Valiant Force (right)© Photo Healy Racing
Adrian Murray’s Valiant Force has a Group-race return to Dundalk on his agenda after getting back to winning ways at the track last time out.
The American-bred three-year-old, who is owned by Amo Racing, has some eye-catching form to his name, as he won the Norfolk Stakes as a two-year-old and was only narrowly beaten by Big Evs when runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint last November.
A spell in the States followed before his switch back to Murray in the spring, but his three sprint outings during the summer all ended in disappointment.
However, he made a successful return from a 55-day break in a conditions race at Ireland’s sole all-weather track earlier this month, beating course specialist Harry’s Bar, and is now set to step up in grade in the Group Three Mercury Stakes on Friday before a potential trip to the Middle East.
“We were delighted to have him back and delighted to see him winning,” said Murray.
“He’ll go for a Group Three there now and we haven’t ruled out going to Dubai with him yet, it all depends on how he does next time, but we were very happy with him the last day.”
Murray has a promising young horse in Hill Road, also owned by Amo Racing, who won his maiden by an impressive five lengths at Leopardstown in August.
His next run came in the Group One National Stakes, but he could only finish seventh of eight on that occasion and may now be put away until next season.
Murray added: “He was a bit under the weather after his last race.
“We’ve nothing planned, he isn’t telling us he’s ready to run again and we might just leave him off for next year.”
