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Dual Classic winner Capri expected to come on for first run of the season

Fresh from a winter break: St Leger winner Capri on the gallops
Fresh from a winter break: St Leger winner Capri on the gallopsCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Toals.com Bookmakers Alleged Stakes (Group 3) |4yo+| 1m2f | ATR

Capri, winner of the Irish Derby and St Leger last season, makes his reappearance along with Ballydoyle stablemates Cliffs Of Moher and Yucatan in this event named after Vincent O'Brien's dual Arc winner.

Ryan Moore, who rode Capri to St Leger glory, partners the colt in the five-runner event that Aidan O'Brien last won with Dylan Thomas in 2007.

O'Brien said: "Capri has done very well physically since last year. He's ready to start but whatever happens he's going to come on a lot for the run and it might take a couple of runs before he reaches top form.

"Although heavy ground won't be ideal for him, he has winning form on soft and on heavy.

Cliffs Of Moher, runner-up in the Investec Derby last year and the mount of Seamie Heffernan, met trouble in running in the Coral- Eclipse and the Irish Champion Stakes and, according to his trainer, the testing ground today will be far from ideal.

"Cliffs Of Moher appreciates nice ground so conditions won't be in his favour. Although he ran second in the Derby, a mile and a quarter is probably more his trip," O'Brien said.

Yucatan missed most of last season and will be making his first appearance since finishing second in the Derrinstown Derby Trial at Leopardstown in May. "He met with a setback when we were training him for the Derby and is just ready to start back," O'Brien said.

The Jessica Harrington-trained Beautiful Morning, a Listed winner over the trip at Yarmouth on her final start last season, and the Ger Lyons-trained Cannonball, twice placed at Listed level on testing ground last year, complete the line-up.

Light's hat-trick bid

Making Light, winner of the Park Express Stakes over the course last month, drops back a furlong in trip in the seven-furlong Gladness Stakes in which the Dermot Weld-trained filly will be seeking a third Group 3 success.

Weld said: "After her win on the opening day of the season this looked an obvious race to go for. The drop in distance isn't a concern and neither is the ground which she handed well last time."


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Tony O'HehirRacing Post Reporter

Published on 12 April 2018inNews

Last updated 17:11, 12 April 2018

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