Settle For Bay

Settle For Bay ran well to finish fourth in the Listed Glencairn Stakes. Settled in, last of the nine runners early on, he travelled well into the home straight for Billy Lee, and he kept on well in among horses towards the inside to finish fourth. He was well beaten by the impressive winner Flight Risk, but he was only beaten two lengths for second place.

This was much more like it from David Marnane’s horse. Last year’s Royal Hunt Cup winner at Royal Ascot, he had a disappointing time of it in Dubai this winter, and he finished last of eight in the listed Owenstown Stud Stakes at Naas on his only run in Ireland this season before Thursday. This was a really encouraging run though, and it should set him up perfectly for a repeat bid for the Royal Hunt Cup. He won the race off a mark of 99 last year, and he is rated 105 now, so 6lb higher, but it is difficult to argue that he would not have won last year’s renewal with 6lb more on his back. That was the best performance of his life, and the fact that he put it up at Ascot, on his only run there, in last year’s race, obviously over the same course and distance, probably under similar conditions, is a big asset to take into this year’s race. Also, he finished fourth at Leopardstown on his last run before Royal Ascot last year too.

Leopardstown, 6^th June 2019