Art Power back to winning ways with a bang before possible Group 1 assignment

After seeing Art Power spend the summer coming up a little short in Group 1 and Group 2 company, Tim Easterby spotted a more amenable opportunity for his high-class sprinter and the colt did not let the opportunity pass.

The four-year-old son of Dark Angel bolted up in the Group 3 William Hill Ireland Renaissance Stakes after travelling powerfully towards the head of a scorching gallop.

When asked to win his race he quickened smartly to score by an easy five lengths. Bigger tests await and the Group 1 British Champion Sprint Stakes at Ascot in three weeks' time is possibly the next target. Paddy Power cut Art Power to 8-1 (from 12) for the Champion Sprint.

Rider David Allan said: "He travelled strongly through the race, quickened up and ran through the line. Obviously, it was a step down in class for him, but it might do his confidence a bit of good and hopefully he can bag a big one soon.

"I think Champions Day at Ascot will be a target for him. He goes on quick ground but a bit of juice in the ground suits him and he loves Ascot, so he could turn up there and run a big race.

"He's not short of speed, as you saw. Your biggest battle is reining in that speed early on and getting him more controlled. He was impressive, he gave me a good feel."

Winning return to HQ for Bolger

Irish Champions Weekend had been Jim Bolger's first appearance on a racecourse since the beginning of the pandemic, and he welcomed a winner in person for the first time in a couple of years when his homebred filly Gaire Os Ard landed the opening auction series race.

The daughter of Teofilo, runner-up to Cheveley Park winner Tenebrism on their debuts at Naas in March, finally found the winning formula as she kept on strongly under Kevin Manning on the sound surface to hold her previous conqueror Thunder Eclipse by three-quarters of a length.

Bolger said: "It has taken a little bit of time for us to figure her out, but she is a filly with a future. She may not be a black-type filly for this year, but that is certainly on the cards for next year. She is a big filly and a bit of time will not do her any harm."

Willesee comes good in style

Another impressive Jessica Harrington newcomer emerged in the mile maiden, when the previously troublesome Willesee came from off the pace to quicken clear impressively for a two-and-a-quarter-length success under Nathan Crosse.

The filly had refused to go into the stalls in a barrier trial and on her intended racecourse debut at Naas, and Harrington was keen to give credit to stalls guru Will Hayes.

She said: "Will kindly came over today and was down at the start with her, but he has done some job on her. She had a little look, but she went in no problem and maybe that will give her a bit of confidence."

Results, replays and analysis

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