the speedy Check The Band for today's Group Three Cornwallis Stakes at Ascot

By MICHAEL O'FARRELL
Sat Oct 12 1996 - 01:00

AIDAN O'Brien despatches the speedy Check The Band for today's Group Three Cornwallis Stakes at Ascot. This highly regarded colt has got stronger with every race and impressed in winning a listed race at the Curragh last Saturday. This trip is over a furlong less but Ascot's five furlongs is stiff and while this is a step up in class, I expect him to run a big race. Christy Roche rides and Michael Kinane looks to have some decent mounts there including Russian Snows whose chance in the Group Three Princess Royal Stakes would be improved by rain.

Olympic Majesty, an easy winner on his debut at Navan recently, represents Aidan O'Brien in tomorrow's Group One Gran Criterium at Longchamp.

Kevin Prendergast's consistent three-year-old handicapper Magic Combination looks a likely sort to do well over timber. In form John Shortt rides him in today's Birch Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse and the combination is taken to beat the Aidan O'Brien trained Choosey's Treasure who is rated a lon way below in flat handicaps.

O'Brien and Charlie Swan can win the Rossmore Hurdle with Just Little but the odds will not be attractive. While the champion fractured a shoulder bone when falling with Young Dubliner at Tralee in August he renews acquaintance with Enda Bolger's charge in the Chestnut Beginners Chase. Preference is for Tom Foley's The Subbie.

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Orange Jasmine, runner-up to impressive Punchestown winner Rayouni can win the Kilcloon Maiden (Div II) for Aidan O'Brien and I do not oppose the Jim Bolger trained Lil's Boy in the first leg.

Mystic Ring is taken to confirm Listowel placings with stable-companion One Man Band in the Clonalvey Handicap, This is a wide-open affair as is the Palmerstown Handicap which has attracted the battling The Bower who is so marvellously consistent but after his unexpected listed win at Tralee has it all to do in handicaps. Nonetheless, he is a good ride for apprentices and Mary Willimson could go close with him. There are several with good chances and one I like is the Vivian Kennedy trained Roi Croft who has not run since being lucklessly short-headed by Yavana's Pace over seven furlongs at Leopardstown four months ago. She is a sporting nap.