Irish Derby Festival: Landofhopeandglory up for the Coral.ie Curragh Cup
David Metcalf | June 25, 2016
Landofhopeandglory can rule in Coral.ie Curragh Cup
Trainer Aidan O’Brien has an excellent record in the Group 2 Coral.ie Curragh Cup, and Landofhopeandglory can further enhance it with victory in this year’s renewal of the 2m contest (17:25).
The Ballydoyle handler has saddled with the winner of the race on four occasions, including the last three runnings.
In Landofhopeandglory, he has a colt who is unexposed as a stayer and shaped well on his first try over the trip when fourth of 18 to stable companion Sword Fighter in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot.
After being held-up off the pace in mid division, three-year-old made good headway two from home and weaved his way through to throw down a strong challenge inside the last.
Small field will suit
Although unable to find an extra close home, Landofhopeandglory stuck to the task well to be beaten 1 3/4 lengths.
Given how the race panned out, it was a solid effort as the winner dominated from the front and stole a match rounding the home bend in a rough run race, and Landofhopeandglory can thus turn the tables on Sword Fighter.
The smaller field will certainly be in his favour, and in what is likely to be a tactically run affair Landofhopeandglory can use his turn of foot to pounce late and land the spoils.
Alveena open to further improvement
Alveena has a progressive profile and looks a big player for in-form trainer Dermot Weld.
The filly has won two of her three starts this season, and there was lots to like about the way she went about her business when landing a 12-runner handicap over 1m 4f at Cork earlier in the month by two lengths.
Alveena travelled well through before staying on strongly to be well on top at the finish, leaving the impression that there may be further improvement to come when stepped up in trip.
This does represents a big step up in class, but Alveena is on an upward curve and Weld is a trainer that doesn’t go tilting at windmills.
Cymro cannot be dismissed
The field is completed the Tom Dascombe trained Cymro who steps up significantly in trip having disappointed when well beaten in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes during Royal Ascot when last seen in action.
Prior to that, the colt had run well to finish a 2 1/2 lengths fourth to Dartmouth in the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes at Chester, and the winner has since gone on to land the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes.
That is solid form in the contest of this contest, and affords the four-year-old plenty of respect.
Related
You’ll find more Irish Derby Festival tips on our Curragh page.
Coral’s top tip: Landofhopeandglory is unexposed as a stayer and rates a solid bet to give trainer Aidan O’Brien with a fourth successive success in the Coral.ie Curragh Cup.
