SMASH IT ON Irish View

Headquarters hosts a terrific meeting this Sunday with the Phoenix Stakes the centrepiece of a card that includes no less than four group races. Henrythenavigator is sure to be a warm order in the feature and the Coventry Stakes winner and 2,000 Guineas favourite obviously holds leading claims, but whether he’s one to get stuck into at around 4/6 is quite another matter. The son of Kingmambo is bred to improve for going up in trip and it’s worth remembering he made his debut over 7f, a performance that was visually more impressive than his Ascot win. For all that he has bags of class, there is a chance he could get done for toe by a pacier rival at this distance and at the odds he’s passed over. Queen Mary winner Elletelle certainly lacks nothing in the speed department but her tendency to miss the break is a worry, and this trait seems to be getting worse by the race. At the weights, she was the best horse in the Cherry Hinton but if she doesn’t jump with the rest it will all be for nowt. Consequently, Warsaw looks the best option and quotes of 16/1 with Cashmans at time of writing make plenty of each-way appeal. Admittedly there are only two places up for grabs, but with the Cork firm paying 1/4 the odds, 4/1 for him to reach the first two looks generous. The thrice-raced colt was a disappointment at Royal Ascot, where he found the 5f of the Norfolk far too sharp and he will enjoy going up in trip here. Warsaw looked thoroughly professional in his two previous starts when beating useful sorts like Irish Jig and The Loan Express, and as a son of Danehill Dancer he won’t be inconvenienced by a cut in the ground. I envisage him trying to make all from his favoured draw in stall 2, and while both Henrythenavigator and Elletelle will be coming on the scene late, it is hoped he can hold on for a place at least.

The Royal Whip Stakes is a decent looking affair which brings together a number of in-form rivals. Eagle Mountain is likely to be a warm order but he’s not a horse I like and has been beaten at short prices in each of his last three races. His position in the market is largely down to his Derby second but that is a race that hasn’t worked out (none of the first four home have won since) and 3yos are without a win in this race since 2000, with 12 such horses getting turned over. That doesn’t bode well for Alexander Tango either, but the Stack runner is hardly good enough anyway and it seems sensible to concentrate on the older horses. Decado has questions to answer at this trip and is far from sure to get it, given the amount of speed he shows in his races. He’s undoubtedly better on soft ground and comes here off the back of a disappointing run in the Sussex Stakes. As such I fancy Cougar Bay to reverse form with him from their run on Oaks day, and David Wachman’s charge will certainly be suited by the drying conditions. Despite being without a win since the June of his 3yo season, Cougar Bay has run consistently well in good company since, including a number of sterling efforts when conditions were against him. He finally gets his optimum conditions here, 10f on decent ground, and a bold show can be expected. Certainly, his yard have been in fine form with two pattern winners in the past week and he can make a bold bid to continue the trend, despite being among the outsiders of the field. Championship Point is an obvious danger following his recent resurgence in handicaps, but both his recent successes have come when held up off a strong pace in big fields and I just wonder whether the race will be run to suit him this time.

The Phoenix Sprint Stakes looks a hot affair with the top three in the market difficult to separate. Benbaun is Curragh specialist with his track record reading:2112211 and he looks sure to make a bold bid. He’s probably better over 5f but his course and distance win in May suggests he has no problem getting the trip at this track. His draw in 7 isn’t ideal. Evening Time hasn’t been blessed with stall 8 either but she’s 3 from 3 at the trip and created a huge impression when landing a Leopardstown listed race by 5ls last time. Any softening of the ground would be in her favour. The talk surrounding Al Qasi this spring suggested he was going to be a force to be reckoned with in the top sprints, but he’s been a little disappointing in three starts this season. However, it often takes these unexposed 4yos a while to find their feet in such company and there was a lot of encouragement in his latest run. A slight dig in the ground will suit and he could be worth another chance in what is a very trappy affair.

For me, the race of the weekend is the Group 2 Debutante Stakes as it brings together a number of fillies who’ve impressed in recent weeks from all the top yards. Aidan O’Brien’s Listen was a taking winner here on Derby weekend and is a worthy favourite. However, the strength of that listed victory is questionable with a maiden chasing her home and the odds-on favourite not showing her form. With any number of progressive fillies in the line-up, she is well worth taking on with an each-way selection. Campfire Glow was an easy winner at the Galway Festival but the form isn’t up to much while Triskel is likely to prove best on really soft ground. Rainbow Crossing beat Triskel in her Gowran maiden win but disappointed subsequently at Leopardstown when throwing her winning chance away by misbehaving badly in the preliminaries. She could well out-run her big price but has questions to answers. Ariege is interesting having won a decent race last time by a huge margin, but preference is for the John Oxx-trained Sharleez. The daughter of Marju absolutely bolted up in a Fairyhouse maiden on her only start and has been supplemented for this. I’m always interested in Oxx juveniles who won first time of asking as they are often smart recruits, and few will have won as impressively as this filly. The strong market support for her on that occasion suggested she’d been showing plenty at home, and she is likely to offer significant each-way value on Sunday.

Tony Keenan

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