Comanche Brave swoops late on to add Flying Five to July Cup crown

Dropping back to five furlongs on his first start since his Group One breakthrough at Newmarket nine weeks ago, Donnacha O’Brien’s sprinter was the 5-2 favourite to double his top-level tally.

Loughnane gave his mount plenty of time to find his feet off the frenetic early pace, but he could be spotted travelling ominously well in behind American Affair approaching the final furlong.

His supporters will have been anxious for a few moments as he waited for the gap to appear, but when it did Comanche Brave quickly sealed the deal, accelerating away to score by a length and a quarter from American Affair, with another British raider in Rumstar a close-up third.

O’Brien said: “He was very good and Billy gave him a lovely ride. The horse is getting better, Billy said five (furlongs) was definitely his trip. I was worried about the ground today but obviously that wasn’t any problem.

“He’s just a very, very good fast horse. There is a lot of Holy Roman Emperor in him looking at him – he’s not over-big but he’s very strong.

“I think there is a chance he might stay in training again next year, which would be great as well. I think he’s a horse that is getting better the whole time.

“He ran in Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia and he still has his passport, so I’m sure we’ll travel this winter.

When asked if the Breeders’ Cup, was an option he added: “Yes, very possible. We were even discussing whether he’d go for the Breeders’ Cup Mile rather than the five-and-a-half (Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint) in Keeneland, but I’d say looking at that you wouldn’t have any worries about the trip.”

Joseph O’Brien will consider a tilt at the Cheveley Park Stakes with Star Of State after she landed prohibitive odds in the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes.

Runner-up to Libertango in the Lowther Stakes at York last month, the juvenile was a 1-5 shot to follow up in a race worth over €275,000 and ultimately got the job done comfortably under Ryan Moore, with 200-1 shot Fine Line best of the rest in second.

“That’s lovely, it was good prize-money and she’s a nice filly. It was nice to have a nice winner here for Jaber (Abdullah, owner) and she’s an exciting filly for the future,” said O’Brien.

“Libertango just nabbed her late the last day and she’s probably the best filly around, so we have to consider the Cheveley Park at Newmarket.”

The Owning Hill handler went on to complete a treble on the card, with Folsom Blues (11-2) landing the Group One Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes before Thundering On claimed Group Two honours in the Moyglare ”Jewels” Blandford Stakes.

The latter was a brilliant winner of the Oaks at Epsom and while she was subsequently beaten into fourth place in the Pretty Polly Stakes, she returned to winning ways with a comprehensive display as a 5-4 favourite.

O’Brien added: “I’m really delighted with her. Obviously she had a little blip the last day but we learned a lot on the day and we were able to use that today.

“Hopefully we’re in for an exciting autumn.”

On the prospect of running in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe next month, he said: “I think she’s interesting there. We know that she stays the mile and a half and she likes a bit of juice in the ground.”

Mick Appleby’s British raider Coul Angel readily justified 7-2 favouritism in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Bold Lad Sprint Handicap, pulling two and three-quarter lengths clear of the chasing pack under Tom Marquand.

“He did it very well, I’m very pleased,” said Appleby.

“I thought we’d win. It was a tough handicap, he’s been in great form and he’s been unlucky a few times at York.

“We’ll see how he comes out of it and then have a look and see what else there is for him. I think he’ll keep improving, he’s not the full article yet – I think he’ll definitely improve again next year.”

The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Northfields Handicap brought the Irish Champions Festival to a close and it was 40-1 shot Orandi who claimed top honours for Tony Martin and Ronan Whelan.