RACING:DUNBOYNE EXPRESS will attempt to bridge a 33-year Group One gap in Britain for trainer Kevin Prendergast when he lines up in Doncaster's Racing Post Trophy later this month.
Due to injury the unbeaten colt hasn’t been seen since recording a hugely impressive eight-length success in July’s Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh but is ready to make a much-anticipated comeback.
Currently a 12 to 1 shot for Saturday week’s Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, Prendergast yesterday indicated that Dunboyne Express will wait a week instead for the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster over a mile. “We’ve left him in the Dewhurst with Longhunter but I think another week will be of benefit to him so he will go to Doncaster. He’s coming back pretty fit and has been doing some nice bits of work. Obviously you need to be going to a Group One with all guns firing but I think he’ll be okay,” said Prendergast.
The veteran trainer last month saddled the 2,000th winner of his career and has enjoyed top-flight success in recent years at home including a Moyglare-National Stakes double last season with Termagant and Kingsfort.
However, it is 33 years since Nebbiolo secured Prendergast an overseas Classic success at Newmarket in the 2,000 Guineas of 1977.
Dunboyne Express is currently as low as 16 to 1 with William Hill to repeat that victory next May but the son of Shamardal will tackle a mile for the first time at Doncaster.
“He had an infection which took him quite a while to get over,” Prendergast added. “He has won on soft and fast ground so I don’t think that will be an issue at Doncaster.”
Twenty eight horses were left in the Racing Post Trophy at yesterday’s forfeit stage and Aidan O’Brien has eight hopefuls bidding to add to his fine record in the race. Ireland’s champion trainer has won the Racing Post on five occasions – Saratoga Springs (1997), Aristotle (1999), High Chaparral (2001), Brian Boru (2002) and St Nicholas Abbey last year – and his representation this time includes Long Live The King, Roderic O’Connor and last weekend’s impressive Tipperary winner Seville.
Today’s Tramore action is all-National Hunt and the best bet on the card could be Lets Go Sunshine in the Beginners Chase.
This former point-to-point winner broke his duck over hurdles in style at Downpatrick last month after a series of placed efforts over flights and in bumpers. Cork trainer John Murphy can make the journey worthwhile in the handicap chase with Matchbook whose rating over fences is significantly lower than in hurdles and who ran well behind Jack Cool over the smaller obstacles at Listowel. Nina Carberry carries the Michael Smurfit colours on Mister Music Man in the bumper and she should be very hard to beat.
New festival race
The 2011 Cheltenham Festival will include a new Grade Two novice chase over two and a half miles that will open day three action on March 17th. The new race, sponsored by Jewson, will replace the current novice handicap chase which has been moved to the end of the opening day. Some bookmakers have already criticised the introduction of the new event, predicting it could hit turnover in ante-post betting on the Arkle Trophy and the RSA Chase.
