Romanised© Photo Healy Racing
Osborne Lodge handler Ken Condon has a big weekend ahead and speaking on Paddy Power Media’s podcast, From The Horse’s Mouth, the Cork native expressed his hopes on three of the yard's major contenders.
The 2018 Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas hero Romanised spear-heads the team.
- 5.45pm, Saturday, The Curragh, Paddy Power Minstrel Stakes, Romanised
"The original plan was to start him in the Gladness and follow a similar route to last year — Lockinge, Queen Anne and we noticed last year and I think everybody will probably be in agreement as you went from race to race, he certainly got better and he ran at a very good level last year.
"Obviously winning the Minstrel in a very quick time — I think it was 1.22 and change, it was a very smart time. He then went on to Deauville and he was very impressive and obviously finished his season off with a very, very tight loss in the Moulin at Longchamp.
"But a feature of his last couple of seasons was seemed to me the first run, he’d take the first run and I don’t think this year will be any different. We’re very pleased at his condition — he looks a picture, he’s a few kilos heavier than possibly his optimum but he is a year older, but he looks a picture, he’s been training nicely and we’re looking forward to the start."
6.45pm, Saturday, The Curragh, GAIN Railway Stakes, Laws Of Indices 0A"He took a big step forward from his first to second run — he’d strike you at home as a horse that is learning on the job.
"He’s a very relaxed horse — you get the feel from him that he could be third, fourth start just with racing that he’ll just get mentally sharper.
"He’ll need to step forward very significantly again to be competitive. It’s a big step up from an auction maiden to a Group 2 but he’s a good-looking horse and he was well bought by connections and we’re looking forward to running him.
"He ran on soft ground at Navan and it’ll be different ground on Sunday [Saturday] but he seems to be pretty versatile as well and hopefully he’ll run well - he needs to find significant improvement."
3.10pm, Sunday, The Curragh, Airlie Stud Stakes, Inner Beauty
"Inner Beauty has accumulated quite a bit of experience — even since the resumption she’s had four runs.
"Ran a lovely race there to win her maiden on her third start at Limerick and just the last day, to be fair to her, she got a bump shortly after jumping out of the stalls and seemed to set her off and she did run too freely.
"So she actually all things considered acquitted herself well, she was beaten a nose for third. Maybe the race lacked a bit of zip but you have to turn up and she will be declared for Sunday.
"She’s going to be a big price, but she’s a very straightforward filly by a good sire and she doesn’t seem to be in any way ground dependent and she’ll take her chance."
