Ard Glen Construction Amethyst Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 14:11 | Winning time: 1m 44.17s

(5)

Cougar Mountain^p,t⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 113

9/4

Group 2 winner at Newmarket in September but very inconsistent either side of that and he's hard to catch right. Disappointing at Sandown on return last week but well suited by a mile on fast ground and not ruled out if on a going day.

Form: 80-2863

(3)

Gordon Lord Byron²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: W J Lee| T: T Hogan| OR: 103

16/1

Three-time Group 1 winner in the past but all his best effort have come over shorter trips than this and he has a fair bit to find on current form.

Form: 86-9925

(4)

Tribal Beat^p²³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 115

9/4

Group 3 winner ahead of Cougar Mountain two starts back at this course in August and looks well suited by fast ground. Disappointing on final start of 2016 but that run was too bad to be true and could be hard to beat if he's ready to go on his return.

Form: 7212/17-

(1)

Custom Cut^p¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 108

9/2

High quality gelding on his day but not won since 2015 and he was a disappointing even money favourite at Thirsk last time. Best efforts always came with a bit of cut in the ground and he's clearly not the force of old; likely to struggle back in deeper waters here.

Form: 4257-62

(6)

Elleval^p²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: C O'Donoghue| T: D Marnane| OR: 101

12/1

Poor strike-rate and not won since February 2014 when successful at the Meydan Carnival. Seemingly out of his depth here.

Form: 280366

(2)

Raymonda³⁰¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: P J Smullen| T: D K Weld| OR: 101

5/1

Filly won her first two at this trip last year before disappointing in Group 3 at Fairyhouse in July, off since but could be one to follow over the coming months and interesting what the market makes of her.

Form: 1/14-

Forecasts

Cougar Mountain (9/4), Tribal Beat (9/4), Custom Cut (9/2), Raymonda (5/1), Elleval (12/1), Gordon Lord Byron (16/1)

TRIBAL BEAT was disappointing when last seen but there's no doubt he's better than that and he should give a good account if primed for his return. Cougar Mountain is a capable sort on his day and Raymonda has less miles on the clock than most and looks capable of improvement.