Churchill cut for Classic success
Aidan O'Brien's colt looks likely to head for the National Stakes before being readied for a tilt at the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket next year
CHURCHILL could be aimed towards the Qipco 2000 Guineas after confirming himself a colt of huge potential when coming out on top in the Galileo European Breeders Fund Futurity Stakes at the Curragh.
Aidan O'Brien's Royal Ascot winner was already at the forefront of the betting for next year's Guineas and Derby after following up in a Group Three at Leopardstown, and travelled well behind leader Arcada in the early stages of the race.
After Seamie Heffernan angled the 1-4 favourite out to lead over a furlong out the result was hardly in doubt, as he fended off the challenge of Radio Silence by two lengths, looking better the further he went.
The winner was left unchanged at 16-1 co-favourite for Epsom with Coral, but looks to be seen as more of a Guineas contender by connections.
Ladbrokes left him as the 8-1 market leader for the first colts' Classic at Newmarket.
O'Brien said: "I'm delighted with him. He's lovely and lazy and just quickens. Seamus was very happy with him.
"He's very lazy and doesn't do an awful lot in front. It was the same at Ascot and Leopardstown. He's a big, sleepy fellow.
"He'll come back here for the National Stakes and there's no doubt he'll be better on better ground.
"Hopefully he'll get further than a mile, but he's not slow this horse. I'd definitely say he's a Guineas-type of horse.
"Maybe he will get a mile and a half, but he doesn't go like a mile-and-a-half horse in his work. He has plenty of boot and is a big, powerful horse."
Meanwhile, Success Days caused an upset when making virtually all of the running to land the Kilfrush Stud Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh.
The race looked set to be a clash between Ascot Champion Stakes hero Fascinating Rock and Derby runner-up US Army Ranger, but Ken Condon's charge did not read the script, setting the gallop under Shane Foley and pulling into a clear lead entering the home straight.
The Dermot Weld-trained Fascinating Rock was the 10-1 winner's closest pursuer in the final furlong, but he just could not bridge the gap, which remained three-quarters of a length at the line.
Aidan O'Brien's US Army Ranger was held up in the rear of the field before making smooth headway on the home turn, but his run flattened out after that in fourth.
Condon said: "I was talking to Paul Hensey (Curragh manager) beforehand and he was saying that it rated like a Group One race.
"On ratings we looked up against it as we were fourth best and it just shows how strong a renewal it was.";
Condon's charge has been known to hang occasionally but the trainer said: "He's very straightforward and a solid galloper. The plan was to see if he would stay on the far rail and he did it comfortably. He stayed straight, which is great to see.
"His last two runs were his best and it looks like he's after stepping forward again."
Looking to future plans, Condon said: "He'll go to Leopardstown for the Champion Stakes if the ground is suitable and if for some reason it's not we'll look at the Champion Stakes at Ascot. You'd be hoping in late October the ground would be in his favour.
"He's had a break and hasn't run since May. He's five kilos over his optimum weight so I'd expect improvement.
"This was his best performance visually and he kept straight. Shane was brilliant on him and was confident enough to let him roll along.
"He set good enough fractions and when they got to the two-pole it was going to take a good one to get by him.
"He works like an 80 horse at home so you have no clue how he is going and can never be very confident. He does it on the track and that's the main thing."
O'Brien declared himself satisfied with the effort of US Army Ranger, having warned beforehand he would come forward for his first start since Epsom in June.
The Ballydoyle trainer said: "He'll be grand, he just got a little bit tired.
"He was galloping away to the line. The race got a little bit rough off the bend.
"He was always going to be just starting. He'll be fine. He ran a nice race.
"You'd have to be delighted for Ken's horse."
When asked about the Irish Champion Stakes, he added: "We'll see how he is. It's a possible."
