Sole power going for hattrick at royal ascot

Dunshaughlin-based trainer Eddie Lynam has Sole Power ready for action for tomorrow's bid to become the first horse to claim three victories in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot as the big meeting gets underway.

The popular eight-year-old won the five-furlong contest last year with Richard Hughes on board and in 2013 was first past the post with Johnny Murtagh on board.

Sole Power, on a rare Irish appearance last month, was sixth in the Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh which was his first run since winning Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan in March.

In an interview with  At The Races the trainer commented:

'I'm very happy with him. This is his fifth Royal Ascot, which is unusual. He's won the last twice and was placed in it and he was down the field in it, but he's carried us for years. He's a great horse.

'He hadn't run for a while so his last run blew the cobwebs away. He needed a run to get him back in order.

'Richard (Hughes) was happy and the way the horse has been training, recently especially, I think he's right now and he's ready to go.

'Sole Power is an incredibly impressive sprinter and there's obviously others in there as well, but I think our horse deserves to take his chance,' concluded the trainer.