Giant's Causeway, Hawk Wing, Gleneagles: is Armory the next Futurity star?

Group 2 Galileo Irish EBF Futurity Stakes| 7F | RTV

Aidan O'Brien's arsenal of Futurity Stakes winners features some of the best inmates Ballydoyle has seen – Giant's Causeway (1999), Hawk Wing (2001) and Gleneagles (2014) – and razor-sharp juvenile Armory will bid to emulate those colts.

Bidding to record his 13th Futurity Stakes win and sixth from the previous seven renewals, O'Brien's team is completed by Iberia, Lope Y Fernandez and Toronto. It is a strong hand for the yard, with Armory the likely short-priced favourite.

Last seen winning the Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown, another race with an outstanding history of blooding future Classic winners, Armory, no bigger than a 14-1 chance for next year’s 2,000 Guineas, is reported to be in top order by O’Brien.

The trainer, who won the race a year ago with subsequent Derby hero Anthony Van Dyck, said: “Armory won the Tyros Stakes very nicely. He's a lovely moving horse so we'll learn more about him again here. He appears to be in good form.”

On Iberia, Lope Y Fernandez and Toronto, O’Brien added: “Iberia won his only start at the Curragh and comes into this in good form. We think he's come forward from his maiden win.

“We were a little bit disappointed by Lope Y Fernandez at Goodwood but maybe it was the track - we've been happy with him since.

“Toronto ran a good race [behind Armory] at Leopardstown and we thought that he would handle the ground well and he'd get further as well."

Does Jim Bolger have a genuine Group horse in Geometrical?

Jim Bolger: has won the Futurity with horses like St Jovite, Teofilo and New ApproachCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Since winning this race with subsequent Irish Derby winner St Jovite in 1991, Jim Bolger has added to his tally of Futurity Stakes wins with Cois Na Tine [1993], St Clair Ridge [1998], Teofilo [2006], New Approach [2007] and most recently Herald The Dawn in 2015.

Bolger has lacked a Classic contender in recent years but Geometrical, an impressive winner of a Gowran Park maiden on his third start last week, will attempt to make his mark at Group 2 level.

Can Justifier confirm superiority over Armory for Ger Lyons?

Justifier: has already beaten Armory on debut but is likely to face a completely different prospect on FridayCredit: Patrick McCann

Ger Lyons and Colin Keane broke their domestic Group 1 hoodoo at this track earlier this month when Siskin landed the Phoenix Stakes and the pair are out to maintain their red-hot run with Justifier, who has already lowered the colours of Armory on debut.

Since then, Justifier, a son of first-season sire Free Eagle, built on that impressive Leopardstown success with victory at Tipperary and will race for the first time in the colours of Simon Kwok, a relatively new owner at Lyon's Glenburnie Stables.

Has Michael Halford a potential joker in the pack with Roman Turbo?

Roman Turbo: represents Michael Halford, who is worried about the groundCredit: Patrick McCann

Like Lyons, Michael Halford will be represented by a twice-raced colt who is yet to taste defeat in Roman Turbo, with the trainer hoping the rain stays away for his contender.

Halford said: “We've been delighted with him. He's won his two starts and has been training really well since the Anglesey Stakes. This represents a step up in trip and class. I don't think the step up in trip will bother him too much and obviously we won't know about the class until we run him.

“We're very happy with him. I'm not sure how well he'll handle the ground, though, and I'd love to see it drying out a bit more. He's a beautiful low actioned horse and I'm not sure he'd be totally at home on it but until we run him we won't know.”

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