16:50 Cork

Friday 18 May 2018

All16:5017:2518:0018:3019:0519:3520:1020:40

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden (Plus 10)

Off time: 16:54 | Winning time: 1m 20.2s

(3)

Aaron Boy

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: K J Leonard⁽³⁾| T: K Purcell

66/1

Roderic O'connor colt. Dam was a maiden. Picked up for relatively small money and perhaps best watched on first outing.

Form:

(10)

An Bhfuil Tu Reidh

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁵⁾| T: K Purcell

100/1

Most Improved gelding. Dam, winner up to 1m2f, also won over hurdles. Plenty stamina in pedigree, second runner for trainer in this field.

Form:

(11)

Backpfeifengesicht⁵⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: D W O'Connor⁽³⁾| T: J F Levins

50/1

Moderate start to racing career in 5f Naas maiden last time, up in trip this evening but chances are he's going to struggle at the business end.

Form: 6

(6)

Biltmore

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: S Foley| T: J P Murtagh

25/1

A 110,000 gns yearling, this Acclamation colt is a brother to two-year-old 6f winner Sergio Leone, also has plenty stamina on his page. Noted newcomer.

Form:

(9)

Dingle Bay

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington

20/1

Alhebayeb colt is a half-brother to 6f winner Belle Dormant and winner up to 1m2f Cape Crystal. Cost connections €8000 as a yearling, first start here.

Form:

(5)

Empire State¹⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien

6/5

Scat Daddy colt, shaped with plenty of promise when third in a 6f AW maiden at Dundalk on debut recently, likely to come on for that run and rates a player here.

Form: 3

(1)

Invasion Day¹⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| BF

15/8

Runner-up in a 6f AW maiden at Dundalk on debut recently (Empire State just behind in third), should progress from the experience.

Form: 2

(13)

Isle Of Innisfree^t1

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien

12/1

Scat Daddy colt is a brother to smart two-year-old 5f/6f winner Sioux Nation. Makes debut for Ballydoyle, who run three here, and entitled to have his say.

Form:

(4)

Naquinto

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: K K Hennessy⁽⁵⁾| T: D W O'Sullivan

100/1

Requinto colt who dam was maiden (stayed 7f). Looks to be in with some big fish on debut and watching brief the safest play.

Form:

(7)

National Guard

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien

16/1

War Front colt with a mixture of stamina and speed on his page, third of the Ballydoyle contingent and interesting to see how betting judges them. May want further in time.

Form:

(12)

No Needs Never

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: W J Lee| T: J P O'Brien

25/1

A €65,000 yearling, the No Nay Never colt has the pedigree that suggests he'll want a bit further in time. Not overlooked and Billy Lee a positive booking.

Form:

(8)

Cuban Surfer

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger

20/1

Teofilo filly is closely related to 6f-1m2f winner Sophisticated Heir, represents the Jim Bolger yard and string are in decent form. Watch betting.

Form:

(2)

Merida⁵⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Chris Hayes| T: A Leahy

33/1

Filly ran out of puff over 5f at Naas on debut 54 days ago, goes up in trip here and there may be more to come. Needs to be decent to hold some of these.

Form: 5

Forecasts

Empire State (6/5), Invasion Day (15/8), Isle Of Innisfree (12/1), National Guard (16/1), Cuban Surfer (20/1), Dingle Bay (20/1), No Needs Never (25/1), Biltmore (25/1), Merida (33/1), Backpfeifengesicht (50/1), Aaron Boy (66/1), An Bhfuil Tu Reidh (100/1), Naquinto (100/1)

EMPIRE STATE finished just behind Invasion Day in their respective debuts at Dundalk recently, there wasn't much between them and, given his trainer, the selection is likely to show a significant chunk of improvement for that outing. The Scat Daddy colt can reverse the form. Ballydoyle newcomers Isle Of Innisfree and National Guard are noted, as are No Needs Never and Cuban Surfer.