Jel Pepper among strong British contingent in Ballyhane Stakes

Jel Pepper travels to Ireland in search of major riches in the Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes at Naas.

An impressive winner on his Goodwood debut in early June, Paul and Oliver Cole’s charge then finished a promising third behind Zavateri in Newmarket’s Group Two July Stakes.

The winner gave that form a significant boost by following up in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood on Tuesday and connections of Jel Pepper are expecting a bold showing from their charge in Monday’s €200,000 feature in County Kildare.

“Jel Pepper is a good horse who ran very well in the July Stakes and we have missed Goodwood with him to go to Naas,” said Oliver Cole.

“It is great prize money and I believe the ground will be on the easy side of good which will play to his strengths as he likes a bit of a cut in the ground.

“It is quite daunting coming to Ireland because there are so many good horses but these races are fantastic and it is brilliant to have a horse good enough to take part.”

Jel Pepper is one of five British-trained contenders along with Richard Fahey’s Cosmic Clarets, the George Scott-trained Front Line Fury and Kevin Ryan’s pair of Tropical Dreamer and There’s A Chance.

Scott’s contender missed out on a hat-trick when denied by a head at Ascot last time, but the Newmarket handler has plenty of belief in his solid operator ahead of this raiding mission.

He said: “He’s a really dependable two-year-old who just turns up runs his race and always seems to be improving.

“I’m really pleased with him and he’s taken another step forward since Ascot where he was very much a sitting duck.

“We think we are well drawn but you never quite know and I guess it will depend on where the pace and quality in the race is. I think he will go and run his usual solid race and will be there and thereabouts at the finish.

“He arguably has to come forward again from what he’s shown but he’s a tough horse and really cool and I’m very fond of him.”

The home team is headed by Joseph O’Brien’s Prix Robert Papin winner Green Sense.