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Improving Keane set to make things interesting for Smullen
The Racing Post's Irish team look ahead to the Flat season
The Irish Flat season gets under way on SundayCredit: Alan Crowhurst
Michael Halford could make waves with some nice three-year-olds this season.
Principal among them is unbeaten Godolphin colt Ambassadorial, who won twice at Dundalk last year. The second of those successes came when quickening smartly to win the Listed Star Appeal Stakes. His reappearance in an early Classic trial is eagerly awaited.
Ambassadorial: could make reappearance in Classic trialCredit: Patrick McCann
A darker one is the unbeaten Yulong Xiongyin, who quickened smartly to comfortably land another Dundalk maiden in December and should be capable of significant improvement.
Justin O'Hanlon
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more inFeatures
- Captain Marvel: how a modern master of Cheltenham and a genuine pioneer executed one of the shocks of the year
- 'We’re delighted with how it's going' - joint-trainers prepare for exciting year after Flat string is doubled
- 'We’ve had to work hard this sales season' - Kennet Valley seeking to build on success with biggest string
- Alastair Down's archives: the great writer recalls Coneygree's glorious victory in the 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup
- Kauto Star: the extraordinary talent who became the benchmark for sheer undiluted quality