16:00 Naas

Sunday 5 November 2017

All12:2012:5013:2513:5514:2515:0015:3016:00

Finale Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 16:03 | Winning time: 2m 45.7s

(4)

Laws Of Spin^t²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Chris Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 101

6/1

Winner of a valuable Leopardstown handicap (1m5f, good to yielding) on penultimate start in September. May pay for forgive failure in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket since, given unique demands of that contest. Not ruled out back down in trip.

Form: 1-45610

(8)

Mustajeer²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 98| C

5/1

Lightly-raced British import, impressively won a 1m2f handicap at this track three weeks ago on debut for this yard off a mark of 91. This is going to be tougher but remains a serious player over this extra yardage based on impression created there.

Form: 23-9041

(6)

Play The Game¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: W J Lee| T: T Gibney| OR: 100

6/1

Very commendable effort on return to the Flat in Listed Leopardstown contest (1m2f, soft) a fortnight ago, defying odds of 66/1 to be 2¼ lengths third of nine. Will have to build on that to score in this company.

Form: 2764/7-3

(5)

Sanus Per Aquam⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 97

8/1

Likeable performer who reached a rating of 110 in 2015, has had issues since with just five runs. Has performed well enough in three runs this year, but likely can be found a better opportunity than this to get back on the gravy trail.

Form: 3/84-545

(3)

Ted Veale²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 9-5| J: Fran Berry| T: A J Martin| OR: 97| D

8/1

Admirable performer has served connections with distinction, wins this year already over hurdles and on the Flat (second over fences), ran well in Irish Cesarewitch latest (third) and dangerous to discount him.

Form: 19/2-213

(7)

Dew Line²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Gary Carroll| T: M Mulvany| OR: 94| D

7/1

Consistent mare, she tends to run big races but ultimately come up just shy at this level, which was again the case over C&D last month when second to Red Stars. Likely to give it her all once more.

Form: 776363

(2)

Lagostovegas²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Declan McDonogh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 93| C

13/2

Smart mare over hurdles and on the Flat, scored a double over timber in late summer before running a big race to be third in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket last month. Comes right back down in trip now but cannot rule her out.

Form: 173-133

(1)

Tocco D'amore²¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: P J Smullen| T: D K Weld| C

9/4

Daughter of Raven's Pass, she cost connections €2,000,000 at the sales in 2015 and is a half-sister to a number of classy performers. Made light work of a maiden field here over 1m2f in April to win by 6L and is to be feared on her second start.

Form: 1

(9)

Two For Tea¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 78

20/1

Filly won a maiden at Gowran Park (1m1½f, yielding) in July but has struggled in handicaps and lacks the form to be considered anything bar an outsider in this line-up.

Form: 321682

Forecasts

Tocco D'amore (9/4), Mustajeer (5/1), Laws Of Spin (6/1), Play The Game (6/1), Lagostovegas (13/2), Dew Line (7/1), Ted Veale (8/1), Sanus Per Aquam (8/1), Two For Tea (20/1)

A super contest to bring down the curtain on the Flat season in Ireland and Dermot Weld appears to have saved something a bit special for the finale. TOCCO D'AMORE was very impressive when smashing her rivals to win a maiden here in April by 6L, with plenty up her sleeve. She cost connections a cool €2m and looks capable of going places. The form of her maiden stands up to scrutiny and, given there could be plenty more to come, she is hard to oppose. It has been a dream season for Colin Keane and Ger Lyons could help the new champion jockey sign off in style. Mustajeer looked good scoring on his debut for the yard at this track recently and, over an extra two-furlongs, is the value alternative to the likely favourite. Willie Mullins saddles Laws Of Spin and Lagostovegas, with preference for the first-named over this trip, while Ted Veale and the reliable Dew Line are sure to give maximum effort and hold place claims.