Sport

Gutsy win for Albert

RACING/Curragh report: Albert Hall continued the end-of-season hot streak enjoyed by Aidan O'Brien's juveniles with a gutsy …

Mon Oct 11 2004 - 01:00

RACING/Curragh report: Albert Hall continued the end-of-season hot streak enjoyed by Aidan O'Brien's juveniles with a gutsy success in yesterday's Juddmonte Beresford Stakes at the Curragh.

The Jamie Spencer-ridden colt started odds on despite being beaten on his debut and made all to just hold off Merger by half a length.

However, the story didn't finish there with the stewards inquiring into possible interference inside the final furlong as Albert Hall hung off the rail on to the runner-up.

The result stood and that allowed O'Brien regain his stranglehold on the Beresford. It took the Group One performers Alamshar (2002) and Azamour (2003) to interrupt a Ballydoyle run of six victories in a row in the Group Two event and Cashmans now go as low as 25 to 1 about Albert Hall graduating to the highest class in next year's Epsom Derby.

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"He was very raw again today but he has a big engine," said O'Brien who might yet get a Group One shot this year in the Racing Post Trophy. The trainer also said Oratorio remains a possible to try to emulate Rock Of Gibraltar's 2001 double of the Prix Jean-Luc Lagadere and Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday but the Middle Park winner Ad Valorem is finished for the season.

John Murtagh enjoyed a Listed race double with the English raider Striking Ambition destroying his opposition to justify favouritism by three and a half lengths in the Waterford Testimonial Stakes.

However, the former champion jockey was seen to real effect on Tipperary All Star who shot into a clear lead coming down the hill in the Finale Stakes and had enough left at the line to hold Starrystarrynight by half a length. "I told Johnny to be really positive and he did the rest. He really took the race by the scruff of the neck," said trainer Michael Halford who added that the horse will go hurdling.

James Bowe's star hurdlers Solerina and Florida Coast had to settle for second and fourth respectively in the Cesarewitch behind the Rory Cleary-ridden Essex who made the most of the weight concession from the runner-up.

Favourite backers were completely out of luck in the Flame Of Tara Stakes as the heavily supported Lock And Key refused to be loaded. It was left to the Mick Channon trained Bibury Flyer, having her 19th start of the season, to beat off Virginia Waters.