13:30 Curragh

Sunday 27 August 2017

All13:3014:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Irish Times Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden (Plus 10)

Off time: 13:32 | Winning time: 1m 40.80s

(7)

A Long Road Ahead^t1¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Leigh Roche| T: P A Fahy

66/1

Le Havre gelding who cost €9,000 as a yearling. Dam was a winner at two. Disappointing when sixth of seven, well beaten on debut over this C&D, sports tongue tie now.

Form: 6

(14)

Amor Fati⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: N G McCullagh| T: J M Oxx

66/1

Zoffany colt cost €75,000 as a foal, represents the Oxx yard, well beaten over 7f on soft ground round here last week and has plenty room for improvement.

Form: 0

(8)

Bull Hurley^t²⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Ronan Whelan| T: A Mullins

12/1

Finished in midfield on debut here over 7f (good to firm) on debut this month, entitled to have come on for that outing now upped in trip.

Form: 6

(12)

Christopher Robin¹⁰

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

8/11

Camelot colt cost 400,000 gns as a yearling and is very well bred. Represents Ballydoyle and should be spot on have finished second at Leopardstown (1m, good) on debut recently. Moore on board now.

Form: 2

(13)

Clueless Hill

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Rory Cleary| T: L Comer

100/1

Vocalised colt is a half-brother to 7f winner Orange Intense, debut here for owner/trainer without a winner (from 30) over previous 12 months, looks best watched for now.

Form:

(1)

Fridtjof Nansen

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J M Oxx

33/1

Kyllachy colt, half-brother to three winners and is second representative for John Oxx in here. Worth a check in the betting.

Form:

(11)

Meagher's Flag

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger

20/1

Teofilo colt. Closely related to winner at up to 1m4f New Direction, yard no strangers to having one ready but have been quiet lately (3-34).

Form:

(6)

Port Lions^b1⁴⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Shane Foley| T: M Halford| OR: 90| BF

3/1

Kodiac colt, cost €220,000 as a yearling, has run well in all three maidens to date. Should be in the mix again sporting first-time blinkers and upped to the mile.

Form: 332

(4)

Saracen Knight

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien

14/1

A €230,000 yearling, Camelot colt making debut for Ballydoyle here, interesting contender though may benefit from the run and Moore prefers Christopher Robin seemingly.

Form:

(2)

Saxon Warrior

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien

8/1

Deep Impact colt is a brother to 7f winner Pavlenko, the third representative from Ballydoyle in this line-up and would be dangerous to rule out his chance.

Form:

(5)

The Kid Bobby B

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons

18/1

Nathaniel colt cost connections £60,000 as a yearling, nicely related and bred to have a decent helping of speed too. Worth a check with trainer still operating at 25% strike rate in recent weeks.

Form:

(3)

Valkenburg

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Billy Lee| T: W McCreery

33/1

Dutch Art colt cost 50,000 gns foal, resold as a €110,000 yearling, trainer is enjoying productive time and worth a market check for this racecourse bow.

Form:

(10)

Waters Wild²⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: D Nolan| T: J Feane

100/1

Has beaten only two rivals home in eight and 13 runner fields at Leopardstown and here. Difficult to muster much encouragement currently.

Form: 80

(9)

Way Back Home⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Gary Carroll| T: C Roche

50/1

Sent off 50/1 in 6f maiden here last week and finished in midfield amongst 17 rivals, has work to do but capable of improving.

Form: 68

Forecasts

Christopher Robin (8/11), Port Lions (3/1), Saxon Warrior (8/1), Bull Hurley (12/1), Saracen Knight (14/1), The Kid Bobby B (18/1), Meagher's Flag (20/1), Fridtjof Nansen (33/1), Valkenburg (33/1), Way Back Home (50/1), Amor Fati (66/1), A Long Road Ahead (66/1), Clueless Hill (100/1), Waters Wild (100/1)

CHRISTOPHER ROBIN was beaten only by a fellow Ballydoyle inmate on debut at Leopardstown earlier this month and he came home well clear of the remainder. With that experience behind him and Ryan Moore on board now, this looks a good spot for him to open his account. Port Lions has been showing enough in three maidens to suggest he is a live threat now tackling a mile for the first time and with new headgear added. Newcomers Meagher's Flag, Saracen Knight, Saxon Warrior, Valkenburg and The Kid Bobby B all merit some attention in the market.