Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden

Off time: 18:31 | Winning time: 1m 44.19s

(4)

Ballycaines^t⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: S Foley| T: A Keatley

12/1

Late developing gelding by Finsceal Fior out of a Leroidesanimaux related to many US winners on the dirt and Dubai World Cup winner Animal Kingdom. Better effort on second start over 1m2½f on AW at Dundalk. Bit more needed again.

Form: 73

(3)

Fridtjof Nansen^b1¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: C O'Donoghue| T: J M Oxx| OR: 74

5/2

Kyllachy colt, cost 100,000 gns as a yearling. Half-brother to three winners, has shaped with promise in trio of maidens, blinkers added now and must improve to win.

Form: 4-34

(2)

Perry Square²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: J A Heffernan| T: F Costello

100/1

Cost just €1,400 and lacks the glamour of some of the rest on pedigree, beaten wide margins in maidens at Limerick and Naas so far, quickly overlooked in this.

Form: 08

(6)

Tremendous Leap^b⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 78

5/6

Shamardal gelding cost 170,000 gns foal, placed on all four starts in maiden company and most recently on handicap bow at Leopardstown (1m, good). Sets the standard, but vulnerable to something with a gear change.

Form: 23232

(5)

Dream Ascot

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Chris Hayes| T: J A Stack

6/1

A 100,000 gns yearling, Oasis Dream filly. Half-sister to 7f-1m4f winner Last Week. Market should reveal more on debut in a winnable contest.

Form:

(1)

Maajmeh Dawn

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Gary Carroll| T: G P Cromwell

16/1

Sold for 20,000 gns as a yearling, though only fetched 8,000 gns as a two-year-old, Dawn Approach filly. Half-sister to smart winner up to 1m2½f Viren's Army and useful 1m winner Eagle Creek.

Form:

Forecasts

Tremendous Leap (5/6), Fridtjof Nansen (5/2), Dream Ascot (6/1), Ballycaines (12/1), Maajmeh Dawn (16/1), Perry Square (100/1)

This isn't strong by any stretch of the imagination. TREMENDOUS LEAP is consistent but not exactly progressive and, while the form pick, is vulnerable to something possessing a turn of foot. Fridtjof Nansen has shaped with promise and rates a danger while newcomer Dream Ascot wouldn't have to be special to have a big say in this.