Gary Carson: Kyprios can return in style with St Leger win at the Curragh

Kyprios is the major attraction on day two of the Irish Champions Festival on Sunday as the star stayer makes his long-awaited return in the Irish St Leger.

The son of Galileo dominated his division last season, wrestling the crown from Stradivarius with victories in the Ascot Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup.

After a mid-season break he was a cosy winner of this same race 12 months ago before a career defining performance in the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp on Arc weekend.

In one of the most memorable performances in recent years he powered clear three furlongs from home only to hang badly left in the final furlong and almost stop to a walk before being straightened up late on.

The fact that he was able to do that and still record a 20-length success was a truly remarkable effort and set him apart as the best stayer in the business.

Obviously this year hasn’t gone to schedule with a career-threatening injury derailing the first half of the season.

Luckily he has battled through that infection in his joint and, although unlikely to be 100 per cent tomorrow, surely Aidan O’Brien wouldn’t be risking him if he wasn’t capable of doing himself justice.

A 90 per cent Kyprios may be enough to beat this field.

The danger looks to have come from across the water in the shape of Eldar Eldarov.

Last year’s St Leger winner was involved for the bunch finish behind runaway winner Quickthorn in the Goodwood Cup early last month.

He was just two short-heads behind Emily Dickinson that day and is fancied to turn the tables.

This sharper ground and drop in trip doesn’t look ideal for the Ballydoyle filly who really appreciates a stiff test of stamina.

Aidan O’Brien had two horses turned over at short prices in the Group One juvenile races on this card last year but it looks hard to oppose his charges in the Moyglare Stud Stakes and National Stakes.

Ylang Ylang has looked like the best two-year-old filly around with the form of her two wins working out particularly well.

She was a cosy winner of the Silver Flash at Leopardstown in late July and the runner-up Vespertilio has gone on to win the Group Two Debutante Stakes since.

Willie McCreery’s charge may have improved in the interim but it’s hard to see her turning the tables now.

City Of Troy also looks set to be skinny odds in the National Stakes where he faces a serious rival in Bucanero Fuerte.

The Justify colt produced a devastating performance to win the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket in mid-July by a wide margin and looked a real star in the making.

He faces a tougher test now against Bucanero Fuerte, who was impressive himself in the Group One Phoenix Stakes here last month.

This is an extra furlong now, though, and City Of Troy may be better suited by this test.

It’s all about speed in the first of four Group One races, the Flying Five and Highfield Princess bids to repeat last year’s success in the race.

She was very impressive over course and distance then and comes into this off the back of a good run to chase home Live In The Dream in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York recently.

Another raider with a big shout is Araminta in the preceding Group Two Blandford Stakes.

Henry Candy’s charge was a cosy winner of a Group Three contest in France last time and Colin Keane is an eye-catching booking for the progressive daughter of Gleneagles.

SELECTIONS

1.50 Never Shout Never

2.25 Araminta

2.55 Highfield Princess (Dbl)