Saval Beg Stakes 2011

3.55 Leopardstown 

Seamus & Rosemary Mcgrath Memorial Saval Beg Stakes (Listed) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)
Winner €30,875 

Pick: Fame & Glory (win)

Fame & Glory: Developed into a top class older horse last year, taking a Group 1 double with wins in the Tattersalls & Coronation Cup (took two other Group events); Lined up for another crack at the Arc last year but hit by Planetur & lost all chance after that (so clearly much better than fifth suggests); Made first appearance over a staying trip when only just holding off Nebula Storm in Vintage Crop Stakes (travelled extremely well before folding) but should improve for that, and hopefully stronger gallop today.

Rite Of Passage: Top class bumper / hurdler couple of seasons ago, going off favourite for Neptune Hurdle off back of two impressive wins; Unbeaten in this sphere, having landed November Handicap with ease & career best when landing Gold Cup from Age Of Aquarius; This his first run since but still  a major contender and probably the one to beat.

Admiral Barry: Went forward at a rate of knots last season with big wins in Galway (78) and Curragh (90) handicaps and ran a very respectable race when fifth in the Chester Cup; This harder and more vulnerable even though he should improve.

Dirar: Rapidly progressive through much of 20102 over both flat and jumps but has struggled since turn of the year, disappointing on flat before eighth in County Hurdle (set large amount of ground to make up); Needs to improve again.

Fictional Account: Winner of three races in 2010, (one of them a competitive 2m event at Ascot) and ran a good race on her seasonal comeback when third behind Nebula Storm and Fame & Glory in Saval Beg (went some way clear about 2f out); Needs to improve again to reverse form.

Nebula Storm: Rightly unexposed horse (Presumably hard to train with just 4 runs behind him) and career best by some way when all but catching Fame & Glory on his reappearance (would have won over today’s trip, which is 1f further); Likely to improve for the run and gets to race off the same terms, so must be taken seriously.

Top Spin: Gained deserved successes at  Roscommon in May and at Killarney in August but no successes at this level.

Universal Truth: 4 wins from 6 starts over jumps and progressive too on the flat, although well beaten when favourite in Cesarewitch, a high draw possibly scuppering his chances (also very keen); Hard to fancy on first run since and clearly stable’s no 2.

Vivacious Vinienne: Won handicaps at Navan, the Curragh and here in excellent 2010 season and while shaping as in good heart this season, this far better company.

VERDICT: A listed race but one with two Group 1 winners, so it shapes with plenty of depth & it would be hoped that they go a good gallop. The two main attractions for many will be Gold Cup winner Rite Of Passage & FAME AND GLORY, with the latter preferred having had the benefit of a run this year. He didn’t impress a lot on his seasonal comeback but it’s worth noting he was only third on his seasonal return last term and went on record four straight Group wins, including two at the highest level. Nebula Storm will like the step up in trip and rates as place value.