this longer trip should be fine for tough As Nails and, if he matches the form he showed last time, he can see off the English challenger Lilbourne Lad.
RYAN'S SELECTIONS THE CURRAGH 1.40pm Lady Wingshot 2.10pm Tough As Nails (Nap) 2.40pm Cheviot 3.10pm Inxile 3.50pm Carlton House 4.30pm Redera 5.00pm Penitent 5.30pm Elusive Ward
Mick's Tough act to follow.
Power's form is also linked to the Richard Hannon-trained Lilbourne Lad, impressive winner of a listed event at Naas before beating Tough As Nails by three-quarters of a length in the Group 2 Railway Stakes over this course and distance.
?DiFFiCULt oPPoNeNt Tough As Nails ?GreAt rUN Aidan O'Brien
power to aid on his mission for no.12; o'Brien Keen to maintain record
A winner over five furlongs,
Tough As Nails was beaten a short head by Power over the minimum trip at the Curragh in May before finishing second in the Group 2 Railway Stakes and third in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes over six furlongs.
Tough As Nails set for Fairyhouse bid
Trained by Michael Mulvany for his father, Laurence, Tough As Nails lost out by only a short head to Power, favourite for the race, in the Marble Hill Stakes at the Curragh in May before the Ballydoyle colt's victory in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Tough As Nails, who won a 5f maiden by seven lengths at Tipperary in April, is 10-1 with William Hill and his trainer said: "Our horse is in tip-top shape.
Tough As Nails all geared up to gain revenge in Phoenix
The glory was all too fleeting, though, as Tough As Nails was disqualified for interference.
"I was bullish going to the Curragh on the first day of the season with Tough As Nails," he recalls.
TEAM MULVANY TALKING TOUGH; Johnny Ward meets a trainer with a practical attitude to running a small outfit
The first pounds 10,000 payout was almost landed on Sunday when the Laurence Mulvany-owned Tough As Nails was demoted from first place in the juvenile maiden at the Curragh and the race awarded to the ineligible Whip Rule.
The Curragh stewards ruled against Tough As Nails (right)
Seven juveniles chase first payout of 2011
The Michael Mulvany-trained Tough As Nails - a first runner for Morristown Lattin Stud's Middle Park Stakes winner - got up by a head to pass the post first, but in doing so drifted right across the track and took the rallying Whip Rule with him.
Tough As Nails (right) edges out Whip Rule in the juvenile maiden at the Curragh but lost out in the stewards' room
Demotion denies first bonus pot