AMEDEO MODIGLIANI
4yo b c (Galileo - Gooseberry Fool)
Entry: Listed Devoy Stakes (1m 2f)
This time last year, the name Amedeo Modigliani was on many a horses-to-follow list but unfortunately the son of Galileo never got to the racecourse. 
He could make his belated return in the 10-furlong Devoy Stakes at Naas this Sunday, a listed contest which also includes Jim Bolger’s Stellar Mass, rated 106, and Still Standing, progressive for Jessica Harrington last season.
Amedeo Modigliani would be trying to defy a 596-day break but he was so impressive when last seen in an extended mile maiden at Galway, where he pulled over five lengths clear of his rivals, needing little persuasion and clocking a very good time in the process. He was considered a Derby contender this time last year and hopefully now he can get his career back on track.
WHO’S STEPH
4yo gr f (Zoffany - Llew Law)
Entry: Group 3 Lodge Park Stud Irish EBF Park Express Stakes (1m)
After starting her classic year by winning the two 1000 Guineas trials at Leopardstown (the first filly to do so in 10 years), last year didn’t go as smoothly as connections had hoped for Who’s Steph. She finished a highly respectable seventh to Alpha Centauri in the Irish 1000 Guineas but then wasn’t seen until Irish Champions Weekend, presumably suffering a setback in training. However she showed a new lease of potential at the Curragh where she got to within a length of Eziyra in the Group 2 Blandford Stakes. That Dermot Weld filly is a real classy type, she went on to finish sixth in the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf and then third in the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin. There were also good fillies like I’m So Fancy, Broadway and Beautiful Morning in behind, 
whom Who’s Steph was able to beat despite coming off a 112-day break.
It’s interesting now that she stays in training and that she stays in Ireland with Ger Lyons - she was bought by American owner/breeder George Strawbridge after her first win at Leopardstown and a racing/career career in the US has been mooted. For now, it’s good that she gets a chance to compete in Ireland and possibly elsewhere in Europe, where a Group 1 win is not unrealistic. She handles soft ground and clearly goes well fresh so could well get off to the perfect start if allowed to take her chance this Sunday.
KARAWAAN
5yo b g (Sea The Stars - Magic Sister)
Entry: Tote Irish Lincolnshire (1m)
Ger Lyons and David Spratt have combined to great effect with well bred British cast-offs such as Mustajeer, Mawaany and Inscribe, and they could have another one on their hands in the shape of Sea The Stars gelding Karawaan. Previously in training Sir Michael Stoute and owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum, the five-year-old clearly hasn’t reached his potential with one win from eight starts (having cost 250,000 guineas as a foal) but he has a really similar profile to the aforementioned horses whom improved under Ger Lyons to win and be competitive in some of the biggest handicaps in this country. Off a mark of 83, he is interesting for the Irish Lincoln this Sunday, and with the rest of the season in mind as well.
THIRD WORLD
3yo b c (Dansili - Sense Of Purpose)
Entry: Naas Racecourse Business Club Madrid Handicap (7f)
The Madrid Handicap can often be a decent pointer to the season ahead, not least the 2016 renewal which provided a launchpad for Irish 2000 Guineas winner Awtaad. There are a number of potentially well-treated three-year-olds entered in the seven-furlong contest for this year’s renewal and Dermot Weld’s Third World is one of them. Having finished fourth on his racecourse debut at the Curragh he was his trainer’s first choice in the seven-furlong maiden on the first day of the Galway Festival, a race Weld has farmed for over three decades. 
He wasn’t good enough that day, facing the likes of Zander and Wargrave (who could reoppose), but he ran okay in sixth. He then improved to win his maiden at Killarney, beating two subsequent winners Excelcius and Karasi. Off a mark of 84, he is interesting now, especially when you take into account he would receive 14lbs and 13lbs off the aforementioned Zander and Wargrave, and considering he won a good maiden in the meantime.
COMHGHAIRDEAS
5yo b g (Acclamation - Maid To Order)
Entry: Naas Racecourse Launches The 2019 Irish Flat Season Handicap (6f)
The Andrew Slattery-trained Comhghairdeas is in a six-furlong handicap on Sunday and he looks to have been given a real chance by the handicapper, having been dropped to a mark of 71, 9lbs below his last winning rating. He only ran three times last season, but finished second twice, including on his most recent start when chasing home Patuano at the Curragh in May. It’s likely that a setback kept him off for the remainder of the campaign but it seems he’s back in order now and if so, he could be really well treated. He won twice as a three-year-old and ran a nice race when ninth in the valuable “Bold Lad” Handicap off a career high rating of 86.