Gordon Lord Byron heads the field for Sunday’s At The Races Phoenix Sprint at the Curragh
Gordon Lord Byron has been running well all season but he must shoulder a 3lb penalty for his Group 2 Greenlands Stakes win earlier in the season
VETERAN Gordon Lord Byron faces a tough task in Sunday's At The Races Phoenix Sprint at the Curragh.
Tom Hogan's nine-year-old has been running consistently well this season and bagged a Group 2 win over this course and distance in the Greenlands Stakes in May.
However, because of that victory he must concede weight to his 10 rivals in the Group 3 event, but Hogan is confident of a bold show.
"He seems in great form. I suppose it's a tough enough ask, giving weight to everything in the field, but he's well used to it at this stage," said the County Tipperary-based trainer.
🏇 Eamonn Hames' Top Tips for Sunday 🏇
By Eamonn Hames
- NAP 3.00 Curragh - Sizzling: 'A beaten favourite the last two starts but this looks like a golden opportunity to finally get off the mark'
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"It was a muddling race the last day in the Minstrel Stakes (finished fourth). They went no pace and it turned into a sprint and he got caught a bit flat footed.
"We've been very happy with him since and so long as there's a true pace, I'm sure he'll run very well again."
While Gordon Lord Byron is in the twilight of his career, the three-year-old Son Of Rest is very much at the other end of the scale.
Fozzy Stack's youngster has run just five times, winning twice, and dominated his rivals in a premier handicap here in June.
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Stack said: "We'll see what the ground is like on the day, but we want to get a run into him before Irish Champions Weekend if we can.
"The horse is in very good form, we're very happy with him at home, so we'll see what happens."
Another exciting three-year-old in the field is Sheila Lavery's Mr Scarlet.
He has bumped into Caravaggio on his last two starts, most recently when finishing a fine fifth in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.
"Mr Scarlet is in good form and we will know after Sunday where we stand," Lavery said.
"If he improves from his last run behind Caravaggio then he should run a really big race.
"His preparation has been as I would have wanted it. He's in great form, so fingers crossed."
Aidan O'Brien is represented by Cougar Mountain, Washington DC and Intelligence Cross.
Richard Fahey saddles Kimberella and Mr Lupton, with that pair joined on the trip from Britain by the Hugo Palmer-trained Koropick.
Eddie Lynam's Moviesta and Khukri from Jessica Harrington's yard make up the field.