1.05 Irish Stallion Farms EBF

Fillies Maiden 5f 162y

There are a few fillies with notable pedigrees/connections making their debut here but they will have to be pretty special to beat Olivia Maralda. Michael O’Callaghan’s filly was a 460,000gns breeze-up purchase at the Craven Sale and she showed her potential with a very pleasing debut at the Curragh last Sunday, when she finished second to Zarinsk. The front three came clear and clocked a good time in that smart-looking contest, so Olivia Maralda has to be the one to beat now.

Angel’s Feather, Silmaniya and Vernet are all noted debutantes but it might be worth siding with Statuette to chase the selection home. Aidan O’Brien has won the previous two renewals of this race and this Justify filly is beautifully bred, out of dual Group 1 winner Immortal Verse which also makes her a half-sister to Tenebrism.

SELECTION: OLIVIA MARALDA

Next best: Statuette

1.40 Lynn Lodge Stud Irish EBF Maiden 5f

Age Of Kings can go one better than on his debut. Aidan O’Brien’s colt found only Shartash too good at Naas and there was little shame in that, with Johnny Murtagh’s juvenile previously having showed smart form to chase home Tough Talk and Little Big Bear in a good Curragh maiden.

Plenty of these have a chance, not least Midnight Toker and Wodoa, who have both ran well three times and their experience may be a significant advantage. However, the second vote goes to Borletti, who ran a close fourth to Crispy Cat in a decent Cork maiden on his debut. He should improve from that now.

SELECTION: AGE OF KINGS

Next best: Borletti

2.15 Gain The Advantage Series Handicap 5f

It might be worth taking a chance on Super Cub. He was bought out of Roger Varian’s yard after four promising runs last season and, after three runs for Denis Hogan, he produced his best effort yet when seventh to Iva Batt last time out at Naas. He started a little slowly that day, but kept on nicely on the far side. As a bonus, he has been dropped 3lb. Quicker ground should suit him also.

Markievicz is interesting. She has run well enough on all of her three starts including her latest run at the Curragh when, off a 5lb higher mark, she was eighth of 23 to Midnight Fire. She has been given a chance by the handicapper.

SELECTION: SUPER CUB

Next best: Markievicz

2.50 Navan Racecourse Maiden 1m 5f

Newfoundland is the one to beat. Aidan O’Brien’s colt has finished second on both of his runs this season which have both come at Navan. He found only the smart Vega Magnifico too good last month but arguably his better piece of form was his closer second to stablemate Arbutus over this distance on his penultimate start. His proven course form is key.

Como Park is the danger. Joseph O’Brien’s colt improved from his debut third to get much closer on his second start, which came at Leopardstown earlier this month when he was less than three lengths away from Fumata.

SELECTION: NEWFOUNDLAND

Next best: Como Park

3.25 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race 1m

This is a fine opportunity for Voice Of Angels who comes out clear best on ratings. Joseph O’Brien’s filly has twice run well off a mark of 96 in good handicaps this season, so her current assessment of 95 looks copper fastened. She receives weight off both Moony Beams and Eastern Wind, but is rated better than the pair. Unless she feels the effects of having run just six days ago, she ought to win. Eclat De Lumiere was disappointing in the Blue Wind on her seasonal debut but she deserves another chance and wears a tongue tie for the first time.

SELECTION: VOICE OF ANGELS

Next best: Eclat De Lumiere

4.00 Royal County Handicap 1m2f

Urban Oasis has improved remarkably on his last three starts, having initially scored off 47 at Gowran Park, but he’s 33lb higher and now into a hot handicap, with plenty of potentially nicely treated rivals. One of them is Knightlaila, who was last seen finishing fourth at Naas after his maiden win at Gowran. That Naas race looks hot form considering the winner Ivy League, runner-up Fiach McHugh and third home Nectaris have all enhanced their reputations since. Knightlaila has the scope to do likewise, considering this is just his fifth start in all and third for Johnny Murtagh.

Yashin looked much more at home when stepped up in trip for his Leopardstown win, staying on strongly to see off Chaos Control, who opposes again. That was just his fourth start also and he should have no problems coming back to 10 furlongs now. Sir Antonino is another to consider - he showed good form to finish second in two maidens last season and is excused from his comeback fifth after he received a bump at a cruical time at Bellewstown.

SELECTION: KNIGHTLAILA

Next best: Yashin

4.35 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden 1m 2f

Grecian Slipper looks the clear pick. The daughter of New Bay made a promising start to her career when a close third to Affogato at Gowran Park. She looked green towards the end of that race, so she should benefit from the experience, and it’s interesting she runs in the colours of Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez now.

Paris Peacock finished just ahead of her that day and takes on her again today but the selection has the scope to improve by that rival. Chocolat Blu is worth noting after her fourth to Emily Dickinson at Naas. That was a decent maiden and represented an improvement from her debut effort.

SELECTION: GRECIAN SLIPPER

Next best: Chocolat Blu

5.10 Boyne Valley Family Raceday July 9th Handicap 1m 2f

A tentative vote goes to Smaoineamh Sile in a wide open finale. John McConnell’s filly is making her seasonal debut but she ran quite well on seasonal debut last season before going on to show some useful form, most notably when third to She’s Good Company, despite hanging badly to her left, at Clonmel. She then ran well to finish fourth on both of her runs at Dundalk and returns to turf now with the scope to improve past a mark of 49.

Dinamine is the other worth noting. He produced a much improved effort on his return to turf at Gowran Park earlier this month, finishing fourth to Alhaajeb at 40/1, and it’s not unreasonable to suspect further improvement today.

SELECTION: SMAOINEAMH SILE

Next best: Dinamine