Unbeaten Dawn Approach impresses again

Dawn Approach enhanced his reputation as the best juvenile in Ireland when stretching away to land the Listed Alfred Nobel Rochestown Stakes at Naas over six furlongs.

Kevin Manning kept the son of New Approach on the far rail as he cut out the pace with English-raider Mister Marc As the two horses hit the furlong pole Dawn Approach quickened up and beat his rival readily by two and three parts of a length.

The winner went off 4/9 favourite while Mister March was returned at 5/1, backed down from 13/2.

David Wachman’s exciting colt Cougar Ridge was withdrawn not under orders from the race for refusing to load. He had drifted markedly in the morning from 3/1 to 11/2 and again was friendless on course from 5/1 to 6/1.

Unbeaten Dawn Approach is trained by Jim Bolger. He said: “He’ll go to Ascot for either the Coventry or the Chesham. He has the choice. Kevin said they went five furlong pace the whole way. It was a fierce gallop but he stuck at it well.

“Trip doesn’t really matter to him. Like most horses he would like better ground. That was a little bit loose but he handled soft ground at the Curragh and he’s fairly versatile ground-wise.

“He’s got a great temperament. I’d prefer really good ground for him.”

With Cougar Ridge’s withdrawal the field was reduced to six runners. Mister Marc trained by Richard Hannon and ridden by Richard Hughes was four and a half lengths in front of third-placed Tennessee Wildcat for Ger Lyons and Gary Carroll, who was nibbled at in the market from 33/1 to 25/1 on the off.

The winning time of 1m 11.48 was only 0.48 of a second outside standard time for six furlongs at Naas.

For the 2013 2000 Guineas Dawn Approach has been cut from 20/1 to 14/1 with Paddy Power.

Jim Bolger gave an update on some of his other leading horses. As regards his Irish Derby horse Light Heavy he confirmed he is “in good shape”.

Turning to Parish Hall he said: “I had to enter him at Ascot, but he won’t make it. He has a small wound where the infection broke out and it will take a bit of time.”

Michael Graham