20:00 Dundalk

Friday 29 September 2017

All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:3021:00

Koffy Diamond Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 20:01 | Winning time: 2m 12.66s

(7)

De Coronado^t⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 89| CD

9/1

Career-best effort when winning 10-runner C&D contest seven days ago, not the most straightforward customer however and this is tougher.

Form: 035301

(5)

Elusive Heights^t1⁷⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 100

8/1

Useful gelding has filled the runner-up berth in both C&D starts, including in Listed contest in October last. Tongue strap on first time here and must put recent poor run behind him.

Form: 1022-29

(2)

Long Island Sound^t,v¹⁸⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 109| CD

5/1

Justified odds-on favouritism to win this contest last year, has been off since Meydan in March but likely to be primed for this.

Form: 13621-0

(8)

Tennessee Wildcat⁷¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Gary Carroll| T: G M Lyons| OR: 102| C

33/1

Twice won over the mile around here, stays this far but was well beaten in this race a year ago and others are more persuasive now.

Form: 63-9133

(4)

Abingdon³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: P J Smullen| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 108

7/4

Listed winner at Pontefract in June (1m4f, good to firm) and since run with credit in Group races at Haydock and in France. Interesting contender for leading British yard and booking of Smullen helps.

Form: 15-1236

(6)

Absolute Blast²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: W J Lee| T: A Watson| OR: 103

8/1

Mare has some useful form to her name and won a Listed contest over this sort of trip at Kempton in April on the AW, good effort last time in France on second start for this trainer and has place claims at worst.

Form: 122363

(11)

Santa Monica¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Declan McDonogh| T: C O'Brien| OR: 99| CD

50/1

Surprise winner of a Group 3 contest over 1m4f at Cork (good-to-firm) in June but found in three runs since. Makes limited appeal in this field but did win maiden over C&D.

Form: 941857

(1)

Signe³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 85

66/1

Won first three starts for William Haggas in Britain this year, no match for Abingdon at Pontefract in June (reportedly bled) and no threat in Curragh Group 3 on first outing for this yard last month.

Form: 11170

(10)

War Decree¹¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 112

7/2

Group 2 winner on turf last year and was 2½L fifth of 12 to Brametot in Prix du Jockey Club (148/10) at Chantilly when last spotted in June. One of three for trainer in here and is a big player seemingly.

Form: 121-65

(9)

Aneen⁶⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Chris Hayes| T: K Prendergast| OR: 96

22/1

Easy winner of Curragh maiden (7f, good) on final start last season, outclassed in Irish 1,000 Guineas on reappearance but run well at Gowran Park since over 1m1½f, has to improve again to take this on first AW start.

Form: 41-72

(3)

Dilmun^t³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P B Beggy| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 88| C

50/1

Maiden winner over C&D in July but has plenty work on his plate to land the spoils in this company.

Form: 7-4150

Forecasts

Abingdon (7/4), War Decree (7/2), Long Island Sound (5/1), Absolute Blast (8/1), Elusive Heights (8/1), De Coronado (9/1), Aneen (22/1), Tennessee Wildcat (33/1), Santa Monica (50/1), Dilmun (50/1), Signe (66/1)

An excellent fifth in the French Derby in June when last spotted, War Decree has decent claims of landing this prize on his return to action and should have problems handling this surface. He can go well and may be hard to topple but his price will reflect that. Stablemate Long Island Sound won this race a year ago and isn't to be underestimated returning from a break while the mare Absolute Blast is another that could have a say. Sir Michael Stoute has never graced Dundalk with a runner before now so it is interesting that ABINGDON comes here. She was no match for Enable in the Yorkshire Oaks but does have smart turf form and, with Smullen up, could provide a fruitful first raid at this track for her expert handler.