1.25 Bermingham Cameras EBF Maiden 6f
Bounty boasts obvious appeal on paper, as a son of No Nay Never out of a Group 1 winner. An Irish Guineas entry suggests he’s shown ability, and the same can be said for Joseph O’Brien’s newcomer Mathan, himself a 215,000gns yearling.
The 300,000gns breeze-up buy Red Evolution finished a close third to Henri Matisse on debut, but was a beaten, if placed, favourite on his next two starts.
Aston Value and Ohmali both showed some promise on debut at Cork, but Night Magic’s Leopardstown form has worked out better.
SELECTION: BOUNTY
Next best: Mathan
2.00 Goffs 500 6f
A disappointing field of 10 to contest a first prize €245,000. Just three of them are previous winners, the most classy of which appears to be Nancy J. The form of her debut win has been mixed, but of greater note was her fifth in the Listed Ingabelle Stakes, where she finished strongly from the widest draw. Both runs came over seven furlongs, however.
Lightning Bear’s Down Royal maiden win received a boost when the second won, but a race of this nature should require more, while Haydock heroine Mollie Foster is currently rated 82. The other British raider, Bolo Neighs, placed behind subsequent Stakes winners on his first two starts, but his disappointing run on soft means he won’t appreciate any rain.
The inconsistent Mount Parnassus is the most experienced and highest-rated in the field, and may have the ability to win if he reproduces the performance seen here in June. Sunglow needs to produce the sort of effort suggested by her price on debut in July, and is bred to be better than that run, though her pedigree suggests she’d prefer further.
SELECTION: NANCY J
Next best: Mount Parnassus
2.35 Group 2 Montane Developments Beresford Stakes 1m
Hotazhell’s form is head and shoulders above the rest, being a Group 3 winner and runner-up in the Futurity Stakes last time. He separated Henri Matisse and Scorthy Champ that day, with the pair going on to fill the first two places home in the National Stakes. A step up to a mile is the only concern as Jessica Harrington seeks her second win after Curtain Call in 2007.
Aidan O’Brien had this race in a stranglehold from 2011 to 2021, and is the leading trainer with 21 wins. His two contenders this year appear below par, though, with Trinity College seemingly the leading contender on jockey bookings.
His impressive Galway win is hard to judge, especially given his previous two defeats, and the handicapper seems to agree. Stablemate Lambourn ran green when winning on debut at Killarney, and showed similar signs of inexperience when slowly away at Craon, in what looked a weak Listed race.
Joseph O’Brien partnered three of his father’s winners in this race and bids to land his first as a trainer with Tennessee Stud. The Wootton Bassett colt shaped like a smart type when winning at Tipperary last time, but may be seen to better effect over further as a three-year-old
John Dunlop was the last British trainer to win this, but Andrew Balding has a strong chance of joining the honour roll with impressive York winner Windlord. His second to the exciting Anno Domini at Sandown prove that win was no fluke, and both performances would suggest he’s an underestimated outsider.
SELECTION: HOTAZHELL
Next best: Windlord
3.10 SBK Joe McGrath Premier Handicap 5f
An open renewal in which several have chances based on their best form. The Bold Lad over a furlong further provides some pointers, when Keke and Greek Flower finished fourth and seventh respectively, three parts of a length between them.
Lynam’s sprinter is progressive, but Greek Flower was having her first start since July and didn’t get a clear run last time. She may also be better over the minimum trip, having finished second in the Rockingham in June.
Ostraka is a filly on the up and should she land this €50,000 contest, will make her shrewd €9,000 purchase in February even more impressive.
Grand City Hall has some smart form, but perhaps not good enough to overcome a career-high mark of 91, with top-weight also a big ask for The Highway Rat. Mehmar needs to bounce back from a disappointing effort last time.
SELECTION: GREEK FLOWER
Next best: Keke
3.45 Goffs Million 7f
A newcomer won this impressively last year, so take note of any market support for the pair matching that criteria, though jockey bookings suggest American Bar is the better-fancied of Paddy Twomey’s duo. The debut winner was disappointing in a Group 2 next time, when Billy Lee reported she stopped quickly.
Jockey bookings also favour the chances of French listed winner Apples And Bananas, one of four runners for Joseph O’Brien. Stablemate Valencia and Celtic Motif shouldn’t be dismissed though, given how the form of their seconds in Leopardstown and Naas maidens worked out.
Celtic Motif’s form boost came courtesy of Ballydoyle’s Garden Of Eden, who outran her odds when second in the Ingabelle Stakes under today’s rider Ronan Whelan. Wayne Lordan takes the ride aboard stablemate Antelope Canyon, the winner of another competitive Naas maiden.
Evangelic appears to have the best chance of the British trio, based on his third at Newbury, with the second horse Aftermath going on to place in a Group 2.
SELECTION: GARDEN OF EDEN
Next best: Celtic Motif
4.20 Fitzpatricks Mercedes-Benz Maiden 6f
As with many maidens, market support will be key for any potential improves in a relatively inexperienced field. Just For One Day is one who benefitted from her debut experience, going on to finish fourth here behind an impressive newcomer. Pansy Poe was in front of her that day, but had much more experience, as had the second White Clover, though she still has a strong chance on her best form.
Emerald Banner is another to have run well behind some useful horses and deserves a win, while the juvenile form of Many Thanks puts her in the mix, and she was found to have blood in her nostrils following a disappointing return on soft to heavy ground in April.
The ground also went against Triangle d’Or last time, having run with promise on the first attempt, and she is bred to have the speed for this trip.
SELECTION: WHITE CLOVER
Next best: Emerald Banner
4.55 Glenroyal Hotel Student Derby Handicap 1m2f
Perhaps the trickiest race to decipher, given the lack of jockey form to consider. Nunc Est Bibendum is the most unexposed of the horses, and 68 looks a workable mark after her fine fourth at Naas. Her name (‘now is the time for drinking’) could prove appropriate this afternoon.
Someone’s Wish comes in good form, having made a winning chase debut last time out, and both his flat wins came over this trip, albeit on the all-weather. Albatala was second in this last year, under the same rider, but that came on soft-to-heavy ground.
Alfheim is a real head-scratcher, having been well-beaten on three starts, but finished fourth to a subsequent Group 2 winner on her only other run.
SELECTION: SOMEONE’S WISH
Next best: Nunc Est Bibendum
5.30 SBK Handicap 7f
Hurrican Ivor’s performance at Galway makes him a leading fancy, but the heavy ground that day and his inconsistency make him hard to support. Chicago Fireball, in contrast, has run well throughout the season and judging by his fine effort in the Cambridgeshire, a drop back to seven will suit.
No More Porter is another one anyone would like to have in their yard, and it’s amazing to think he hasn’t won a big pot yet, but he was very disappointing just four days ago at Listowel.
Profit Refused is interesting regarding her third in a fillies’ premier handicap over course and distance in June - the winner was recent second in another valuable race and Irish Champions Festival winner Dance Night Andday was back in fifth. Fifth in the David Power Memorial in the interim, she has also dropped in the handicap.
SELECTION: PROFIT REFUSED
Next best: Chicago Fireball