14:30 Killarney

Wednesday 22 August 2018

All14:0014:3015:0515:4016:1016:4517:2017:50

Celtic Steps Maiden

Off time: 14:33 | Winning time: 1m 42.56s

(15)

Flicker Flame

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: S M Crosse⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien

33/1

€35,000 yearling, Born To Sea filly, dam was a once-raced half-sister to smart two-year-old 1m winner Foundation, market check needed.

Form:

(12)

Bahlwan¹⁰

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

100/1

Bahamian Bounty gelding out of an Acclamation gelding. Half-brother to useful types Breton Rock and Spanish Bounty, not shown enough in either starts to merit support, up in trip.

Form: 00

(5)

Fridtjof Nansen^b¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: C O'Donoghue| T: J M Oxx| OR: 81

6/1

Has improved in last two starst, over C&D and at Galway in stronger company, finishing third both times. Entitled to hold claims.

Form: 4-3433

(14)

Ottava

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Chris Hayes| T: J A Stack

20/1

A 60,000 gns foal, then €190,000 yearling, the Shamardal gelding is a half-brother to 1m½f winner Que Sera Sera. Yard fully capable of having him ready and noted newcomer.

Form:

(10)

Spirit Of Big Bang¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Shane Foley| T: M Halford

7/2

Finished fourth in both outings so far, ground to make up on Fridtjof Nansen from Galway run, improvement possible.

Form: 44

(3)

Swiss Cottage⁵⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Gary Carroll| T: J G Murphy| OR: 80

12/1

Signs of ability in eight-race career, but the positives tend to cease when things heat up at the business end and hard to support on that basis.

Form: 50-4576

(2)

Would Be King^b1²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 95

3/1

Has had plenty chance (0-8) and has twice been turned over when supported in betting at Dundalk (AW) and Galway most recently. Should have a maiden win in him.

Form: 23-2028

(11)

Encantador³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Robbie Colgan| T: S Lavery| OR: 79

12/1

Runner-up over 7f at Leopardstown in June, didn't appear to relish 1m2f at Ballinrobe next time out, so this trip is deemed a positive move.

Form: 3-30425

(7)

Fabulae^t1

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: J P O'Brien

20/1

Fastnet Rock filly is closely related to useful two-year-old 7½ winner Radiantly and 7f-1m2f winner Elusive Sengia. One to note on debut for Joseph O'Brien.

Form:

(8)

Latina Royale^h1

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: N G McCullagh| T: J J Murphy

33/1

Excelebration filly is a half-sister to three winners, including 7f-1m½f winner Valentana, sports a hood on debut and market should reveal more.

Form:

(6)

Vivianite^h1,t³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 82

3/1

Second in two recent starts, latest very good effort in 17-runner maiden at the Curragh (1m, good to firm) behind promising rival. Hood added, likely goes close in this field.

Form: 5-5522

(4)

Where To Next

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Billy Lee| T: J J Murphy

33/1

Approve filly, dam was a 1m3f winner who stayed further. Booking of Billy Lee a positive, market should reveal more.

Form:

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 5p in the pound

Non-Runners

(13)

Multan²²

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: D Hogan J: K K Hennessy

(1)

Um Bel Di

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: K H Clarke J: R P Downey

(9)

Shareva⁸⁰

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: D K Weld J: Declan McDonogh

Vintage Teardrop³¹

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: J A Stack J: Reserve 1

Forecasts

Vivianite (3/1), Would Be King (3/1), Spirit Of Big Bang (7/2), Fridtjof Nansen (6/1), Shareva (8/1), Encantador (12/1), Swiss Cottage (12/1), Fabulae (20/1), Ottava (20/1), Where To Next (33/1), Flicker Flame (33/1), Latina Royale (33/1), Vintage Teardrop (33/1), Um Bel Di (50/1), Multan (66/1), Bahlwan (100/1)

Would Be King has the credentials but has become frustrating and somewhat costly to follow, though he surely can win a race of this nature. Fridtjof Nansen has been going the right way and has a runner-up finish over C&D already, she should be involved, but perhaps this is destined for VIVIANITE. She was an excellent second at the Curragh last time and won't need much more in a first-time hood to get off the mark. Newcomer Ottava also merits close inspection.