Tattersalls Gold Cup 2010

3.40 Curragh
Tattersalls Gold Cup (group 1) (Class 1) (4YO plus)
Winner €139,500

Pick: Fame And Glory

Cutlass Bay: Took his unbeaten record to 5 wins from 5 start when coming away to win the Prix Ganay very nicely from Prix L’Opera winner Shalanaya, especially when you consider how much he hung when making his challenge; Looked superb that day but stable switch to Saeed Bin Suroor yard (0-18 in recent weeks) does pose questions.

Dixie Music: Lightly raced sort who has performed admirably despite being used as pacemaker on his last 2 starts; Looks set for same role here.

Fame And Glory: Had a very good 3 year old season, winning the Ballysax and Derrinstown Derby trials seamlessly before coming second to legendary Sea The Stars in big race; Then won Irish Derby and came excellent second in Irish Champion Stakes; Last 2 runs of last season should be discounted as he got no run in Arc and was over the top in Champion Stakes; Proved much fitter for reappearance run when landing Mooresbridge Stakes easily earlier and could take this on way to big things this season.

Halicarnassus: Tough as nuts horse who got yet another win in Dubai with a valiant all-the-way success over 1½m at Meydan in February; Something amiss next time but well beaten on both starts in Group company this season.

Recharge: Coming back to something like his career – best Irish Derby run but even then he has something to find on Fame And Glory, and similar story when well beaten by him in Moorsbridge Stakes; Now 5lbs worse off.

Chinese White: Better than ever last season, and returned in stunning form when trashing She’s Our Mark easily at Gowran on comeback; Will give her running but has some very tough opponents to beat.

VERDICT: A small but pretty select field for a race which has thrown up the likes of Daylami, Montjeu, Fantastic Light, Duke Of Marmalade and Hurricane Run in the past few years alone. Cutlass Bay was seriously impressive when landing the Ganay last time, beating a Group 1 winner whilst hanging all the way. Although he looked superb that day but stable switch to Saeed Bin Suroor yard (0-18 in recent weeks) does pose questions. FAME AND GLORY did very well considering that he had to contend with Sea The Stars last season and having been wound up by his first 2 runs, he can take this going onto bigger things. Don’t count Chinese White and Recharge as there to make up the numbers.