Royal Ascot plan for Commanche Brave

Commanche Brave ran a cracker on his reappearance in the Ballylinch Stud ‘Red Rocks’ Stakes at Leopardstown yesterday and trainer Donnacha O’Brien now has Royal Ascot on his mind.

The Wootton Basset colt won a Cork maiden and was also second in the Listed Star Appeal Stakes at Dundalk last year.

However, he took his form to a new level when going down by just half-a-length to Henri Matisse in the Leopardstown Group 3.

“He ran a belter. I’d say the winner is very good,” said O’Brien.

“I think seven is his trip and he could be a horse for the Jersey.”

The Dermot Weld-trained Hazdann was just a length further back in fourth having been absent since taking a Curragh maiden last June.

“We were delighted with him and hopefully he’ll make into an Irish 2,000 Guineas horse,” said the master of Rosewell House.

“He had a setback after his maiden win and had a long time off, but he was only beaten a length and a half. He’ll come on a lot from the run.

“He could run in the Tetrarch Stakes and then go for the Irish Guineas, or he might go straight for the Irish Guineas.”