2.20 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden 5f 164yds

Aidan O’Brien won this race 12 months ago with the classy Aesop’s Fables and could do so again through 480,000gns purchase River Tiber. One of two Wootton Bassett colts representing Ballydoyle in this eight-runner maiden, he is the stable’s leading hope on jockey bookings as Ryan Moore takes the mount, while Wayne Lordan partners Unquestionable.

The market is bound to be informative as the entire field is unraced. Fozzy Stack’s Showcasing colt Smash Factor makes some appeal on paper and is worth a second look.

SELECTION: RIVER TIBER

Next best: Smash Factor

2.55 Kilberry Apprentice Handicap 5f 164yds

Stanhope won this race last year off an identical mark and can oblige again. He loves this place, having notched his last three wins at Navan, and he should be fine in terms of the ground. He won this race, on the back of a 173-day break, from stall five last year and is attempting to score following a 178-day layoff now from the exact same stall.

Plenty hold chances, including last-time-out Curragh winner Queen’s Pardon, who must defy a 7lb rise but is capable of doing so, and the battle-hardened Tawaazon.

SELECTION: STANHOPE

Next best: Queen’s Pardon

3.30 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Committed Stakes (Listed) 5f 164yds

The Antarctic thrived on racing last season and is entitled to sharpen up for his first start back, but this has the makings of a decent chance for him to get his campaign off to a winning start. Third in the Prix Morny and second in the Middle Park Stakes behind Blackbeard, he is the highest-rated runner in the line-up with a mark of 113 and receives 2lb from his nearest rivals on figures, Aesop’s Fables (110) and Shartash (110).

Aesop’s Fables finished behind Shartash in last season’s National Stakes but his form tailed off slightly after an excellent comeback win in the Futurity Stakes at the Curragh and he remains a serious threat when delivering his ‘A’ game.

SELECTION: THE ANTARCTIC

Next best: Aesop’s Fables

4.05 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes (Listed) 1m 2f

This is bound to be an informative contest with a view to the rest of the season. A chance is taken on Drummin Life defying her tough task on official figures and improving for the step up to a mile and a quarter for the first time. The Willie McCreery-trained daughter of Gleneagles progressed with each start last term and handles an ease in the ground.

Jackie Oh impressed on debut and commands respect but her lack of experience in this company is a slight concern. Lumiere Rock is the top-rated runner here but must give weight to all rivals, while it wouldn’t be a shock if Keep In Touch ran a big race. Her yard hasn’t caught fire yet this season but she rates a promising type for the season ahead.

SELECTION: DRUMMIN LIFE

Next best: Jackie Oh

4.35 Vintage Crop Stakes (Listed) 1m 6f

French Claim’s race fitness could be a valuable asset in this contest and it looks a shrewd piece of placing to run him here given he is in a strong position at the weights on official ratings. A course-and-distance winner who has the makings of a better four-year-old this season, it’s possible he’ll be sharper at this stage of the campaign than leading rival Emily Dickinson, who is respected but improved as the year went on in 2022.

Okita Soushi should be in the shake-up on ratings and is race-fit. He should be on the premises for Joseph O’Brien, who has won two of the last three runnings of the event. Bolshoi Ballet has only been seen once since December 2021 and is an unknown at this trip.

SELECTION: FRENCH CLAIM

Next best: Okita Soushi

5.10 Donaghmore Handicap 1m 5f

Group One Power could be worth paying attention to on his second start for the very capable Pat Murphy yard.

Rated 89 in his pomp when trained by Andrew Balding, the three-time winner is now down to a mark of 74 and was in the process of running a promising race from off the pace on his Irish debut at Leopardstown last time before meeting interference and finishing down the field. The application of cheekpieces for the first time suggests connections mean business.

There is obvious interest in The Gossiper for Emmet Mullins too. He beat Grade 1 winner Ashroe Diamond in a Galway Festival bumper in July 2021 and is now making his handicap debut on the flat off an attractive mark of 67, having blown the cobwebs away last time when third in a Bellewstown maiden.

It’s possible his season could be geared towards Galway, though, with his owner Annette Mee much more prolific at Ballybrit than any other course in recent years.

SELECTION: GROUP ONE POWER

Next best: The Gossiper

5.40 Racing Next On Saturday May 13th Maiden 1m 5f

A tricky contest to end proceedings, with four of the five runners unraced. Queenstown gets a tentative vote for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore, being a Galileo half-brother to Listed-winning, Irish Oaks runner-up Rain Goddess. Ballydoyle sent out the 1-2-3 in this race 12 months ago.

Galileo’s Compass, trained by Jessica Harrington, has a solid pedigree as a brother to Chester Vase and King Edward VII Stakes winner Changingoftheguard. Fastnet Rock newcomer Collaborative represents Dermot Weld and is a half-brother to dual listed winner Red Stars. He should have a future but could be better for this initial experience.

Joseph O’Brien supplies two, including the only runner with racecourse experience, Nurburgring, who was beaten 12 lengths when mid-field in a back-end mile maiden at the Curragh last season. Stablemate Ikigai Star, by Sea The Stars, is fitted with a tongue-tie for his debut.

SELECTION: QUEENSTOWN

Next best: Galileo’s Compass