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Xtension Primed for Irish Guineas glory
18/05/10
Since the days when he made his living as a jobbing jump jockey life has been very much on an upward curve for trainer Clive Cox, writes Elliot Slater.
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The Lambourn handler's colt ran a cracker at Newmarket three weeks ago when finishing a close fourth of 19 in the Stan James.com 2000 Guineas behind surprise French winner Makfi, having raced prominently throughout before staying-on up the hill to be beaten by less than three lengths. There is good reason to believing the Xaar colt will be even fitter in Ireland and hopes are high in the Cox camp that their charge can repel the O'Brien battalions as well as Newmarket third Canford Cliffs from the Richard Hannon stable.
The race three weeks ago was a muddling affair lacking a particularly strong pace, a fact that will have helped Canford Cliffs who is a doubtful stayer over a truly run mile. With Ballydoyle set to race as many as five representatives at the Curragh, there is little doubt the race will be an end-to-end gallop, something that should benefit Xtension, a horse with no stamina questions over the Guineas mile.
Having twice acquitted himself particularly well at the highest level, (he was agonisingly beaten in last season's Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in a three-way photo finish), Xtension looks tremendous each-way value at the current offer of 6/1. He could prove to be one of the best racing tips in the coming weeks. The horse is capable of turning the tables on Canford Cliffs, and could surprise likely favourite Steinbeck, about who there are mixed opinions with the betting firms - Stan James offer just 2/1, while local Irish layers Paddy power offer a standout 3/1.
Every handler attempting to break into the upper echelon of the training ranks needs one top class horse, and in Xtension I believe Clive Cox could have found exactly what he is looking for.
