David O’Meara’s Summerghand to miss the Curragh with plans ‘up in the air’

Trainer David O’Meara is giving his admirable six-year-old time to recover from his victory in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood.

The North Yorkshire handler is no rush to make plans for Summerghand, whose deserved success in one of the toughest sprints in the calendar earned him a rise of 5lb to a rating of 113.

“I don’t think I’ll take up the entry at the Curragh on Sunday,” said O’Meara.

“I’m not sure where he’ll go next. Plans are up in the air. He’s had a busy couple of weeks so he’ll have an easy time and we’ll look at something in a fortnight.

“He’s come out of the race very well.”

Summerghand was fourth in the Ayr Gold Cup last season and the QTS-sponsored dash on September 19 is likely to come under consideration.

“It’s the beginning of August now and the Ayr Gold Cup is towards the end of September. We’ll see,” said O’Meara.

Cieren Fallon has been named jockey of the month for July after landing his first ever Group One victory and moving clear in the 2020 champion apprentice title race.

Fallon’s landmark triumph came on Oxted for trainer Roger Teal in Newmarket’s Darley July Cup – a race that eluded his six-time champion jockey father, Kieren. It was the 21-year-old’s first ride in a top-level event and helped Fallon scoop the prize after receiving 70 per cent of the vote, ahead of fellow nominees Tom Marquand (23 per cent) and Jim Crowley (seven per cent).

Racing at Ayr on Wednesday was abandoned after the fourth race due to false patches of ground caused by persistent 
rain.

The course was declared unsafe following an inspection.

Richard FitzGerald is to step down as chief executive of Racecourse Media Group after nearly 12 years in the position.

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