Avenue Inn, Dundalk Patton Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 19:31 | Winning time: 1m 24.76s

(1)

Hit The Bid²¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: L F Roche| T: D Bunyan & G O'Leary| OR: 100

14/1

Group 3 winner over 5f last term, this looks a testing start to the new campaign against some potentially class rivals.

Form: 6710-6

(2)

Intelligence Cross^t¹⁵⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 110

3/1

One of two for Ballydoyle here, boasts decent form at Group 1 level and a winner twice last season. Excellent claims.

Form: 3149-43

(6)

Ambassadorial¹⁸⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: S Foley| T: M Halford| OR: 106

6/4

Unbeaten in two starts, both here, the latest being a Listed win over this trip in October. Major player but may needed to raise form again to maintain perfect record.

Form: 11-

(5)

Holistic Approach¹⁷¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 93

12/1

Winner of a Curragh maiden over 6f in September and run too bad to be true over 7f in Group 3 company at Leopardstown the following month. Should progress this season.

Form: 17-

(3)

Noivado¹⁷⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 93

8/1

Won two of six starts last season, progressing nicely through the campaign, probably going to require a bit more from somewhere to make a winning return.

Form: 51215-2

(4)

War Secretary^t¹⁶⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 94

5/2

Second of the Ballydoyle contenders, scored in a C&D maiden in October on second of two outings last year. Has scope to do a good deal betting in time and shouldn't be discounted.

Form: 71-10

Forecasts

Ambassadorial (6/4), War Secretary (5/2), Intelligence Cross (3/1), Noivado (8/1), Holistic Approach (12/1), Hit The Bid (14/1)

Two representatives here from the Ballydoyle team, with preference for INTELLIGENCE CROSS on what he's achieved so far. He's a Group 3 winner over 6f and was anything but disgraced at the top level in the Middle Park on his final start last season. War Secretary meanwhile showed marked improvement on his second outing to score in a maiden over this C&D in October and should be capable of a few forwards steps this term. Ambassadorial is two from two here but will have to up his game to maintain that record while Holistic Approach is also one to wary of if forgiven a flop at Leopardstown in the autumn.