HE’S done it for the demigod, but now he has to do it for the actual God of Irish Flat racing.
I’m talking, of course, about jockey Tom Marquand, who five years ago banged in a St Leger success for Joseph O’Brien on Galileo Chrome.
They don’t call him Magic Marq for nothing! Tom Marquand looks to have one of the rides of the year on Scandinavia in the St Leger for Aidan O’Brien
However, on Saturday afternoon, live on ITV, Marquand must do the same for Joseph’s old man Aidan, already an eight-time Leger victor and the legend who dominates the Irish training ranks, being champion at home on 21 occasions as well as seven in Britain.
Marquand has picked up the much-sought-after mount on ante-post favourite SCANDINAVIA in the Betfred-sponsored final British Classic of the Flat season.
The Goodwood Cup victor is one of three Ballydoyle contenders, and the other two are not just making up the numbers.
They are the Epsom and Irish Derby hero Lambourn, and Stay True, who finished one place in front of that rival when fourth in the Great Voltigeur at York.
A seven-runner field is completed by the Queen’s Vase winner Carmers, the Andrew Balding pair Further and Tarriance and Roger Varian’s Rahiebb.
Further and Rahiebb were both staying on well behind Carmers at Royal Ascot and finished second and third respectively.
Back in fifth that day was Scandinavia, which just shows how quickly some horses develop.
Since then he’s impressed in the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket and defeated Illinois and Sweet William in the Goodwood Cup.
On Queen’s Vase day he was rated 90. He’s now on 117. Stamina is his forte.
Trefor is bang in form but any juice in the ground might not be in his favour.
The one I like as an each-way poke is RUN BOY RUN for the strong team of owner Phil Cunningham and trainer Richard Spencer.
I suspect ground might be key to this horse, and if there is a bit of cut I reckon he’s got a fine chance.
His form on ground with any sort of juice in it recently includes a third at Ascot, a fair fourth at Newmarket, and a fourth in the Stewards’ Cup at Glorious Goodwood.
This specialist distance should be perfect for a horse who has the speed for 5f but stays 6f.
It’s jockey George Wood with the big chance and he’s going well.
In a week when racing’s biggest names have come together off the track to raise awareness over the possibility of a crippling tax on the sport thrusted on us by those in Government, it’s a weekend to savour what we all love, and that’s top class thorougbreds.
Away from Doncaster, Leopardstown and the Curragh take centre stage.
The main event at the former venue is the Group 1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at 5.30pm.
The mile and a quarter feature includes Eclipse hero Delacroix, the former Ascot Champion Stakes winner Anmaat (with a new jockey in Chris Hayes due to Jim Crowley’s leg break), Japan’s Shin Emperor who was third to Economics last year, and the promising Zahraan and very useful White Birch.
Many don’t think Anmaat can score at the age of seven, but I’m not so sure.
He has a telling turn of foot and the ground has come right.
Earlier on the card is the Group 1 Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes for fillies and mares.
Fallen Angel was second last year and could easily go one better, but I’ll side with JANUARY, who was touched off by Karl Burke’s runner in France last time but who now has cheekpieces added and Christophe Soumillon will know her a little better now.
On Sunday at the Curragh the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes is mostly likely to fall to Venetian Sun, Precise or Composing.
The Bar One Racing Flying Five Stakes sees Nunthorpe heroine Asfoora back on squishy ground and without Oisin Murphy.
I suspect BUCANERO FUERTE will do much better than when a rallying seventh last year.
The Group 1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes is probably down to Italy, Gstaad or Zavateri, while the Comer Group International Irish St Leger should provide the perfect opportunity for the aforementioned ILLINOIS to get back to winning ways.
He didn’t stay when second in the Ascot Gold Cup and I suspect this trip of a mile and three-quarters is his ultimate.
An exciting 48 hours is in store.
At least the only taxing thing for fans of horse racing this weekend is trying to keep up with all the top class action!
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