Co Dublin trainer Ado McGuinness said late yesterday afternoon from Dubai where he is preparing A Case Of You for a tilt at Saturday’s Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan that the same afternoon he will run all of his seven entries in the Paddy Power Irish Lincolnshire at The Curragh, “every single one”, although Star Of Cashel does require two horses to be taken out at tomorrow’s 10am declaration stage to get a run.
The handler’s magnificent seven are headed by top weight and Paddy’s 8-1 favourite Current Option (10st 2lb), who was last seen when third to stable companion A Case Of You in a 6f event at Dundalk in February. Saltonstall (10-1, 9st 11lb) was last seen in action when finding only Agitare too powerful in a mile race at Naas in October, while Casanova (14-1, 9st 8lb) filled the same position in a similar race at Dundalk behind San Andreas, who could reoppose, earlier this month.
Bowerman (14-1, 9st 5lb) has been placed on all three starts this year, including a victory at Dundalk in February, Sirjack Thomas (33-1, 9st 5lb) won the BMW Mile at last year’s Galway Festival before finishing fourth to stablemate Current Option in the Ahonoora Handicap at the same event, Star Harbour (16-1, 9st 1lb) was only beaten four and a quarter lengths by Bopedro in last year’s Paddy Power Irish Cambridgeshire at The Curragh, while Star Of Cashel (14-1, 8st 7lb) finished fourth on his last two starts for previous trainer Fozzy Stack.
McGuinness said: “Current Option won in Galway off top weight and a rating of 105. He’s well used to carrying weight and I’ll probably claim off him.
“Saltonstall was fourth at The Curragh last year [in the Paddy Power Irish Cambridgeshire] and is a two-time Galway Mile winner. He loves The Curragh and should run a big race.
“Bowerman is a previous winner of the Paddy Power Irish Lincolnshire and seems to be back to his old self. I’m very happy with him.
“Sirjack Thomas was a two-time premier handicap winner last year and loves a little dig in the ground. He should run a solid race.
“Star Harbour is a progressive horse and the dryer the ground the better for him. The forecast looks okay with not much rain forecast and I hope he runs a solid race.
“Star Of Cashel needs two to come out and has a very light weight. He was fourth in the Irish Lincolnshire last season, although not for me, and he’s in very good form and I’m expecting a big run with the light weight.
“Casanova is another horse who was very progressive last year. He was fourth in a Group 3 and placed in a Listed race. I think he’s progressive and if he runs up to that sort of form, he has a chance.
“The more horses you run, the more chance you have!”
Paddy Power Irish Lincolnshire
Paddy Power: 8 Current Option, 10 Agitare, Carrytheone, Saltonstall, San Andreas, 12 Ahandfulofsummers, Layfayette, Raadobarg, 14 Bowerman, Casanova, In From The Cold, Laelaps, Luke Short, Star Of Cashel, Tazaral, True Artist, 16 Dublin Journal, Star Harbour, 20 He Knows No Fear, Miss Myers, Ransom, San Martino, Stylistic Approach, Yafordadoe, Yermanthere, 25 Dare To Flare, Moracana, 33 Comfort Line, Flaming Moon, Loingseoir, Quizical, Rebel Stop, Sirjack Thomas, 40 Fil The Power, 66 Adapt To Dan, Prince Of Verona, Sunwalk, 100 Desert Wind, Sense Of Romance