16:35 Curragh

Saturday 30 June 2018

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1517:55

GAIN Railway Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 16:36 | Winning time: 1m 12.45s

(6)

Certain Lad¹⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M R Channon| OR: 87| D

6/1

A winner of both his starts to date and got the better of a short-priced favourite at Haydock last time. Big step up in class here though and he will need to have improved markedly in a short space of time to have a say here.

Form: 11

(1)

Highland Fortune⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Chris Hayes| T: J A Stack

8/1

Took a big step forward from his debut in a C&D maiden to win at Leopardstown last time out. Plenty to like about the manner of that win and certainly worth a crack at this grade back down in trip.

Form: 61

(7)

Invasion Day⁴³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| D

16/1

Plenty to like about his debut at Dundalk and confirmed the promise of that win run with a win at Cork in May. Has a big step up in class from maiden company to make his presence felt at this level though.

Form: 21

(5)

Invincible Karma²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington

5/1

Well bred sort who improved from debut here over 5f to finish runner-up over C&D earlier in the month. Form of that effort boosted since with a couple of subsequent winners who finished in behind and likely to improve again.

Form: 32

(3)

Marie's Diamond¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 88| D

7/1

A winner on debut at Leicester but struggled in two valuable contests at Newbury and then Epsom on his next two starts. Impressive when back down in class at Chester last time but looks vulnerable up at this grade.

Form: 1361

(8)

North Wind⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien

20/1

Plenty of promise in his debut effort at Naas but struggled in C&D maiden next time out and failed to land any sort of blow in Listed class at Royal Ascot last time. Down the order on jockey bookings and others preferred here.

Form: 370

(4)

Van Beethoven⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| D

9/10

Improved from his debut to win next time out at Naas and acquitted himself well twice in Listed company, including when fourth of 28 at Royal Ascot last time. That form has a solid look to it and he's the pick of the stable jockey.

Form: 3124

Non-Runners

(2)

Land Force⁹

Weight: 9-3| Age: 2

T: A P O'Brien J: D O'Brien

Forecasts

Van Beethoven (9/10), Land Force (2/1), Invincible Karma (5/1), Certain Lad (6/1), Marie's Diamond (7/1), Highland Fortune (8/1), Invasion Day (16/1), North Wind (20/1)

Aidan O'Brien has a typically strong hand in this race and VAN BEETHOVEN ran with great credit at Royal Ascot last time when drawn on the wrong side. With stable jockey Ryan Moore on board, he's narrowly preferred to stablemate Land Force who ran well at the Royal Meeting himself when third in Group company. Of the remainder, Invincible Karma looks progressive and was only narrowly denied over course and distance last time.