1.45 Coolmore Stud Calyx Race 5f

Aidan O’Brien captured this prize 12 months ago with Group 3 winner/Group 1 runner-up The Antarctic and he again looks to hold the key this time. Promising colts Democracy (by No Nay Never) and River Tiber (Wootton Bassett) created favourable impressions when winning maidens on debut last month but the fact that Ryan Moore stays loyal to the latter after winning by 10 lengths on testing ground at Navan is likely telling.

Tourist showed plenty of potential when second here on debut and may give the selection something to think about, while 160,000gns breeze-up buy I Am Invictus commands respect on debut for Michael O’Callaghan. Jessica Harrington struck with a Bungle Inthejungle newcomer at Navan last weekend and sends out another by the sire for the same connections here in Supersonic Man.

SELECTION: RIVER TIBER

Next best: Democracy

2.15 Sole Power Sprint Stakes (Listed) 5f

Joseph O’Brien has already won three blacktype races in Ireland this season with fillies recently recruited from other yards and 850,000gns purchase Mooneista might provide him with another listed success if she is forward enough on her return from a 231-day absence. The weights structure for this five-furlong event gives her solid claims and she has form figures of 3133 at Naas.

It’s interesting to note that connections of her old foe Ladies Church have swapped her usual tongue-tie for the application of first-time cheekpieces. Her first of two starts in Dubai earlier this year, when runner-up in a Group 2 sprint, was a cracking effort. Moss Tucker has been in flying form and produced a smart performance to beat Tenebrism over this course and distance last month but Sunday’s assignment looks tougher, particularly with the presence of useful British raiders Tees Spirit and Arecibo. The former is making his seasonal reappearance but has won on his last two comeback runs, admittedly in significantly calmer waters than these.

SELECTION: MOONEISTA

Next best: Tees Spirit

2.45 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint Stakes (Group 3) 6f

Newmarket trainer Alice Haynes has struck with two of her previous runners in Ireland, including recent Listed Polonia Stakes winner Fix You at Cork, and she can enhance that excellent record with the useful Ziggy’s Dream. A smart daughter of Inns Of Court, she ran a cracking race to finish second at the Chester May Festival after giving her rivals a valuable head start at the gates. She rattled home on that occasion and ought to appreciate this step up to six furlongs.

Porta Fortuna, trained by Donnacha O’Brien, is one of only four previous winners in the 13-runner field. She came home in the style of a classy filly when making a winning debut on heavy ground at the Curragh and probably will cope fine with the switch to a better surface. Ribchestina is a fascinating challenger on her first start for Paddy Twomey, having won a maiden here on soft to heavy ground for Sheila Lavery last month. Her action also suggests she should be fine on the sounder surface. Bated Moon made a winning Cork debut over five furlongs and hit the line like this trip should be within her compass.

SELECTION: ZIGGY’S DREAM

Next best: Porta Fortuna

3.15 Owenstown Stud Stakes (Listed) 7f

It’s not an easy task for a three-year-old to progress from maiden company straight into open listed class but Sharlouk might be up to the task for Johnny Murtagh, whose string have got off to a good start this season. This Zoustar colt impressed when landing a Leopardstown maiden two weeks ago and remains open to improvement, having had just three runs. However, overall it looks an extremely open affair on paper that is best treated with caution.

New Energy sets the standard on ratings but needs to bounce back from a below-par return at Leopardstown, while Mutasarref must give weight to all rivals and is entitled to need the run after a 282-day absence. He signed off in excellent form last August with a Cork success at this level. Lord Massusus is on the up and that is a big positive in this field, though he needs to prove he’s effective outside of handicap company, and American Kestrel, previously trained by David Menuisier, is respected on her debut for Joseph O’Brien, given the stable’s ability to progress with fillies.

SELECTION: SHARLOUK

Next best: Mutasarref

3.45 Goffs Lacken Stakes (Group 3) 6f

The Antarctic got stuck in the mud when failing to catch fire on his seasonal reappearance at Navan but he could be a different proposition now back on decent ground and returning to a track he’s already won at. He would be hard to beat if able to run to his rating of 112 (achieved last season) and is taken to bounce back in a race won by Aidan O’Brien in four of the eight years that it has been run in this slot.

Ocean Quest had his measure at Navan but conditions will be much different here and she needs to prove as effective on a sound surface. Shartash never fired in the same event last time and can be expected to show more like his old self here, but he isn’t well treated at the weights with The Antarctic. Mauiewowie found one too good on her comeback at Cork but is entitled to sharpen up for that and looks likeliest to give the selection a scare. More will be learned about whether Song For Whoever and Thunderbear are up to this level after testing their mettle here, as they have a bit to find on ratings.

SELECTION: THE ANTARCTIC

Next best: Mauiewowie

4.15 Twydil/Clovelly Irish EBF Fillies Maiden 1m

There were plenty of positives to take from what Persian Jewel showed when third on her Leopardstown debut and she can go two places better here if improving as anticipated. Missing the break on that occasion left her on the backfoot in a race where the first and second never ventured from the top two positions throughout. She came home well, though, and has a nice pedigree, being by Showcasing and out of a 92-rated Galileo mare. The form has taken a couple of knocks since but runner-up Warm Heart did win a Leopardstown maiden on her next start.

Of the remainder with experience, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Unless has been frustrating to follow but has the ability to win a race of this nature. Lan Cinnte and Sweetest Rose have something to find on ratings, though they are probably open to some improvement at three.

SELECTION: PERSIAN JEWEL

Next best: Unless

4.45 Royal Ascot Trials At Naas Handicap 1m

A tricky affair restricted to three-year-olds. The form of National Emblem’s maiden win at Gowran when last seen in August suggests he could have some scope to progress from an opening mark of 89. Premier handicap-winning second Lord Massusus is now rated 106, third-placed Mister Mister is now up to a mark of 97 after filling the same position in the Listed Tetrarch Stakes, and even the fourth Subzero was runner-up in a recent Leopardstown maiden. This quartet pulled well clear of the rest and decent ground should be right up the selection’s street.

Broadhurst impressed when taking advantage of a good opportunity at Dundalk last time and now steps up in class. He’s another who will enjoy the sound surface, having appeared to struggle on the slow ground when finishing mid-field on his Curragh reappearance. Other lightly raced sorts with the potential to take a step forward are Kalikapour, Amazing Show and Sea Chariot.

SELECTION: NATIONAL EMBLEM

Next best: Broadhurst

5.15 Tote Always SP Or Better Handicap 1m

An open contest in which an each-way chance is taken on Navagio, who fired a warning shot two starts ago at Cork before failing to fire in a premier handicap at the same venue 16 days ago. It wasn’t the difference between winning and losing, but he ended up trying to challenge on what was probably the less-favoured side of the track and perhaps, as he matures, he no longer needs the hood he previously wore (removed now and replaced with a tongue-tie).

Blues Emperor isn’t overly exposed and ran creditably on his comeback at Limerick. He should be on the premises again, while Red Heel is a live player on the pick of her form (currently just 2lb higher than her last winning mark). This will be the six-year-old mare’s first start since joining Willie McCreery, though Billy Lee is booked to ride the stable’s other interesting representative Belharra, a well-bred recruit from France who could well step up on her recent stable bow when down the field at Limerick.

SELECTION: NAVAGIO

Next best: Belharra