1.20 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden 1m 1f
With Joseph O’Brien’s string in terrific form, and with the experience of two previous runs to help, Emit should have a decent opportunity to get off the mark. When third to the useful Acapulco Bay at the Curragh last time over a mile, he shaped as though getting up to nine furlongs would be in his favour and he’s got a reasonably solid pedigree.
Serious Contender made a pleasing enough debut when fourth at Naas last month, looking green on occasions and beaten just two and a quarter lengths. He should benefit from that introductory run and is the stable’s first string here on jockey bookings.
SELECTION: EMIT
Next best: Serious Contender
1.55 Fitzgerald’s Woodlands House Hotel Handicap 1m 1f
Things could have unfolded a little more kindly for Kortez Bay when 10th in the helter skelter of an Irish Champions Festival handicap over seven furlongs at Leopardstown, but he was sent off just 8/1 for that and looks well handicapped on the best of his form. Sheila Lavery’s three-year-old is an unknown at this trip but, on paper, has a chance of staying.
It was a big ask for Fleetfoot last time in an Irish Champions Festival premier handicap at the Curragh for his first start in close to a year, and while he finished 12th of 14, he was still only beaten half a dozen lengths. These are calmer waters and he looked useful last year, so it would be no surprise to see him bang there. Titanium needs to bounce back from Galway Festival disappointment but did have some smart form in France.
SELECTION: KORTEZ BAY
Next best: Fleetfoot
2.30 Coolmore Sioux Nation
Concorde Stakes (Listed)
7f 100yds
Nothing got involved from off the pace in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, including the Johnny Murtagh-trained Chicago Critic, who never landed a blow but had looked a three-year-old on the up when third in the Jersey Stakes behind Haatem on his previous outing. This looks a lesser event back in listed company and the ground-versatile son of Night Of Thunder is bound to be in the mix if on his ‘A’ game.
Power Under Me was another probably not helped by the pace scenario in a Group 2 at the Irish Champions Festival last time and should appreciate dropping in class. A drop of rain shouldn’t inconvenience this battle-hardened customer.
SELECTION: CHICAGO CRITIC
Next best: Power Under Me
3.05 BoyleSports Novice Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m
A well-bred son of Dubawi who had some useful flat form in Britain, Feud has made the perfect transition to hurdles with wins at Listowel and Galway and is fancied to follow up on his first try at Grade 3 company here. Even though he’s taking on older, more experienced rivals and giving weight to them, this six-runner affair doesn’t look the most intimidating and Richard O’Brien’s flagbearer has looked smart so far in this discipline.
It’s possible Patrick Mullins could be 2lb overweight on Chart Topper, who bolted up at Downpatrick six weeks ago, while the same stable’s Gaucher will be hard fit from a recent second at Listowel.
SELECTION: FEUD
Next best: Chart Topper
3.40 Horse & Jockey Hotel Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m
Daddy Long Legs comes with some risks attached after bombing out here in the Grimes Hurdle during the summer as 2/5 favourite, and he trailed the field as 5/1 market leader for the Galway Hurdle last time, though he did have a nightmare start on that occasion in a race where it paid to be handy. A reproduction of what he showed at the Punchestown Festival would make him a different proposition here. Winter Fog was a ready winner of the Grimes and showed up well to finish fourth in the Galway Hurdle before a couple of spins on the flat. He’ll be in pole position to capitalise again if the real Daddy Long Legs fails to turn up.
SELECTION: DADDY LONG LEGS
Next best: Winter Fog
4.15 Racing TV Handicap Hurdle 2m
Old Bill Barley looked to be finishing with a wet sail at Kilbeggan last time only to stumble at the back of the last. He’s up 2lb but might well have won but for that incident and should be bang there if on song again. Extensio brings strong flat staying handicap form to the table for Pat O’Donnell. He won a maiden hurdle on his first start in this sphere and got handed a mark of 128. It’s possible he’ll prove better than that in time but his lack of experience over hurdles isn’t ideal for an assignment like this.
SELECTION: OLD BILL BARLEY
Next best: Extensio
4.50 O’Dwyer Steel Dundrum Novice Chase (Grade 3) 2m 4f
Gorgeous Tom was smart over hurdles and got off the mark at the first attempt in this sphere last time at Wexford. That looked a reasonably decent beginners’ chase for this time of year and he could easily have more to come over fences for Henry de Bromhead.Shecouldbeanything turns out quickly after a decisive win at Listowel last week and ought to keep the selection honest. This also represents a step up in class for A Penny A Hundred from her clearcut Ballinrobe win last time.
SELECTION: GORGEOUS TOM
Next best: Shecouldbeanything
5.25 Peppermill Restaurant
Nenagh Fillies INH Flat Race 2m
Plenty of these have chances on paper. Al Arrivee, a sister to the stable’s dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo, cost €56,000 as a yearling and gets a tentative nod for Willie Mullins, given her strong pedigree. Shadows Of My Mind cost €62,000 as a store and is a half-sister to a first-time-out bumper winner, while the nicely-related Kilda Kelle, by Doctor Dino, was a €100,000 three-year-old buy. Montana Blue and Tangara Bay showed promise in finishing second on their respective debuts this summer.
SELECTION: AL ARRIVEE
Next best: Shadows Of My Mind