GYTO Friday Notebook Tips

Arriving on a hat-trick I thought GOLDEN SPICE would be shorter than 2/1 so this daughter of Golden Horn gets a confident vote to go in again. She was always finding enough to win over C&D last time and that was despite racing keenly in the early stages. I think she is still learning her trade after just a handful of starts so just a 3lb rise is unlikely to stop her saluting the judge again with the promise of more to come. The obvious danger looks to be Ulysses colt Lord Vader who ran his best race to date beaten just a length at Kempton and with more to come on handicap debut he should give the selection a race. Damascus Finish let backers down last time so has a bit to prove off the back of that. Giewont should appreciate going back up in trip so also has to enter calculations.

The O’Brien’s have dominated this race with Aidan winning it 3 times and Joseph winning it for the last 2 years. It is usually won by a promising individual and it could be Donnacha’s turn this time around with War Front colt ABSOLUTE RULER. This horse looked a promising individual making a winning debut over C&D back in the summer and while he has been beaten twice since he looked unlucky at Leopardstown before having excuses on final start. Given time since the best should be yet to come and I think he can win this before being targeted at bigger prizes. Dark Angel filly Juncture looks the obvious threat for Ger Lyons. She has form figures of 212 and is clearly a horse with a bright future herself. Of the rest In Ecstasy has won his last two but he will need to progress again to cope with the top pair mentioned and has already been gelded.