16:15 Navan

Sunday 22 April 2018

All14:1014:4015:1515:4516:1516:5017:2017:50

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes (Fillies' Listed)

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 2m 18.5s

(7)

Bye Bye Baby¹⁸²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 105| C

9/4

Listed winner over 1m here in October and ran well in Group company when last seen. Likely to appreciate the step up in trip and she's the one to beat, despite having to concede weight to all. Holds Guineas and Oaks entries either side of Irish Sea.

Form: 642113-

(2)

Baroness^t1¹⁶⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 94

3/1

Impressive winner of a Leopardstown handicap and ran well in Listed class last time at Newmarket. More to come but has her work cut out in this field. Wears a first-time tongue-tie. Holds Irish Oaks entry.

Form: 55512-

(6)

Easter Lily²⁶⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 86

14/1

Leopardstown maiden winner but no match for stablemate when last of five back at that course in July and entitled to need this on first run since. Jockey bookings suggest she's not the first-string.

Form: 415-

(5)

Extrasensory²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 79

50/1

Well beaten on first two starts but much better at Cork on first start this year when unexpectedly landing a maiden (50/1). This much tougher but more progress likely. Second string on jockey bookings.

Form: 90-1

(1)

Hazel Bay

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Declan McDonogh| T: D K Weld

16/1

Iffraaj filly, cost 78,000 gns as a foal. Half-sister to six Flat winners including two Group 1 middle distance winners. Dam a winner over this trip. Beautifully bred but this looks a tough ask on debut. Entered in the Oaks.

Form:

(3)

Mary Tudor^h1²¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: W J Lee| T: W McCreery| OR: 105| BF

9/2

Still a maiden after three runs but placed in Group 2 company on the second of those at the Curragh last year. Brings the joint-highest official rating in but fitting of a first-time hood a slight concern given she didn't need one as a juvenile.

Form: 234-

(9)

Princess Yaiza⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Colin Keane| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 89

20/1

Won a Dundalk maiden on third start and followed up with a win in handicap company back at that course. Well beaten on return there last time though and this much tougher.

Form: 9311-5

(8)

Sizzling¹⁹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 102

7/1

Just a maiden win from eight starts in her career to date but did place in Group company last year. Could be more to come upped in trip but Moore prefers top-weight. Entered in four Classics.

Form: 321424-

(10)

Sometimesadiamond⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 96

8/1

Winner of a maiden at Fairyhouse on debut but struggled at pattern level subsequently and this is no easier. Needs to have improved over the winter if she's to figure here.

Form: 1534-4

(4)

Written Word¹¹

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

25/1

Well beaten at Dundalk on debut but improved to finish runner-up at that course earlier this month. May improve but doesn't hold any fancy entries and this is much tougher.

Form: 82

Forecasts

Bye Bye Baby (9/4), Baroness (3/1), Mary Tudor (9/2), Sizzling (7/1), Sometimesadiamond (8/1), Easter Lily (14/1), Hazel Bay (16/1), Princess Yaiza (20/1), Written Word (25/1), Extrasensory (50/1)

Another race in which Aidan O'Brien has a strong hand. BYE BYE BABY is the first-string and she looks set to appreciate this greater test of stamina. Sizzling isn't ruled out having proven herself at a higher level than this similar can be said for Mary Tudor who is of interest despite her maiden status.