14:15 Curragh

Monday 6 August 2018

All14:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:20

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden (Plus 10)

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 1m 23.36s

(11)

Barbados

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

10/1

Galileo newcomer is full-brother to three winners most notably Group One winner Maybe. Represents leading yard and has host of big race entries but appears stable third string so may need the run.

Form:

(3)

Blackstone Cliff²³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Sean Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: A Murray

80/1

Gelding by Canford Cliffs struggled throughout on debut at Navan last month over 5f. Pedigree suggests this trip will suit better but unlikely to be heavily involved.

Form: 6

(1)

Blenheim Palace

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

5/1

Galileo newcomer is brother to triple Group One winner Churchill and Cheveley Park winner Clemmie. Both siblings won Group One's at two so likely to be forward enough and a better pedigree would be hard to find.

Form:

(13)

Cruciatus¹⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 95| BF

9/4

Decent form in three maidens so far although shade disappointing he couldn't score last time out at Down Royal as short priced favourite. Sets a decent standard for the less experienced runners to get to.

Form: 342

(14)

Dirk Diggler

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Ross Coakley⁽³⁾| T: A Mulholland

66/1

€8,000 yearling by Famous Name is half-brother to six winners. Only the second two-year-old we've seen from this relatively new trainer so not much to gauge how forward he might be.

Form:

(15)

Dumouriez¹⁸

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

9/2

Never nearer than at the finish on debut at Leopardstown when a 4L fifth of 13 with eye-catching late headway. Should have learnt from that experience so a bold bid is likely.

Form: 5

(12)

Early Strike⁵¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Shane Kelly⁽³⁾| T: J P Murtagh

50/1

Well beaten in maidens at Navan (12th of 13) and Limerick (seventh of 12). Yet to fulfil quite expensive purchase price and looks one for handicaps soon.

Form: 07

(9)

Finding Nero^h¹⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: D P Linehan⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Murtagh

66/1

Holy Roman Emperor colt was 66/1 on debut and finished a distant last of 13 over C&D. Impossible to make a case for him based on that.

Form: 0

(4)

Harliston Tower

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington

20/1

Mastercraftsman colt is half-brother to four winners from 7f to 1m4f. Has a National Stakes entry and trainer can get a two-year-old ready first time up so not one to be ruled out on debut.

Form:

(2)

Karasi

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: N G McCullagh| T: M Halford

25/1

Newcomer by Excelebration is a half-brother to a 1m winner out of a 1m2f and 1m4f winning dam. Trainer's record with two-year-olds is patchy and only had one winner this term from few runners.

Form:

(18)

Musalsal

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: O J Orr⁽³⁾| T: D K Weld

10/1

Shamardal newcomer is brother to 1m Listed winner Zawraq and half-brother to three more winners. Trainer's two year olds more often than not need a run and has particularly tough draw for an inexperienced horse.

Form:

(7)

Nonstop Talker

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: C P Hoban| T: M Halford

50/1

€18,000 yearling by Poet's Voice out of an unraced dam. Half-brother to two winners including one over hurdles and fences. May need longer trips to see the best of him.

Form:

(16)

Pasley

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: S M Crosse⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien

16/1

€85,000 yearling by Camelot out of a maiden who was placed on the AW. Trainer has occasional debutant two-year-old winner but probably best watched barring market support.

Form:

(8)

Pulse Of Shanghai²⁸

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

10/1

Reared leaving the stalls on debut and playing catch-up thereafter at Roscommon. Eventually stayed on to finish fourth of five. Hopefully can start on terms this time but would have to take a big step forward.

Form: 4

(6)

Sand Castle¹⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: R Aguiar| T: A Murray

66/1

Weakened into seventh on debut over 7f at Roscommon before a similar tale next time out over 6f at Leopardstown where again he showed speed but weakened alarmingly. Tough to fancy.

Form: 79

(10)

Son Of Coach House

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Killian Leonard⁽³⁾| T: D Hogan

33/1

As the name suggests he is a son of Coach House out of a very ordinary maiden herself from a good family. Doesn't appear one of the more likely debutants by any stretch.

Form:

(17)

Sydney Opera House

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

10/1

525,000gns yearling by Australia is half-brother to five winners most notably Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling and Classic placed Golden Sword. Stamina ought to be the forte here and appears stable second string on jockey bookings.

Form:

(5)

Summer Glamour⁶⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁷⁾| T: A Keatley

66/1

50/a and last of nine on debut at Leopardstown. Given time since that so hopefully can show better here but can't recommend more than a watching brief.

Form: 9

Forecasts

Cruciatus (9/4), Dumouriez (9/2), Blenheim Palace (5/1), Sydney Opera House (10/1), Pulse Of Shanghai (10/1), Barbados (10/1), Musalsal (10/1), Pasley (16/1), Harliston Tower (20/1), Karasi (25/1), Son Of Coach House (33/1), Nonstop Talker (50/1), Early Strike (50/1), Sand Castle (66/1), Finding Nero (66/1), Summer Glamour (66/1), Dirk Diggler (66/1), Blackstone Cliff (80/1)

Aidan O'Brien is represented by not one, not two but three exquisitely bred newcomer here. Of the trio BLENHEIM PALACE makes the most appeal as brother to dual Guineas hero Churchill and champion two-year-old filly Clemmie and the pick of Donnacha O'Brien. Sydney Opera House is stable second string but herself has a very smart pedigree so she too is respected. Of those with race form Dumouriez is preferred to Cruciatus with more scope for improvement.