DUNBOYNE EXPRESS AND MASTER OF HOUNDS TOP CLASS

We probably saw the best two year old race of the season so far when DUNBOYNE EXPRESS (37) narrowly beat MASTER OF HOUNDS (37) in a fast run seven furlong maiden at Leopardstown.

The way this pair simply ran away from their rivals in the final furlong was quite remarkable. They both kept running fast off the strong gallop and simply left everything else for dead.

Master Of Hounds is a typical Coolmore colt, being big, muscular and mature. He has the build of a sprinter and was much more comfortable with the strong early pace than the winner. I can easily see him cutting back successfully to six furlongs and am interested to see he's entered over that trip in the upcoming Anglesey Stakes.

Dunboyne Express is bred for middle distances and certainly looks built for ten furlongs. He had some difficulty going the early gallop and had to be hustled before the home turn to improve but got stronger as his stamina came into play. He may go for the Anglesey Stakes as well and is entered up for the Phoenix Stakes which is also six furlongs. Given his pedigree, his physique and the way he ran here I'm not keen on the idea of him going back in distance for either of those races. I'd prefer to see him go up to a mile