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'If my horse turns up, I wouldn't be afraid of any of them' - Saval Beg views

Aidan O'Brien: 'We are thinking of a staying programme for him and, depending on how this goes, he could go for the Ascot Gold Cup. He stays very well.'
Aidan O'Brien: 'We are thinking of a staying programme for him and, depending on how this goes, he could go for the Ascot Gold Cup'Credit: Patrick McCann

Saval Beg Levmoss Stakes (Listed) | 1m6f | 4yo+ | RTV

Aidan O'Brien knows a thing or two about winning this race. As well as sending out Order Of St George to win the Saval Beg three times between 2016 and 2018, O'Brien has won this race with Fame And Glory, Yeats and Kingfisher as well.

O'Brien could be responsible for another potentially classy stayer here in Amhran Na Bhfiann.

Third in last year's Derby, Amhran Na Bhfiann advertised his wellbeing when hosing up in a maiden at Dundalk recently, and everything suggests he will be just as effective over this new trip.

Amhran Na Bhfiann (right) finished third in the Derby last year
Amhran Na Bhfiann (right) finished third in the Derby last yearCredit: Patrick McCann

O’Brien’s Saval Beg record is bettered only by Dermot Weld, who has won this race eight times with horses like Media Puzzle, Vintage Crop and Vinnie Roe.

Dual Irish St Leger winner Search For A Song adds a huge amount of quality to the field but the fact she comes into this without the benefit of a run would be a small worry.

There are no such issues for Joseph O’Brien’s pair Twilight Payment and Master Of Reality. Last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Twilight Payment ran a cracker over an inadequate trip on his reappearance at the Curragh, while Master Of Reality confirmed he remains a stayer to be reckoned with at Navan. It promises to be a cracking running.


What they say

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Twilight Payment and Master Of Reality
Twilight Payment ran very well on his comeback run at the Curragh and obviously the step up in trip will suit him. He ran well in this race last year. Master Of Reality ran a great race on his reappearance and came right back to form. This race will suit him and we are very pleased with him as well.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Amhran Na Bhfiann
He is in good form and seems to have come out of Dundalk well. We are thinking of a staying programme for him and, depending on how this goes, he could go for the Ascot Gold Cup. He stays very well.

Donnacha O'Brien, trainer of Emperor Of The Sun and Lugnaquilla
Emperor Of The Sun ran a lovely race on his return at Navan and this looked the logical next step. I think he has improved this year so we’re looking for another nice run from him. Lugnaquilla is a nice filly but if the ground gets too quick she might not run. She’s in good form and, while she was disappointing the last day, she will have improved a lot for that.

Andy Slattery, trainer of Sunchart
If my horse turns up, I wouldn’t be afraid of any of them. I was fancying him going to Navan and he unseated coming out of the stalls but he was okay afterwards thankfully. This is probably a better race than Navan but we still believe in him. We have always had a lot of faith in this horse.

Read more Friday previews:

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1.40 York: Experience could be crucial as juveniles clash in Listed Marygate Stakes

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2.40 York: David Menuisier following familiar route with 'very exciting' Blue Cup


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Published on 13 May 2021inPreviews

Last updated 18:25, 13 May 2021

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