14:45 Leopardstown

Saturday 14 April 2018

All13:4014:1014:4515:1515:5016:2516:55

Ballylinch Stud 'Priory Belle' 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes (Fillies' Group 3)

Off time: 14:46 | Winning time: 1m 39.01s

(7)

Actress²³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 106| BF

14/1

Group 3 winner over 6½f at the Curragh last summer, finished lame after poor show in York's Lowther in August when last spotted, should be able to get back on track soon rather than later for this team.

Form: 262139-

(12)

Alpha Centauri²¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 109| BF

7/1

Won her first two starts last season impressively before just settling for second in Group 3 Albany at Royal Ascot (6f, good to firm). Final effort in Moyglare at the Curragh over this trip was disappointing on soft ground.

Form: 1125-

(8)

Butterscotch¹⁸³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 100

8/1

Placed in Curragh Group 3 last July and not disgraced in pair of Newmarket contests (Group2/3) in the autumn over this trip, both on good ground. Capable of having a say in this.

Form: 521254-

(1)

Damselfly¹⁶¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Gary Carroll| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 92| CD

50/1

Won a C&D handicap off a mark of 85 in October, well beaten in mile Listed Newmarket event final start of 2017 and seemingly plenty to find in this company.

Form: 156310-

(14)

Dianthus²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: W J Lee| T: R O'Brien| OR: 86| D

14/1

Improved form when winning valuable 7f Naas handicap (soft to heavy) last month on return to action. Epaulette filly surely left with another significant step forward needed to take this.

Form: 9P26-1

(3)

Gasta¹⁷⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Ronan Whelan| T: J S Bolger| OR: 91

66/1

Maiden winner on debut last year at the Curragh but didn't make much of an impression thereafter in pattern-race company. Last of seven over C&D in Group 3 Killavullan Stakes when last spotted. Plenty to work on.

Form: 866567-

(9)

I Can Fly¹⁸³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 102| BF| D

7/2

Late appearance last season, winning AW maiden at Dundalk in September before credible third in Group 3 Fillies event at Newmarket over this trip. Further improvement expected this term, albeit the ground is a potential leveller.

Form: 13-

(6)

Iiex Excelsa¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Chris Hayes| T: J A Stack| D

20/1

Excelebration filly who cost €160,000 as a yearling and is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Scream Blue Murder. Rallying winner of Cork maiden (7f, heavy) on recent reappearance / second start and left with plenty improvement to find in this company.

Form: 0-1

(2)

Sarrocchi¹⁶⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| CD

7/2

By the mighty Galileo out of an Oasis Dream mare, won 16-runner C&D maiden on sole two-year-old start in October, off since. Represents top connections and open to plenty improvement.

Form: 1-

(13)

Ship Of Dreams^t¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S Foley| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 86| D

33/1

Good second at Cork (1m½f, heavy) on turf debut behind Imaging recently (had run of the race and collared late on) that form will be tested in preceding race on this card. Place claims at best.

Form: 3-162

(4)

Sometimesadiamond²⁰⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 89

50/1

Fairyhouse maiden winner in June last year, came up shy in trio of Group / Listed contests thereafter, returns from winter recess with work to do in this hot contest.

Form: 1534-

(5)

Who's Steph¹⁹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 94

10/1

Zoffany filly, won a mile maiden at Naas (yielding) in October on second two-year-old outing, facing stiff task lobbed into this company on return it seems despite potent trainer/champion jockey combination.

Form: 91-

(10)

Yulong Gold Fairy¹⁸¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: L F Roche| T: D K Weld| OR: 99| D

6/1

Impressive winner of €71k Naas handicap (7f, soft) on final outing last year, coming right away for decisive success. Respected handler could be expecting better things this term and one to pay attention to.

Form: 4611-

Non-Runners

(11)

Katie Cruel²⁰

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: A Fleming J: N G McCullagh

Forecasts

I Can Fly (7/2), Sarrocchi (7/2), Yulong Gold Fairy (6/1), Alpha Centauri (7/1), Butterscotch (8/1), Who's Steph (10/1), Dianthus (14/1), Actress (14/1), Iiex Excelsa (20/1), Katie Cruel (25/1), Ship Of Dreams (33/1), Sometimesadiamond (50/1), Damselfly (50/1), Gasta (66/1)

The Ballydoyle team are typically well represented here with I Can Fly getting the nod from Ryan Moore. She was a late blossomer last season but ran well in a Group 3 Fillies event at Newmarket on just her second start. There should be more to come, though the ground might be a cautionary note. Her stablemates Butterscotch and Actress are well capable of going well too. Alpha Centauri was a very exciting juvenile last season and could be one to follow this term but, again, testing ground ranks as a worry for the Albany Stakes second. YULONG GOLD FAIRY was impressive in scooting clear to win a Naas handicap on her final start last year, doing so on a testing surface. She probably has to impro