14:00 Curragh

Sunday 13 August 2017

All14:0014:3015:0015:3516:1016:4017:10

Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden (Plus 10)

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 59.34s

(10)

Ar Saoirse¹⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: O J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: D Marnane

20/1

Ran green on debut at Naas when sent off an unfancied 33/1, and never got involved in the race. Can put in a better performance here now with the benefit of a run without serious challenging.

Form: 7

(2)

Art Of Unity¹⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Declan McDonogh| T: N Meade

16/1

Back to 5f having not enjoyed the trip over 7f at Down Royal last time out. Hasn't shown too much on his two starts yet but has given the impression that he may have more to offer. This should still prove to be too much of an ask, however.

Form: 79

(3)

Brick By Brick¹⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Colin Keane| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 87

5/4

Has run well on all four of his starts so far, getting within a length of the winner on three of those. Looks the type who is practically waiting to win a maiden, and is probably best over this trip of the two he has tried so far.

Form: 2422

(6)

Abamanova

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Billy Lee| T: W McCreery

7/1

Camacho filly who is a half-sister to two winners at a fair level. Trainer has enjoyed some success with juveniles in the past, and she's entitled to go well on her racecourse debut.

Form:

(11)

Betsey Trotter

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: P J Smullen| T: D K Weld

9/4

Camacho filly who cost 125,000gns, and is relatively well-related with some good juvenile form in her pedigree. The market should prove informative as to her chances on debut.

Form:

(5)

Courtney Crimson

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: C P Hoban| T: P Byrne

50/1

Acclamation filly who cost €7,000 as a yearling and is related to a few juvenile winners, but goes for a trainer not normally associated with first time out Flat winners.

Form:

(8)

Powersville²²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: N G McCullagh| T: T Mullins

66/1

Never a factor on debut when beaten 26L at Gowran Park. Drops in trip here but will need to put that run a long way behind her in order to get into contention.

Form: 0

(4)

Realtin Geal²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger

14/1

Probably only improved slightly between her first and second runs despite achieving a far superior placing last time out. Needs to take a larger step forward now stepping down in trip again.

Form: 04

(7)

Rockafilly

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Chris Hayes| T: J Nash

28/1

Dabirsim filly who cost €26,000 as a 2yo. Dam is related to a few quality sorts but mostly over much longer trips than this; she was a winner over 1m4f. Best watched on debut.

Form:

(9)

Sunday Smart

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Ronan Whelan| T: P J Prendergast

12/1

Dandy Man filly who cost €27,000 as a 2yo. Most members of her family did their winning over trips further than this, so she may enjoy an extra furlong or more in time.

Form:

Non-Runners

(1)

Waters Wild⁶

Weight: 9-5| Age: 2

T: J Feane J: Gary Halpin

Forecasts

Brick By Brick (5/4), Betsey Trotter (9/4), Abamanova (7/1), Sunday Smart (12/1), Realtin Geal (14/1), Art Of Unity (16/1), Ar Saoirse (20/1), Rockafilly (28/1), Courtney Crimson (50/1), Waters Wild (50/1), Powersville (66/1)

Sometimes it can be a concern when a horse consistently goes close in maidens without managing to get off the mark, but there should be no such fears about BRICK BY BRICK. Jessica Harrington's charge has been genuinely unlucky not to get his head in front in at least three of his four races so far, and with more possibly to come at the minimum trip, he should be able to hold on this time, especially if allowed an easy lead. There are a number of unknowns in the race given how many newcomers there are, but none absolutely leap off the page, with Betsey Trotter appealing most of the debutants, ahead of Abamanova.