No distinction for Fame And Glory
5.25pm Tom Peacock writes: Aidan O'Brien's message was not to write off Fame And Glory despite the Irish Derby winner fading into third on his comeback at the Curragh.
The colt's defeat by evergreen mare She's Our Mark in the Alleged Stakes was a bitter pill to swallow for those who backed the 2-5 favourite, but they will have to seek solace in the fact there will clearly be far more to come.
Had Sea The Stars not been around last year, Fame And Glory would have four Group Ones on his tally rather than just two and he is still likely to be seen in top-flight action next.
There was an unsteady pace to much of the 10-furlong Listed event, causing Fame And Glory to pull quite hard, but he was still in contention at the furlong marker before he weakened and was eased home by Johnny Murtagh.
"He got tired but we were delighted," said O'Brien. "It was tough going out there – it's tacky ground – but we needed to get him to the racecourse.
"Don't be disappointed. If everything went well, the Prix Ganay was the plan and then the Tattersalls Gold Cup. We will just have to see how forward he is before the Ganay." Slightly ignored was She's Our Mark (12-1), who stayed on a length clear of Popmurphy. PA
Steinbeck to return at Curragh next month
5.30pm Tom Peacock writes: Aidan O'Brien expects Steinbeck and Lillie Langtry to be able to return to the course in time for the Irish Guineas meeting towards the end of May.
The colt Steinbeck, who was fourth in the Dewhurst Stakes, and filly Lillie Langtry, last seen finishing down the field at the Breeders' Cup, are behind in their preparation compared to some of the others at Ballydoyle.
"Steinbeck will hopefully be back for the Irish Guineas and hopefully we will get the chance to take him away somewhere before that," said O'Brien. "With Lillie Langtry we're looking to make the Irish 1000 Guineas."
There have been no hold-ups for the 2000 Guineas and Derby favourite St Nicholas Abbey. "Everything so far with St Nicholas Abbey is good. We're getting there and there are three more weeks to go before Newmarket," added O'Brien.
"For the 2000 Guineas, the ones we are looking at are him, Beethoven, Viscount Nelson and Fencing Master."
O'Brien is likely to have just one representative at this week's Newmarket Craven meeting. "Juan Carlos will go to the sales race (Wednesday's £250000 Tattersalls Timeform 3-Y-O Trophy)," he confirmed.
Of several others O'Brien was quizzed about at the Curragh on Sunday, he said: "We haven't decided about a race for Cape Blanco and we are thinking of running Age Of Aquarius in the Mooresbridge Stakes." PA
Today's best bets, by Chris Cook
Amazingly, Tony McCoy is supposed to be at Southwell this afternoon for three rides, despite having brought his career to a magnificent completeness with yesterday's Grand National win and despite being required to take part in the celebrations at Jonjo O'Neill's yard in Gloucestershire this morning. He is a driven man. Most of us would surely be inclined to take the afternoon off, which may explain why most of us will never be A P McCoy.
His ride on Aberdale (3.40) looks like a pretty good opportunity to make the jaunt to Nottinghamshire worth while. Trained by O'Neill, this one showed little in three novice hurdles but was well supported before making his handicap bow at Sandown last month in what was probably a decent race for the grade.
Better was expected than his distant seventh place and, back in maiden company, he should be good enough. He has been ridden by McCoy just once before, when winning a bumper last spring. He's 5-4.
Caerlaverock (3.20) was one of three winners for rookie trainer Rose Dobbin last month and he should be up to going in again in the novice hurdle at Kelso. Though he finished just half a length ahead of his nearest rival at Sedgefield last time, he won very cheekily under Graham Lee and must have more scope for progress than his market rival, Soft Spoken Guy.
He is hardly a betting proposition but it is worth noting that last year's Irish Derby winner, Fame And Glory, returns to action at The Curragh today in the 4.15pm race. He should be fine on the heavy going and this is only a Listed contest but 10 furlongs is arguably short of his optimum trip and Aidan O'Brien has cautioned that he will be better for this run, so 4-6 is not tempting, even though it is hard to pinpoint a great danger among his rivals.
