Alan Hewison
2.10 TALLY-HO STUD EUROPEAN BREEDERS FUND MAIDEN 5F
Dermot Weld got off to a flier at this meeting last season and his representative Tilly Trotter holds plenty of appeal, being by Kodiac and out of a 5f winner who has already bred a juvenile winner and she cost 90,000gns a yearling. Her low draw is a negative however. Another trainer renowned for his quick starts to the season is Jim Bolger and he is represented by Intensely Focussed, a son of the yard’s Dewhurst winner Intense Focus. The Patrick Prendergast-trained Callender is a half-brother to the yard’s decent sprinter Sugar Free and out of a Prix Robert Papin winner so speed should certainly be his game.
Selection: TILLY TROTTER
Next best: Callender
2.40 ELUSIVE PIMPERNEL MAIDEN 6F
The Richard Fahey-trained Paddy Power is the highest-rated of these on a mark of 85 and though bound to be thereabouts does look a little exposed and could be vulnerable to a newcomer. One such is the Jim Bolger-trained Stenographer, a $450,000 son of Distorted Humour who races for Godolphin. The Kevin Prendergast-trained Sufoof, who was only just caught over this trip at Dundalk last October and is another likely major player, while the Dermot Weld-trained The Moore Factor ran a blinder when a 66-1 shot in the care of Martin Hassett last year in chasing home the Weld-trained True Solitaire at Galway and has since joined the yard.
Selection: STENOGRAPHER
Next best: The Moore Factor
3.15 ST PATRICKS FESTIVAL HANDICAP 6F
Bubbly Bellini won this race last year off an 11lb higher mark but age may be catching up with the nine-year-old now. Laganore appeals as one who could progress again this year but this trip looks on the short side. Richard Fahey’s Patrick has been running well on the all-weather in Britain of late so won’t lack for fitness. Preference however, is for the Kevin Prendergast-trained Penny Pepper, who won over course and distance on her reappearance last season and has dropped to a nice mark so is worth looking at on ground which should suit.
Selection: PENNY PEPPER
Next best: Patrick
3.50 LODGE PARK STUD EUROPEAN BREEDERS FUND PARK EXPRESS STAKES (GROUP 3) 1M
Last year’s Irish 1000 Guineas third Devonshire showed smart form over further late in the season but should certainly be very competitive here back at a mile. Fluff, a full-sister to Maybe, hasn’t been seen since winning a Navan maiden over this trip in April last year, but has been kept in training as a four-year-old and clearly greater things are expected of the Galileo filly. Queen Catrine won well in listed company on her first start for Ger Lyons last autumn and is certainly worth this return to group company although she would ideally want better ground.
Selection: DEVONSHIRE
Next best: Fluff
4.25 PLUSVITAL MADRID HANDICAP 7F
Theodorico only scrambled home in an end of season Leopardstown nursery over this trip but looks the type to train on and could still be on a fair mark. The drying ground should help his cause. David Wachman’s Alaskan Son strikes as one who could pay to follow in handicaps this season and the trainer has a good record in this race, this looks his ideal trip. Ger Lyons’ Mint Chai proved really consistent last season and the son of Roderic O’Connor should go well from a good draw.
Selection: THEODORICO
Next best: Alaskan Son
4.55 TOTE IRISH LINCOLNSHIRE 1M
Last year’s winner Onenightidreamed heads the weights, not having run since landing a Group 3 contest at Leopardstown back in May. Last year’s second Aussie Valentine ran a cracker on his recent return to action on the polytrack and with fitness on his side could turn the tables here. Romiac may prove the best of Sheila Lavery’s three runners, having looked really progressive when romping home at Galway last summer though he wasn’t seen afterwards. Richard Fahey runs Withernsea, who finished second in a big pot at Leopardstown last September but who has yet to win over this far a trip.
Selection: AUSSIE VALENTINE
Next best: Romiac
5.25 IRISH STALLION FARMS EUROPEAN BREEDERS FUND MAIDEN 1M
A huge field of maidens with Jim Bolger’s Stellar Mass the clear form pick on her best juvenile form when a close fourth in the Group 2 Juddmonte Beresford Stakes over this trip. Plenty of competition though, headed by Dermot Weld’s Embiran, second to the useful Moonlight Magic under a considerate ride in a Cork maiden in October, as well as the Ballydoyle pair Bravery and Claudio Monteverdi, both of whom showed enough promise on their sole juvenile runs to suggest an early season maiden is within their capabilities.
Selection: STELLAR MASS
Next best: Embiran