'I think she'll be competitive' - Twomey eyes Irish Champion for La Petite Coco

Paddy Twomey is sizing up an audacious tilt at the Irish Champion Stakes for his high-flying filly La Petite Coco, believing she has the ability to hold her own against international stars Vadeni, Mishriff and Luxembourg.

Team Valor's four-year-old will forever hold a place in Twomey's heart after providing him with his first Group 1 success in the Pretty Poly Stakes in June, and a crack at the Leopardstown showpiece could be next on the agenda – provided there is sufficient ease in the ground.

Connections will take encouragement from the fact Met Eireann (Irish Met Office) on Thursday predicted a total of 24.7mm of rain for Leopardstown in the run-up to Longines Irish Champions Weekend.

That could help to ensure softer conditions than when La Petite Coco finished third to leading Arc contender Alpinista in last month's Yorkshire Oaks.

Twomey said: "She ran a nice race on ground that was plenty quick for her at York, as ideally she'd like a bit of give. Her target for this year is the British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes at Ascot, but the Irish Champion Stakes – if we got the rain that's forecast next week – would look a suitable race for her in the interim.

Rosscarbery (Johnny King), Pearls Galore (Claire Carroll) and Rumbles Of Thunder (Johnny Barry) lead the second lot at Paddy Twomey's yard on Thursday morningCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"It's a world-class race, but if she got her ground conditions to suit I think we'll line up and that she'll be competitive.

"She came out of York well and is progressing all the time. She ran her biggest number to date last time, so I think she'll continue to progress."

Betfair Sportsbook on Thursday cut La Petite Coco to 10-1 (from 16) for the Bahrain Turf Club-backed prize, worth €1 million.

Recent Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet runner-up Rosscarbery is bound for the Moyglare Blandford Stakes at the Curragh next week, when she will bid to emulate last year's winning stablemate La Petite Coco.

The four-year-old is likely to retire at the end of a 2022 campaign in which she progressed from a mark of 81 to 110 in the space of seven runs.

Twomey said: "She'll run in the Blandford and then go for a race like the Prix de Royallieu, Prix de l'Opera or the same race as La Petite Coco is entered for at Ascot next month."

Rosscarbery: set to appear at Longines Irish Champions WeekendCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Ebor third Earl Of Tyrone is on course for the Group 3 Paddy Power Stakes at Leopardstown, while Twomey is excited about taking the wraps off 625,000gns purchase Just Beautiful in the Group 2 Clipper Logistics Boomerang Mile.

Owned by Moyglare Stud, the four-year-old filly has been absent since winning the Group 3 Sceptre Stakes for Ivan Furtado last September.

Twomey said: "She's a lovely filly. I've been looking forward to her all year and she's ready to run."

Pearls Galore, runner-up in last year's Matron Stakes, appears likely to skip this year's race in favour of the Prix de la Foret, but Twomey could still be represented in the mile contest by Rumbles Of Thunder or Limiti Di Greccio.

Erosandpsyche will dip his toe into Group 1 company for the first time in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh, while a day earlier Twomey is set to saddle Irish Derby third French Claim in the Cazoo St Leger, if getting an ease in the ground.

He said: "I think stepping up in trip will play to his strengths. He's improved since the Irish Derby so I expect him to run a good race."

Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (Leopardstown, September 10)
Paddy Power: 11-8 Vadeni, 4 Luxembourg, 5 Mishriff, 8 Onesto, 10 Native Trail, Bay Bridge, 12 bar

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