Byron bypasses Ascot in favour of Ballycorus Royal Ascot will be without Gordon Lord Byron for the first time since 2011 but Tom Hogan’s star speedster does line out in the featured Group 3 Oliver Brady Memorial Shabra Ballycorus Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday. The son of Byron is a triple Group 1 winner and earner of over E2,080,000 in prize money and today attempts to secure his first win since the Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh last July. Today he gives weight away to five rivals but Hogan is hopeful of a good run. He stated “I wouldn’t like to see much more rain but he is just coming back to himself. He is an eight year old now and hasn’t been the easiest to get the condition off him this year but hopefully he seems to be improving nicely from his run at the Curragh. “I’m happy enough with him though and we said we’d try and earn a few quid while the others have their backs turned!” Gordon Lord Byron, who has competed at each of the last four Royal Ascot festivals, is today opposed by the Ballydoyle trained 105 rated Dick Whittington and the Kevin Ryan trained Kelinni, who is top rated at 109.
