Jacobean can bag O’Brien another Racing Post Trophy

Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has a fantastic record in the Racing Post Trophy and Jacobean can provide him with another winner of the Group 1 contest at Doncaster today (3.50).

The Ballydoyle handler has saddled seven winners of the 1m contest and won three of the last five renewals.

Jacobean is one of two runners for him in this year’s contest, the other being Aloft, and looks the pick based on jockey bookings.

The colt was a massive eye-catcher on debut over 7f at the Curragh when runner-up to stable companion Royal Navy Ship in what looked a competitive 22-runner contest.

The son of High Chaparral was held-up well off the pace in the early stages and was only in 15th three from home when the pace quickened.

Jacobean then showed distinct signs of greenness before the penny finally began to drop and began to make steady progress under a tender ride from Joseph O’Brien.

He was still only a moderate sixth approahcing the final furlong, but then picked up in tremendous style to be gaining hand over fist at the finish and beaten just 1 1/2 lengths.

It was an effort which suggested Jacobean had a huge engine, and the fact that connections are pitching him straight into Group 1 company on the back of that run suggests that he is held in the highest regard.

Like many O’Brien inmates, Jacobean is also likely to come on a ton for the outing and given the stables’ record in the race looks the one they all have to beat.

The obvious danger is the favourite Elm Park who has a progressive profile and comes into the contest on the back of a hat-trick.

Trained by Andrew Balding, the colt showed a good attitude in the last of those at Newmarket when knuckling down well to beat the well-regarded Nafaqa by a length in the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes.

The pair pulled four lengths clear of the third home, and that form sets the standard in this contest.

Another big player is the Sir Mark Prescott trained Celestial Path.
The colt is unbeaten in two starts, and was most impressive when landing a Listed contest at Haydock last month despite still showing signs of inexperience.

Celestial Path is an exciting prospect judged on the manner of that success, and is a rare Group 1 runner for a yard that know the time of day and don’t go tilting at windmills.