Fran Berry's Notebook: Looking back on Leopardstown Trials and ahead to Newbury this weekend

Fran Berry's 2019 Notebook: My Stable

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Secret Thoughts - Very interesting when moving up in trip, possibly with addition of headgear

Who's Steph - Comeback run wants marking up significantly and can win more Group races

Sizzling start for Buckhurst

It was a superb card at Leopardstown last weekend which got off to the best possible start for Joseph O'Brien, with Buckhurst winning the 'Summer Sizzler' Maiden by a narrow margin.

He looked a fine individual in the parade ring beforehand and I think at that trip (1m) he did extremely well to get up and win. He has a long stride and took a while to get organised in the straight but there's a lot more to come.

He was taking on a horse with experience in Jack Yeats and the third horse was rated 78 with lots of experience so there's a solid look to it.

The runner-up had the run of the race really and didn't appear to go that quickly so it all adds up to Buckhurst being a quality animal with a nice future.

The favourite Zarandi was obviously the one they were talking about before the race with the Dermot Weld camp in such good form but I think you'd have to be slightly disappointed with him. He could improve a lot for it but you'd like to see more, which could arrive when it dries out a bit as he's a son of Scat Daddy and way not have appreciated the soft ground on the day.

Never say never...

The Ballylinch Stud 'Red Rocks' 2,000 Guineas Trial went to Never No More.

I think Never No More would probably always beat Madhmoon for pace over this seven furlongs. Madhmoon is an interesting one as he was odds-on and beaten half a length which has to go down as a shade disappointing.

My initial assessment was that he'd now have a long way to go to prove himself a Classic contender but he did have the penalty don't forget and he was also dropping in distance to the shortest trip he's ever run over.

He was also posted a little wider than might have been ideal and if you take the price away then it was a fairly encouraging comeback. He's capable of improving on this form and will really enjoy going back up in trip and will probably get a shade further than a mile as the year goes on.

The winner had race-fitness on his side but did show a good turn of foot to come by the second. He's obviously on the up and it was a very good performance. I wouldn't have thought he'd want anything beyond a mile going forward, but I can't see the move up to a mile being an issue for him either.

Neither is at Classic level yet, but I wouldn't write Madhmoon off yet and there's no reason why Never No More can't keep improving.

Keep it Secret, keep it safe...

I would have to be a lot more positive over the general form of the Ballylinch Stud 'Priory Belle' 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes which was won in fantastic style by 11/4 favourite Lady Kaya.

She was absolutely electric, really, really impressive. She was a bit fresh initially after they jumped from the gate but it was her first run of the year and Robbie Colgan allowed her to stride on which was the perfect move looking back.

From halfway it appeared there wouldn't be any dangers as one by one they came under pressure behind her and she won under a hands and heels ride.

There would have to be doubts over her getting a mile, however. If you go back to her run when second to Skitter Skatter in the Moyglare then she was galloping all over her but just got outstayed on the day. That was over seven furlongs and I know she's a year older and stronger now but there'd still be a question mark for me over Lady Kaya getting the trip.

Being a Dandy Man and the pace that she showed then you wouldn't be surprised if a stiff six furlongs turned out to be her optimum.

Looking in behind, Iridessa ran a superb race under the 3lb penalty. She had a wide trip and there was no great confidence in her in the market on her first run back conceding the weight but did well to chase the winner down the straight before just losing out on second near the line.

Back up in distance you'll see a big improvement the next day and Joseph O'Brien will no doubt be very pleased with the performance.

She split a trio of Aidan O'Brien runners and Happen ran a very good race in second from near the rear of the field. I'm sure she'll improve.

One that would interest me greatly, probably over a mile and a quarter or more, is the fifth home Secret Thoughts. She's a War Front filly out of Chicquita, who had a bit of a temperament but won the Irish Oaks - running through a hedge one day in France.

There's something about her and I felt again last Saturday that it was a run full of promise. Possibly with a pair of cheekpieces or something to help her focus.

This race - which was run a week later - threw up Alpha Centauri last season so I wouldn't be ignoring fillies who were beaten in this trial. It could be quite strong form.

