14:20 Leopardstown

Saturday 8 April 2017

All13:5014:2014:5515:2516:0016:3517:05

Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes (listed)

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 1m 41.06s

(6)

Firey Speech²¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: P J Smullen| T: D K Weld| OR: 105

7/1

Good second here in September in a Group 3 and holds a host of Group entries this year including a 2,000 Guineas entry. Trainer does well with his horses returning from a break so warrants plenty of respect.

Form: 6112-4

(2)

Glastonbury Song¹⁹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons

9/2

Winner of his only start at Dundalk, winning easily in impressive fashion. This looks a tough race to follow up in though and may be best watched on this occasion.

Form: 1-

(3)

Maximus Daia⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: C R King| T: J P Murtagh

33/1

Well beaten on two AW starts but took his form to a new level with a win at Cork against some well fancied rivals. Ground won't be as deep here but he's sure to stay the extra furlong and shouldn't be underestimated.

Form: 0-817

(7)

Orderofthegarter^t¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 103

5/4

Holds a Derby entry as well as his Irish Guineas entry and easy to see why with a useful staying pedigree. Couldn't of won any more impressively last month at Naas but this will test him and stable jockey prefers Taj Mahal.

Form: 22-11

(4)

Spanish Tenor¹⁶⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: W J Lee| T: T Doyle| OR: 100

14/1

Not performed to the same level as plenty of these and while there's no doubt more to come, he's hard to fancy in a race as hot as this.

Form: 5214-6

(1)

Taj Mahal^t1¹⁶⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 108

5/1

Excellent fifth in a Group 1 at Saint-Cloud last time. Drop back in trip will hold no fears and proven in this sort of ground so looks like an interesting candidate, particularly if the first-time tongue-tie brings about some improvement. First-string on jockey bookings.

Form: 7135-22

(5)

Zorion²³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger

7/1

Easy winner of a weak looking maiden at Roscommon last year but likley to need more here. Trainer's runners often come on for their run after a break but he does have a good record when teaming up with this jockey at this course (20%).

Form: 1-

Forecasts

Orderofthegarter (5/4), Glastonbury Song (9/2), Taj Mahal (5/1), Zorion (7/1), Firey Speech (7/1), Spanish Tenor (14/1), Maximus Daia (33/1)

It's quite possible race fitness will give the edge to ORDEROFTHEGARTER over his stable mate Taj Mahal. His recent win at Naas was impressive and he could prove a tough nut to crack. Fiery Speech has already shown his effectiveness at this track and his trainer is capable of getting them ready for their seasonal debut.