24th-Aug-2024

This is obviously competitive, but I thought that Masoun should have been favourite.

Zero for three in maidens last season as a juvenile, Johnny Murtagh’s horse was in fine form early this season, running good races in defeat at Fairyhouse and Cork, before going to Down Royal last time and running out a game winner of a handicap there off a mark of 77.

He did it well too.  He had the pace to adopt and retain a good prominent position, and he picked up well when Ben Coen asked him to.  He only just got home by a neck from the fast-finishing Apercu, but he had been in front for a little while, from outside the two-furlong marker, and he showed a lot of tenacity to get there.

Apercu enhanced that form next time at Naas, when she won a handicap off a 3lb higher mark, beating Tachos into second place.  She goes in the fillies’ handicap earlier today, and she has a chance in that.

Out of a mare who won over a mile and a half, Masoun will probably step out in trip in time, but this is a good trip for him for now, ridden prominently like this.  The Curragh is a good track at which to employ forward-going tactics, and there is a good pace assured, with Out On Friday in the line-up.  A 3lb hike for that Down Royal win was not harsh, Apercu is now rated 7lb higher than she was when he beat her, and, with that win under his belt, with the excellent Ben Coen for company again, he could take another step forward at a track that is on his doorstep.

Puturhandstogether is obviously a danger, and Tachos ran well against Apercu at Naas, she is progressive, and Solar Breeze goes well at The Curragh, she kept on well off a sedate pace to take sixth place behind Royal Ascot winner Crystal Black at the Guineas meeting, but Masoun is the bet.

MASOUN WON (ADV 11/2, SP 7/1)