Fire can go the extra distance

Sep 13 2008 The Journal

WHEN in doubt, leave it to Aidan O’Brien, and that’s exactly how I have approached the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster today in nominating Frozen Fire as the pick for his quintet.

Rather than team up with the odds-on Septimus in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh, stable jockey Johnny Murtagh comes over to partner Frozen Fire who can confirm Irish Derby running with stable companion Alessandro Volta. With stamina on both sides of his pedigree and his relaxed style of racing, the extra distance shouldn’t be an issue.

Sir Michael Stoute is still looking to break his duck in the St Leger and it will probably be the same scenario after the latest renewal. Apparently, Ryan Moore found it hard to choose between Conduit and Doctor Fremantle and has plumped for the latter after being influenced by conditions, but neither make much appeal.

The Oaks heroine Look Here has finally made it after a slight setback threatened her appearance on the big stage again. She was so impressive at Epsom when clocking a fast time and the way she quickened off a strong pace suggests the step up in trip will be in her favour.

If she can repeat her Oaks performance she will be a big player on ground that will suit despite the nagging worry of being held up in her preparation.

There have been good vibes about Tommy Stack’s Unsung Heroine, unbeaten in two starts, and it looks as though the two fillies will make sure that Frozen Fire doesn’t have things all his own way.

The Ladbrokes Portland Handicap caters for those sprinters who are effective at five and six furlongs but find five and a half furlongs the optimum trip. Halmahera is the perfect example, having recorded a hat-trick of Portland wins.

Fullandby also showed his liking for the distance last year with a narrow success and, much as I admire his consistency in big handicaps, his 6lb higher mark tempers my enthusiasm this time.

Halmahera’s trainer Kevin Ryan has an obvious candidate in Tamagin who returned to something like his best form with a close third in the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon.

With cheekpieces refitted, he showed blistering pace to get over to the far side from a single-figure draw and was only run out of it inside the last furlong. With a seemingly good draw this time, his presence almost guarantees bags of pace among the high numbers and he may well be still in front at the finish after five furlongs and 140 yards.

Without a win since landing the Vodafone Dash at Epsom last year, Hogmaneigh could benefit, however, from Tamagin’s front-running style as he likes to come off a strong pace. He had no luck in running two years ago when the race was run at York. After being bumped at the start and held up in traffic, he finished third to Fantasy Believer and should go close here. Rio Riva returns from a near three-month break for the State Club Handicap and goes well fresh and with cut in the ground. He was last seen at Newcastle in June when looking a shade unlucky not to win the Seaton Delaval Trophy for the second year running after finding himself short of room before going under by a neck of Kingsdale Orion.

Now a six-year-old, further improvement is unlikely and he hides nothing from the handicapper. Drawn on the wide outside may not be the best place to be, but he is a hold-up merchant and will be able to find cover before delivering his late challenge. I expect him to be on the premises. Princess Ellis beat only one home in Listed company at Doncaster on Wednesday but it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see her bounce back in the Heathcotes Outside Handicap at Chester.

The ground is a worry, though, which is not the case with Green Park who came back to form at Beverley and is 3lb lower than when runner-up to Bertoliver over today’s course and distance in May. While he has a wide berth to contend with, it might not be impossible to overcome if, as I anticipate, the leaders start coming back to the pursuers in the closing stages.