15:45 Ascot

Wednesday 2 May 2018

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:55

Merriebelle Stable Pavilion Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 1m 16.36s

(3)

Fighting Irish¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: S Donohoe| T: H J L Dunlop| OR: 104| D

33/1

Penalised for his small field Group 2 victory at Maisons-Laffitte (6f soft) in October 2017, but that was a career best effort and demonstrates that he handles cut. Not disgraced (fifth) in the 7f Greenham at Newbury on his seasonal bow.

Form: 51411-5

(6)

Abel Handy²⁰¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: T Eaves| T: D Carroll| OR: 105

14/1

Didn't finish outside of the first two places in five career starts as a juvenile, ending last season with a game victory (beat Sound And Silence) in the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes at Newmarket (5f good). First attempt at this 6f trip.

Form: 12121-

(8)

Enjazaat²²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Jim Crowley| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 103| DWS

20/1

2017 Ripon Two-Year-Old Trophy winner (6f good), who wasn't at his best in the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury in September 2017, and has had wind surgery since. Untested on soft ground other than on debut (well beaten).

Form: 01619-

(4)

Eqtidaar²³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Dane O'Neill| T: Sir Michael Stoute| D

12/1

Invincible Spirit colt who is a half-brother to 2,000 Guineas runner up Massaat, and holds an entry himself in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. However, has just a 6f Nottingham maiden success to show on his CV so far.

Form: 14-

(5)

Invincible Army²²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: R L Moore| T: J Tate| OR: 110| BF| D

11/8

Consistent throughout a most productive juvenile campaign which saw him take the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes at Kempton in September by 1½L from Corinthia Knight (Eqtidaar fourth). His earlier form in the Molecomb (5f) suggests he'll handle soft ground.

Form: 142212-

(2)

Laugh A Minute²³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 101

7/1

Broke the maiden tag on the big stage when dropped in trip to land a valuable Doncaster Sales Juvenile event in September 2017 (6f+ good to soft), beating Danzan by 1¼L. This rates as a much sterner test on seasonal reappearance.

Form: 3231-

(7)

Sound And Silence^p,t¹⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 107| BF| C| D

4/1

Windsor Castle Stakes winner here in June 2017 (5f good to firm), and kept busy around the globe for the remainder of the season winning 5f Listed (York) and 6f Group 3 (Maisons-Laffitte) contests. Tough, hardy and ground versatile.

Form: 121224-

(1)

Eirene¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: R Winston| T: D K Ivory| OR: 102| D

4/1

Newbury Listed winner (5f soft) in August 2017 who invariably can be relied upon to run her usual solid race. Upped to 7f for her seasonal reappearance in the Nell Gwyn at Newmarket (good), and beaten just under 2L by Soliloquy.

Form: 12126-3

Result Amended

Fighting Irish - Original Position 4th. Amended Position 8th.

Abel Handy - Original Position 7th. Amended Position 6th.

Laugh A Minute - Original Position 5th. Amended Position 4th.

Sound And Silence - Original Position 8th. Amended Position 7th.

Eirene - Original Position 6th. Amended Position 5th.

Forecasts

Invincible Army (11/8), Eirene (4/1), Sound And Silence (4/1), Laugh A Minute (7/1), Eqtidaar (12/1), Abel Handy (14/1), Enjazaat (20/1), Fighting Irish (33/1)

Invincible Army was a real flag-bearer for James Tate during a most productive juvenile campaign which took in the July Stakes (fourth), the Molecomb Stakes (second), the Gimcrack Stakes (second), the Sirenia Stakes (winner) and the Mill Reef Stakes (second). He should handle the underfoot conditions and run his usual solid race on his seasonal return. However, he faces a similar hardy and ground versatile rival in the shape of SOUND AND SILENCE. Both Charlie Appleby and Godolphin have enjoyed a flying start to the new turf season, and this Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf runner up looks fully capable of adding to an ever growing tally of winners.