Basic Law
Basic Law only got home by three parts of a length in the end in the premier one-mile handicap, but there was a lot to like about his performance, and he probably had more in hand than the bare winning margin. Settled in mid-division early on by Colin Keane, the Lawman gelding travelled well in behind horses to the three-furlong pole. Moved towards the outside at the two-furlong marker, he made nice ground when his rider asked him to. He joined Jassaar just inside the furlong pole, and he stayed on powerfully from there all the way to the line to win well.
It was a really nice performance by Ger Lyons' horse. It wasn't easy to make ground from the rear at The Curragh on Irish Derby weekend, and the two horses who filled the places behind him here, Jassaar and Marshall Jennings, raced in the first three places from flagfall. Marshall Jennings is in the form of his life, and Jassaar is a nice progressive horse, so the form looks solid, and the winning time was good. It was a fine performance by the three-year-old, to beat good older horses.
Unraced as a juvenile, Basic Law has now won four of his six races as a three-year-old, four of his last five. The handicapper raised him by just 4lb for this win to a mark of 95, and that still looks like a reasonable mark. He has raced just six times in his life, and he still has the potential to go higher. This one-mile trip looks like a good trip for him for now although, by Lawman and a half-brother to Foundation, who finished third in a Dante, and to Vastonea, who won over 10 furlongs, he could be effective over nine or 10 furlongs in time. He will be of interest wherever he goes next.
The Curragh, 29th June 2019
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