Productive week

Aidan O'Brien won the Group 3 Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown for the thirteenth time on Thursday evening with the exciting Armory. The head of Ballydoyle has won the seven furlongs event with the likes of King of Kings, Rip Van Winkle, Zoffany, Gleneagles, Churchill and Anthony Van Dyke and this son of Galileo looks out of the top drawer, too. Featured in the Ballydoyle Juveniles section of Ahead On The Flat, he was a taking winner at the Curragh last time and confirmed the view with a five lengths victory here. Ryan Moore's mount travelled strongly before readily putting the contest to bed with a sharp turn of foot. The Group 2 Futurity Stakes at the Curragh next month is likely to be next - O'Brien has won that event no less than twelve times and it will take a smart colt to halt Armory's progress. Then, all being well, he will tackle Group 1 company for the first time in the National Stakes at the same venue in late September. He looks Classic material.

It has been a busy and productive week as far as interviewing for One Jump Ahead is concerned. Having worked at Cartmel on Monday, I have spoken to David Pipe, Harry Fry, Tom Lacey and Nicky Richards since. I was lucky enough to visit the last named at his stable at Greystoke on Thursday afternoon. Nicky's yard is in a beautiful setting and it was a pleasure to be there, especially on such a scorching hot day. Last season's Scottish National winning trainer has an enviable team of unraced bumper horses and has a lot to look forward. That comment also applies to Harry Fry and Tom Lacey, while David Pipe has recruited heavily from the Irish pointing field. This week has really whetted the appetite for the jumps season. I will be conducting more interviews next week. In the meantime, I am heading to York this evening for their only evening meeting of the season.