Gordon Lord Byron hunts Minstrel hat-trick Gordon Lord Byron, winner of the Qatar Airways Minstrel Stakes for the last two years, could go for the hat-trick in the seven-furlong feature at the Curragh on Sunday. Tom Hogan's venerable nine-year-old has already chalked up a Group Two success at the Curragh in 2017 in the Greenlands Stakes. However, the runner-up that day, Only Mine got her revenge on Gordon Lord Byron when they met over six furlongs on this course early in the month. UK-based trainers are looking at this race with Charlie Hills' Dutch Connection, David O'Meara's Firmament and So Beloved, Charlie Appleby's Jungle Cat, Ed Walker's Stormy Antarctic, Roger Varian's Realtra and the William Haggas-trained Mubtasim all among the 19 possibles. Aidan O'Brien's Spirit Of Valor has been supplemented with his trainer also represented by Cougar Mountain and Peace Envoy. O'Brien has six in the Group Two Kilboy Estates Stakes - Alluringly, Asking, Elizabeth Browning, Music Box, Pocketetfullofdreams and Rain Goddess, but several have alternative engagements (Alluringly has been confirmed for the Irish Oaks).. Possible challengers from across the Irish Sea, in a 16-strong entry, are Mick Channon's Opal Tiara, Archie Watson's Absolute Blast, Sir Michael Stoute's Intimation, Luca Cumani's Rosental and Wilamina from Martyn Meade's stable.
