15:45 Down Royal

Saturday 24 June 2017

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:1516:4517:15

Magners Ulster Derby (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 15:47 | Winning time: 2m 44.01s

(4)

Finn McCool^b¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: Anastasia O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 99

7/1

Highly tried since winning a Navan (good-to-yielding) maiden over 1m in October last year. Best effort this term came when third in a Group 3 contest over 1m2f at The Curragh (yielding). Slightly disappointing over 1m4f at Leopardstown subsequently and this drop back to handicap company should suit.

Form: 17-7335

(1)

Percy¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 99

6/1

Killarney maiden winner on good-to-firm ground over an extended 1m in August last year. Stepped up on seasonal debut when finishing third over 1m4f at Leopardstown (yielding-to-soft) in a Listed event earlier this month. Interesting if repeating that effort.

Form: 4144-53

(2)

Druids Cross^t⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: C R King| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 90

8/1

Dundalk maiden winner last November but disappointed prior to finishing runner-up over an extended 1m3f at Limerick (good-to-firm) last week. Held off this mark at Navan three weeks ago and others make more appeal here.

Form: 891-852

(8)

Tilly's Chilli²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 88

9/2

Winner of her last three starts including by 3L at Navan (good) over 1m2f earlier this month. Has to race off a 9lb higher mark here but is in good form and an interesting contender who is likely to try and make all stepping up to this trip for the first time today.

Form: 6-83111

(3)

World War^t1⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Gary Carroll| T: G M Lyons| OR: 88

16/1

Maiden after six starts and wearing blinkers (left off here) for the first time when well beaten at Limerick (good-to-firm) last week. Wears a tongue tie for the first time in this.

Form: 227-564

(9)

Clongowes³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Ronan Whelan| T: J S Bolger| OR: 83| BF

3/1

Maiden after seven starts but made the frame on each occasion and finished runner-up on his last four outings. Odds-on and wore a tongue tie (left off today) when finishing runner-up at Navan (good-to-firm) over 1m2f last month. Makes his handicap bow for a yard who won this in both 2014 and 2016.

Form: 23-2222

(6)

Mujaazy²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Leigh Roche| T: D K Weld| OR: 83

20/1

Broke her maiden at the fourth time of asking over 1m at The Curragh (good) in August. Well held over 1m on seasonal debut at the same track last month and has a bit to prove upped in trip here.

Form: 251-7

(5)

Wingingit²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Shane Foley| T: N Meade| OR: 80| D

9/2

Winner of her last two starts including over 1m4f at Leopardstown (good-to-firm) last time out. Held up on that occasion and likely to run well again here despite a 9lb rise in the weights.

Form: 40-2211

(7)

Ontheiflist^p,t²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Killian Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: H Rogers| OR: 77

12/1

Beaten 3L by Tilly's Chilli when finishing runner-up over 1m2f at Navan (good) when wearing cheekpieces (retained) for the first time three weeks ago. .Receives weight from all her rivals as she seeks a first victory today.

Form: 2267-52

Forecasts

Clongowes (3/1), Wingingit (9/2), Tilly's Chilli (9/2), Percy (6/1), Finn McCool (7/1), Druids Cross (8/1), Ontheiflist (12/1), World War (16/1), Mujaazy (20/1)

Trainer Jim Bolger has won this race twice in recent years and his CLONGOWES can break his maiden by claiming this competitive renewal of the Ulster Derby. The selection has been consistent in maiden company and can get off the mark at the first attempt in handicaps at the expense of Tilly's Chilli one of three fillies in the race and a winner of her last three starts in handicap company. Wingingit is bidding to complete a hat-trick today while Finn McCool who drops in grade for this is another to respect here.