Promising Liberatio to strike for Halford

Trained by the venue's leading trainer Michael Halford, Liberatio looks the best bet at Dundalk this evening when he makes the fourth appearance of his career in a maiden for colts and geldings (6.05).

The son of Invincible Spirit ran well on his debut at the Curragh in a race won with considerable aplomb by the Ken Condon-trained Landfall, who consolidated his appeal as a potential Group race contender for 2017 when making it two from two at Leopardstown in September. Indeed, but for the fact Landfall is excluded from the Classics by virtue of being a gelding, he could be considered one of the most exciting Irish juveniles of 2016.

In finishing sixth, Liberatio was not far off the Aidan O'Brien-trained Exemplar who later finished third in the Beresford Stakes. A return to the Curragh failed to produce any improvement from Liberatio, but like so many of Halford's horses he adapted well to the surface at Dundalk depriving O'Brien of a one-two-three when finishing third behind War Secretary and Homesman, with another Ballydoyle runner in fourth.