Broome-Broome!

Broome was very good in the P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes. He was Group One-placed in Longchamp last year and was also second to Madhmoon. So he brought some good form but he really appreciated the step up in trip.

That extra couple of furlongs brought about significant improvement in him and it was a truly-run race. He has a lovely, relaxed way of going. He half got off the bridle through the race but when Ryan Moore woke him up he found plenty.

I saw him up close after the race and he has a very taking demeanour about him, he's very relaxed. Which will stand him in good stead when he goes up to a mile and a half. I'd imagine he'll go back for the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial next and could put himself firmly into contention for the Investec Derby at Epsom.

He's by Australia and the reports on his progeny in general seem to be that they improve with racing and Broome can only get better with time, and probably as he goes up in trip too.

It's surprising he wasn't favourite on the day with a big move for Tankerville who was beaten a long way. Maybe it was too bad to be true on the day but he's got it to prove now for sure.

Ahead of the curve

The Leopardstown Ladies Evening Handicap over 10 furlongs is definitely worth a mention too as Eminence bolted up.

When you look back he was obviously thrown in off a mark of 77. He got 12lb for winning so well but you'd have to think there'll be so much more to come from the son of Sea The Stars. It's unlikely 89 will be the ceiling of his ability.

This handicap is always worth looking at as it throws up a lot of improving types and horses who go on to win races through the season.

The third horse, Dermot Weld's Third World, was stepping up in trip from his first run of the season and he probably did too much through the early stages. That performance can be marked up and Aidan O'Brien's apparent first string, South Pacific, was brought down in a strange incident after just a couple of furlongs so he's a name to not as well.

Pop Cork runner-up in My Stable

Cork's BetVictor Bet 5 Get 30 Offer Irish EBF Noblesse Stakes on Sunday was won by Joseph O'Brien's Cimeara but it's the second Who's Steph who is the one to take out of the race.

She stumbled really badly early on in the race but ended up staying on in eyecatching style and was potentially a little unlucky on the day, although the winner was good in fairness.

Who's Steph's effort can definitely be upgraded and she was Group-placed last year so has plenty of class.

Weekend wonders...

Newbury has unfortunately lost its star turn with Too Darn Hot ruled out of the Watership Down Stud Greenham Stakes but there's still a competitive and potentially high-class field for the 2000 Guineas trial.

It's probably more of a race to watch that take a really strong view into but Hello Youmzain would be my token selection on his return to the UK.

He was really impressive when winning at Group Two in France at the end of last season and is worth chancing as he moves up to seven furlongs.

Mohaather beat me in a maiden when I rode Alfred Boucher at Nottingham and then improved to win at Newbury. It was quite testing ground that day and he won't mind the conditions this weekend, while Magic J beat a well-touted horse, Swindler, at Yarmouth and he could be anything this season but until he does it in a better race then you'd have to side with the proven form horses at this stage.

Young Rascal might just have a bit too much toe for Defoe if ready to roll on his comeback in the John Porter Stakes earlier on the card. The patient approach seemed to pay off with him last season and he's going to be better suited to this mile and a half than the likes of Melbourne Cup second Marmelo.

The Dubai Duty Free Stakes (Fred Darling) looks a hot race and Dandhu obviously has a tough task first time out. However, she's held in high regard and is open to plenty of improvement.

Dancing Vega is even less unexposed and was very impressive when winning at Doncaster. Lope De Vegas seem to progress well and she's a promising filly.

So Perfect will be ridden by Wayne Lordan with Ryan Moore set to be in Naas which could see the return of Flag Of Honour and So Perfect among others, and she has a similar sort of profile to Richard Hannon's Star Terms being Group-placed at two.

It's a deep field and on the whole the fillies' Classic picture looks a wide-open one at the moment.

Danceteria was a winner in France on Wednesday for David Menuisier and the trainer should have high hopes for History Writer ahead of the Mansionbet Spring Cup Handicap.

He will really enjoy the return to a more convention track having been all at sea on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket towards the end of last season and he might just be one best caught fresh, having been gelded over the winter.

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