14:30 Curragh

Sunday 13 August 2017

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

Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Irish European Breeders Fund Maiden (Plus 10)

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 1m 42.36s

(5)

A Long Road Ahead

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: P A Fahy

33/1

Le Havre gelding who cost €9,000 as a yearling. Dam was a winner at two but in general other newcomers make more appeal on paper.

Form:

(3)

Andesh

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: P J Smullen| T: M Halford

5/1

Medicean half-brother to a few winners with this generally their optimum trip. Goes for respected connections and makes some appeal on debut.

Form:

(2)

Leaderboard

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Declan McDonogh| T: C O'Brien

12/1

Street Cry colt who cost $70,000 as a yearling.. Fair pedigree but trainer is 1/73 with juveniles in the past five years.

Form:

(1)

Magic Sea⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: C P Hoban| T: Mrs S Dawson

66/1

Tailed off over 7f here on debut before faring only slightly better over the same C&D last time out. Plenty to prove now stepping up in trip.

Form: 09

(7)

Mendelssohn²⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien

5/4

Looked like he should improve for his first run over 7f at this course last time, and that has proved to be the case with many from this stable so far this season. This also looks almost certain to be a weaker race.

Form: 8

(4)

Swiss Cottage⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Gary Carroll| T: J G Murphy

5/2

Ran a creditable race on debut here over 7f last time, when shaping as if this step up in trip should suit well. Several of his relatives have improved for their first run and he could have more to offer here.

Form: 5

(8)

The King

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: N G McCullagh| T: Mrs J Harrington

11/2

Mastercraftsman colt who cost 140,000gns as a yearling. Half-brother to Group 3 winner Lightning Moon and Listed-level winner Song Of My Heart and should be capable of putting in a big performance on debut.

Form:

Non-Runners

(6)

Magnetic North⁷

Weight: 9-5| Age: 2

T: S Lavery J: Ronan Whelan

Forecasts

Mendelssohn (5/4), Swiss Cottage (5/2), Andesh (5/1), The King (11/2), Leaderboard (12/1), Magnetic North (25/1), A Long Road Ahead (33/1), Magic Sea (66/1)

With so little form to go on here it's difficult to draw definitive conclusions about who has most to offer but a chance is taken on THE KING on debut. This son of Mastercraftsman has an eye-catching pedigree, as a half-brother to Pattern-level winners Lightning Moon and Song Of My Heart. Jessica Harrington has already enjoyed some success in maidens this year and with little to get too excited about in this race, that good record could continue here. Many of Aidan O'Brien's juveniles this season have come on plenty for their first run so more can be expected from Mendelssohn this time in a weaker-looking race, while Swiss Cottage ran a solid race on debut and is also worth considering.