1.30 Juddmonte Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden 7f
Henry Longfellow is the first foal out of Minding to hit the track and the Dubawi colt could easily make a winning start. That said, his stablemate Mythology might just be underrated to make a race of it by putting the experience of his first two runs to good use. The son of Starspangledbanner was beaten less than a length by The Liffey on his debut over six furlongs here and he ran better than his finishing position of sixth suggested in the Group 2 Railway Stakes, having started slowly. The step up to seven furlongs should suit and if his more royally bred stablemate lacks for know-how on his debut, he looks the obvious one to take advantage.
Ocean Conquest is probably the most notable of the other newcomers. Michael O’Callaghan’s colt cost 200,000 guineas as a breezer but has been given time since joining up with the trainer. Ringside Timing is also noted in a race his trainer Jim Bolger has traditionally done well in.
SELECTION: MYTHOLOGY
Next best: Henry Longfellow
2.00 Jebel Ali Racecourse Anglesey Stakes 6f 63y
Pearls And Rubies is the one to beat here but she looked short enough in the betting yesterday evening considering the level of her form thus far. Her second to Snellen in the Chesham was a decent effort of course, but the seven-furlong contest that largely features staying horses of the future was slowly run and she might have dealt better with the nature of the race. Back down in trip, this is a different sort of test. Michael O’Callaghan’s Kairyu won in fine style first time out and looks viable contender but Buyin Buyin has a nice blend of experience and proven speed. Willie Browne’s colt was right amongst the main protagonists with fourth to Givemethebeatboys in the Marble Hill Stakes before a very unfortunate indecent in the stalls ruled him out of the Coventry. The fact he was sent off at 14/1 there suggests the market had relatively strong respect for him and he got back to winning ways in fine style when running out a two-and-a-half-length winner at Naas.
Expect better from Gunzburg now back up to six furlongs, having found only Matrika too good in the Airlie Stud Stakes, while at a likely big price, She’s Quality deserves a second look after her debut third to Ylang Ylang, with the form of that race boosted several times at Leopardstown on Thursday evening.
SELECTION: BUYIN BUYIN
Next best: Kairyu
2.35 Paddy Power Scurry Handicap 6f 63y
The Archie Watson-trained Albasheer was an interesting contender for this race before declarations and is even more so now with Colin Keane booked to ride. British raiders have a fine record in this race, having taken three of the previous seven renewals from just 18.5% of the total field. Albasheer was slowly away in the Wokingham and did very well to finish where he did, 11th of 27, but just three and a half lengths off the winner Saint Lawrence. He was a smart two-year-old, having finished sixth to St Mark’s Basilica in the Dewhurst and while things didn’t work out for him, he now looks a sprinter worth following off a mark of 97 and may prosper in what should a weaker contest to the Wokingham.
Surprisingly, Strike Red is the only other British horse in the line-up (seven were entered), and he has decent claims as well coming off a decent second at Ripon on his previous start. Aussie Girl should be to the forefront of the home team’s challenge, having fought well to claim a premier handicap at this course earlier in the month but the slight drop back in trip may inconvenience her. In contrast, Master Matt did very well to finish second in the Rockingham and now comes up in trip which should very much suit. The seven-year-old has reached a rich vein of form for Mick Halford and Tracey Collins and should do well again.
SELECTION: ALBASHEER
Next best: Master Matt
3.10 Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes (Group 2) 5f
Taking on Art Power at the Curragh is a brave move but the drop back to five furlongs might just inconvenience Mick Easterby’s six-year-old and open the door for his rivals. Ladies Church won this last season and was very impressive on her first run in Ireland when running out a comfortable winner of the Sole Power Stakes at Naas. However she seems best on quick ground and is unlikely to get those conditions.
White Lavendar will prosper with those conditions, having been just a short neck away from winning last year’s Prix de l’Abbaye but she won reasonably comfortably at Longchamp on her previous start, the strength of her overall form is questionable.
Go Athletico could be the one. He was much too good for Ano Syra in a listed event at Cork, conceding that rival 6lbs but ultimately proving two lengths too good. He should come on for the outing and the soft ground here will pose no problem.
Art Power ran a fine race in the July Cup and admittedly comes here in much better shape form-wise than when he trounced his rivals in the Greenlands Stakes (had disappointed at York on seasonal debut prior to that) but he has run over five furlongs just three times in the last three years (with no wins) and that is a sizeable question to answer.
SELECTION: GO ATHLETICO
Next best: White Lavendar
4.20 Comer Group International Curragh Cup (Group 2) 1m 6f
The absence of Broome has opened up this Curragh Cup further and Rosscarbery may be the one to take advantage. She was a most pleasing winner on her comeback run in the Munster Oaks, conceding a bundle of weight to a couple of smart three-year-old fillies, when running out a game winner. She was unlucky again in the Pretty Polly Stakes on her next start when the winner veered right across her path just as she was gathering momentum. A versatile mare, the step up in trip will pose no problem as she won the Group 3 Stanerra over this distance last term, and she can get back on track now.
Emily Dickinson ran a fine race to be fourth in the Gold Cup and may well be better suited coming back to this sort of trip, while she clearly handles soft ground very well. Okita Soushi produced a good staying performance to win the mile-and-a-half Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot and deserves another chance to show his prowess at this trip.
SELECTION: ROSSCARBERY
Next best: Emily Dickinson
4.55 La Celia Wines Sprint Nursery Handicap 6f
Four of the last six renewals of this nursery, the first of the year, have gone to the top weight and Aidan O’Brien’s Democracy may be able to make it five. The son of No Nay Never has failed to make the grade at stakes level on his previous two starts but he was comfortable winner of his maiden prior to that and significantly that came over this course and distance on heavy ground.
Ocean Baroque makes plenty of appeal following up quickly after his maiden win at Navan last Saturday. He outbattled his main market rival West Of Wichita to score there and previously ran in behind Pearls And Rubies at Naas. Prince X J struggled to make a mark in the Coventry but he was a good winner of a Fairyhouse maiden previously and this should be an easier task.
SELECTION: DEMOCRACY
Next best: Ocean Baroque
5.30 Barberstown Castle Irish EBF Fillies Maiden 7f
A tentative vote goes to Perfect Poise. The Ger Lyons-trained filly was never travelling on her previous run but if you excuse her that, her seasonal debut at Naas was a good performance, finishing fifth to Mashia, in a race that contained the likes of Unless and Sandy Creek.
That mile contest also contained Machnamh, who finished fourth, and she has been running well in defeat since, going reasonably close last time at Limerick when just a half-length away from Farnborough. She is more exposed than the Lyons filly but more likely to run a solid race at least. Beauty Bella has been disappointing after a couple of decent runs at the beginning of the season so needs to step up. Newcomers Coco Crush and Swan Band may well be able to mount a challenge in what doesn’t look a red hot maiden.
SELECTION: PERFECT POISE
Next best: Machnamh