PartialLogo
Reports

Lancaster House is the master as O'Brien and Moore dominate with four-timer

Lancaster House lands his second Gladness Stakes under Ryan Moore at the Curragh on Saturday
Lancaster House (left) powers into the lead to win the Gladness Stakes for the second year runningCredit: Patrick McCann

It was a day to remember for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore as they teamed up for a 30-1 four-timer.

The star turn for Ballydoyle was Lancaster House, who was victorious in the Group 3 Gladness Stakes for the second straight year.

The race was restored to its traditional April date this year having been run in June in 2020 due to the shutdown of racing last spring. But the time of year made no difference to the son of Galileo, who returned to winning ways in an arguably stronger contest than last year when he had to make his own running. This time he managed to get a lead and quickened decisively to the front as he scored by a convincing two and a half lengths from Current Option.

O'Brien said: "He's a very solid and consistent horse and likes that nice ground. I think we'll stick to those Group 2 and Group 3 races, he's very solid at that level."

He added: "It was nice to get a lead today, and I always thought he would be very good at seven furlongs even though he has won over a mile and one on soft ground. He's just very versatile."

Broome sweeps through

A mile and a quarter on quick ground might not be the optimum for Broome, but he narrowly managed to justify 1-2 favouritism in the Group 3 Alleged Stakes to give O'Brien and Moore victory in both feature races.

Having looked a somewhat unlikely winner over a furlong out, Moore managed to get his mount into gear in the nick of time as he got up late to just see off the filly Thundering Nights by half a length.

O'Brien said: "He's a lovely horse and he will love going back up to a mile and a half. We'll be looking at races like the Tattersalls Gold Cup and Coronation Cup for him."

He added: "It was nice that he could get a lead today. Ryan felt that the pace was nice early on, but it just dropped in the middle of the race and that meant he had to work a bit harder. If the pace was more consistent over this trip it would have suited him better. He was brave too."

Broome and Ryan Moore (right) sweep by Thundering Nights to win the Alleged Stakes
Broome and Ryan Moore (right) sweep by Thundering Nights to win the Alleged StakesCredit: Patrick McCann

Wordsworth enhances claims

Wordsworth is a horse with all the entries you would like to see, including in both the English and Irish Derby, and his performance in landing the 1m2f maiden gives real hope that he can make the desired step up in grade.

A positive ride by Ryan Moore gave the impression that the step up to this trip was not going to cause a problem, and indeed the way he came home inside the last would suggest that the full Derby trip will suit him better.

"He's a big lazy horse at home and I wasn't sure he was even fit enough," said O'Brien, adding: "We'll step up to a mile and a half now and I think he'll come on for this. He had a good blow."

The first leg of the O'Brien-Moore four-timer came in the opening two-year-old maiden which was won by the Evie Stockwell-owned Glounthaune, a colt by Kodiac with a future.

Jean is wide awake

With four of the five runners in the two-year-old conditions race newcomers and the other being a winner, it looked likely to be informative and it will probably prove to be as Chris Hayes guided Starspangledbanner filly Cheerupsleepyjean to a decisive success on debut for Fozzy Stack.

The winning trainer said: "She had been working well and is a fast filly. We'll probably come back here for a Listed race in two weeks and think about Ascot then."


Results, replays and analysis


Download the free Racing Post app for cards, form, tips, in-app betting and to watch live races. Download for free at racingpost.com/mobile or search Racing Post app


Published on 17 April 2021inReports

Last updated 20:01, 17 April 2021

iconCopy