Architecture solid for Irish Oaks, says Palmer

Even Song was a convincing winner at Royal Ascot. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Hugo Palmer is confident that Architecture can bounce back from a below-par run at Royal Ascot in the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday.

Architecture stamped herself as a certain future QIPCO British Champions Series winner when runner-up to the outstanding Minding in the Investec Oaks at Epsom in June – the pair pulling eight lengths clear.

However, she was unable to reproduce that form in the Ribblesdale Stakes 13 days later when well adrift of Even Song, who she will meet again.

“The official handicapper has Architecture rated 3lb higher than the odds-on favourite [Even Song],” Palmer said.

“He obviously believes her Epsom performance was greater than Even Song’s at Ascot.

“Architecture was disappointing at Ascot, but it came less than a fortnight after the Oaks and we’re happy with her going to Ireland.”

Frankie Dettori rides Architecture, while Pat Smullen, aboard Covert Love 12 months ago, gets the leg-up on Palmer’s other runner in the race, We Are Ninety.

The daughter of Thewayyouare was sixth in the Ribblesdale – two places ahead of her better-fancied stable companion – and Palmer sees her as an interesting outsider.

“The form of her Listed win has worked out well,” Palmer said “I think she thoroughly deserves her place in the field and she has Ireland’s leading jockey on her back in Pat Smullen.

“Pat managed to navigate Covert Love from stall eight to win the race last year, We Are Ninety has the same draw and the similarities don’t stop there.

“Physically, they look very similar, both won their first races as three-year-olds at Chelmsford and Covert Love also won a Listed race before she won the Irish Oaks.

“Both fillies are in good form. They’ll both be fine on the ground and I hope both have good chances in what I believe is an open race.”

Smullen added: “We Are Ninety is a very progressive filly. She was well fancied going into Royal Ascot and probably ran a little below-par, but you can forgive any horse for that.

“Hugo has a great record and any time you team up with Hugo you are always hopeful for a big run.”

Even Song is all the rage to provide Aidan O’Brien with a fifth victory in the Curragh contest.

“She’s in good form,” O’Brien said. “She had a little rest after Ascot and we’ve been happy with her since. She seems to handle most types of ground and we are looking forward to running her.”

Even Song is the chief hope among four runners for O’Brien, with Munster Oaks winner Pretty Perfect and Epsom Oaks fourth and sixth Somehow and Seventh Heaven also in contention.

O’Brien added: “I’ve been very happy with Somehow since Epsom and we just felt that she didn’t act around Epsom and we think the Curragh will suit her better.

“She raced a little bit idle in the Oaks, so we’re putting a pair of cheekpieces on her.

“We thought Seventh Heaven might not have handled Lingfield and then thought she didn’t handle Epsom. Seamus (Heffernan, jockey) thinks the Curragh will suit her better.

“When Pretty Perfect stepped back up to a mile and a half last time she loved it and it seemed to bring out the best in her.”