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Bright Stripes has Champions Weekend option after bypassing Curragh

Bright Stripes could make his next start on Champions Weekend. Bright Stripes could make his next start on Champions Weekend.
© Photo Healy Racing

Bright Stripes could make his next start in Group company on Champions Weekend, with connections having decided against carrying topweight in the Irish Cambridgeshire.

A maiden winner at Naas last September, the Andy Oliver trained colt landed a Listed race at the Curragh in May.

The Tyrone trainer said: “Bright Stripes was set to carry topweight in the Cambridgeshire so we’ll look at a couple of other options.

“He’s in the Group 2 Solonaway Stakes (at Leopardstown) on Champions Weekend. He’s in good form and will turn out somewhere in the not too distant future.

“He’s a hardy horse and runs his race every time. I think he deserves to get his head in front somewhere.

“He’s very versatile and goes on any ground. He’s running consistently to his mark of 102.

“He’s tough and sound and comes out of his races very well.

“The Highway Rat is in the Bold Lad. He’ll have to do a serious bit of work in the next week or so and the idea is to go for the Bold Lad.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee.

About John O'Riordan
John has worked for the Press Association since 2022. He also writes a weekly column for The Irish Field and is a regular contributor to the Irish Racing Yearbook. He has previously written for the Racing Post, Irish Examiner and Irish Daily Mirror. He has been involved in racing for over three decades; having experience as a syndicate member, sole owner and breeder.