17:20 Leopardstown

Friday 25 May 2018

All17:2017:5518:2518:5519:2519:5520:2520:55

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden (Plus 10)

Off time: 17:21 | Winning time: 1m 31.21s

(2)

Albuquerque

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

12/1

Galileo colt is a brother to several winners, including top-class middle distance winner Rip Van Winkle. First of exciting newcomers for trainer in this contest.

Form:

(12)

Alfons Walde

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

33/1

Intikhab colt is a half-brother to smart 1m winner Mittersill and boast a nice mixture of speed and stamina in pedigree. Makes first start for Harrington team.

Form:

(13)

Always Running

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Robbie Colgan| T: S Lavery

100/1

Elusive Pimpernel gelding who dam was a maiden and stayed up to 7f, likely to hold limited chances in this hot opener.

Form:

(1)

Andaleep⁴⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: L F Roche| T: D K Weld

16/1

Siyouni colt cost €180,000 as a yearling, nicely related, bit disappointing last month on AW debut outing at Dundalk over 5f but no shock should he improve for in-form Weld team.

Form: 4

(10)

Bold Approach

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger

13/2

Dawn Approach colt, dam was a US 1m/1m½f winner. Bolger team in decent form right now and merits a second look on debut.

Form:

(5)

California Daddy¹⁸

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

6/4

Scat Daddy colt who's price rose from $220,000 as a foal to $325,000 as a yearling. Runner-up on debut at Naas (6f, good to yielding) this month, doing well at the finish. More to come up in trip.

Form: 2

(8)

Cape Of Good Hope

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien

9/4

Galileo colt cost 240,000 gns as a yearling and is a brother to the yard's top-class middle distance performers Highland Reel and Idaho. One of three newcomers for Ballydoyle, gets Ryan Moore up.

Form:

(14)

Christmas

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

16/1

Galileo colt is a brother to useful winner up to 1m Black Sea and half-brother to useful winner up to 1m Michaelmas. Third contender for the yard here, all have their merits.

Form:

(4)

Eagle Song²³

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

25/1

No Nay Never colt out of a Danehill mare costing €240,000 as a yearling, shaped with some potential on debut at Dundalk (6f, AW) before tiring. Should have learned from that experience.

Form: 6

(3)

Man Of The Sea

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: S Foley| T: K J Condon

100/1

Born To Sea gelding cost €28,000 as a yearling and is related to several winners. Worth noting in market, though could have been found easier starting points.

Form:

(9)

Motashakel

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Chris Hayes| T: K Prendergast

20/1

Olympic Glory colt cost £140,000 as a yearling and has plenty of appeal on paper. Should stay further than this and facing some regally bred newcomers. Watch betting.

Form:

(7)

Rijeka

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: C P Hoban| T: K P Cotter

100/1

Roderic O'connor colt is a half-brother to several winners and won't lack stamina for a bit further than this in time, watching brief today.

Form:

(6)

Vhagar

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

50/1

Dandy Man colt is a half-brother to 5f-7f winner Spirit of Italy and could well have a bit of speed in him. Billy Lee a positive booking on debut, decent showing cannot be ruled out.

Form:

(11)

Film Noir

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: R P Downey⁽³⁾| T: S Lynam

100/1

Slade Power filly with a leaning for stamina in her pedigree, a surprise should she be able to master the boys on debut over this trip.

Form:

Forecasts

California Daddy (6/4), Cape Of Good Hope (9/4), Bold Approach (13/2), Albuquerque (12/1), Andaleep (16/1), Christmas (16/1), Motashakel (20/1), Eagle Song (25/1), Alfons Walde (33/1), Vhagar (50/1), Rijeka (100/1), Man Of The Sea (100/1), Always Running (100/1), Film Noir (100/1)

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE is a brother to Ballydoyle superstars Highland Reel and Idaho and needs respecting having got the nod from Ryan Moore amidst a trio of really interesting newcomers for Aidan O'Brien in this line-up. He could be up to landing this on debut, though stablemates Albuquerque and Christmas aren't easily overlooked on paper either. California Daddy is the one with a decent bit of form in the book and should do better upped in trip. Motashakel and Alfons Walde are further interesting debutants.