Gordon Lord Byron aims for Minstrel hat-trick Gordon Lord Byron bids for a third successive victory in the Qatar Airways Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday. Tom Hogan's three-time Group One winner may be in the twilight of his career at the age of nine but has proved the fire still burns bright with a string of fine performances this season. He claimed his 16th victory when landing the Greenlands Stakes at this track back in May and was only narrowly denied in a Listed contest a fortnight ago. Gordon Lord Byron faces eight rivals in the seven-furlong contest, with the Charlie Hills-trained Dutch Connection, David O'Meara's So Beloved, Mubtasim from William Haggas' yard and Ed Walker's stable star Stormy Antarctic all making the journey from Britain. Dutch Connection drops in grade after four consecutive starts at Group One level, most recently finishing sixth in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot. Last year's Craven Stakes winner Stormy Antarctic has twice been beaten a short head in Listed races this season, with a disappointing display in Hong Kong sandwiched in between. "I think he deserves to get his head back in front," said Walker. "The drop back to seven furlongs should suit. It looks like the ground will be pretty quick and I'd prefer it slower, but he's proved himself pretty versatile. "It's a warm race, as you'd expect, but we're looking forward to it and hopefully we can get him back on track. "I wouldn't be surprised to see him win." Aidan O'Brien saddles Cougar Mountain, Peace Envoy and Spirit Of Valor. Jim Bolger's Flight Risk completes the line-up.
