Noll Wallop rallies in 2000 Guineas Trial

The red-hot Tommy Stack saddled Noll Wallop to win the Group 3, $66,000 Leopardstown 2000 Guineas Trial on Sunday. The 7-2 son of High Chaparral rallied from fourth under William Lordan to defeat the 7-1 Viscount Nelson, who was squeezed back entering the stretch.

Noll Wallop won by 3 1/2 lengths, getting the mile on soft ground in 1:47.15. Last fall's Group 3 Killavullan Stakes winner, Free Judgement, the 2-1 favorite, weakened to finish sixth of eight, 8 3/4 lengths behind the winner.

The winner of a 21-runner one-mile Curragh maiden in his second start on similarly soft ground on Oct. 11, Noll Wallop, who is out of a mare by Danehill, is bred to stay at least 1 1/4 miles. Stack, who won four races at the Curragh last Sunday, was planning on using the Sandown Classic Trial and the Gallinule Stakes as preps for the Irish Derby, but after this win at a mile, he may send Noll Wallop in the Irish 2000 Guineas on May 22.

In the Group 3, $66,000 Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial, Lady Springbank scored an 8-1 victory, holding off the 10-1 Duchess of Foxland by 1 1/2 lengths. The Choisir filly led at the quarter pole under Joe Crowley and held gamely the rest of the way, clocking 1:33.91 for the seven furlongs. Two Aidan O'Brien runners - You'll Be Mine, who came into the race as the antepost favorite for the English Oaks, and Famous - both disappointed, finishing well behind in ninth and 10th in the 11-strong field.

Trained by Paul Deegan, Lady Springbank was winning at the Group 3 level for the second straight time, having previously taken the seven-furlong, Group 3 Park Stakes at the Curragh in her 2-year-old finale on Sept. 27. She will head directly to the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh on May 23.