Portland delivered a strong performance to win the Listed King George V Cup at Leopardstown and may now be considered for Aidan O’Brien’s plans at Royal Ascot.
As the 13-8 favourite, Portland, ridden by Ryan Moore, settled in third position for most of the race behind Gesture and Keeper’s Heart. He surged ahead at the furlong pole and held off a challenge from Kinesiology to win by a neck.
Chris Armstrong, representing O’Brien, expressed satisfaction with the win and hinted at possible Royal Ascot targets for Portland. He praised Moore’s ride and suggested the King Edward over a mile and a half or the Queen’s Vase over a mile and six as potential options.
In another race, Tarawa claimed victory in the Glencairn Stakes with an impressive performance over nine furlongs. Jockey Chris Hayes took an early lead with the Dermot Weld-trained filly and maintained a strong pace to win by two and a quarter lengths.
Weld praised Tarawa's performance and indicated that the victory opened up more opportunities for the filly in the future. He commended Hayes’ decision to take the lead early in the race and suggested that Tarawa could progress to races over a mile and a quarter.
Overall, both Portland and Tarawa delivered strong performances at Leopardstown, with potential plans for Royal Ascot and future races.