15:25 Curragh

Saturday 25 August 2018

All13:4514:2014:5515:2515:3016:0016:3517:10

Comer Group International Irish St Leger Trial Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:27 | Winning time: 3m 4.61s

(5)

Laws Of Spin^t²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Chris Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 100| C

12/1

Four-time winner at up to 2m. Sound efforts twice this term with seconds in a 2m handicap here and 1m6f Listed race at Down Royal. Bit to do at this level and probably trainer's third string.

Form: 6105-22

(4)

Renneti⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-8| J: Declan McDonogh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 109| D

20/1

Grade Two winning hurdler who also won a Naas Group Three last season on soft ground over 2m. Best effort this season when second in 2m5½f marathon at Royal Ascot. Has the ability for this level but the trip likely to prove a little too sharp.

Form: 14-7529

(2)

Thomas Hobson⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: Colin Keane| T: W P Mullins| OR: 109| BF

5/1

Bolted up over 2m4f at Royal Ascot before narrowly failing to double up in the Queen Alexandra over 2m5½f, Sixth in this year's renewal saw him behind stablemate Renneti but over this trip he could reverse although he does prefer 2m plus.

Form: 12726-6

(7)

Twilight Payment^p²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 107| C| D

11/2

Off the mark for the season latest when defeating Laws Of Spin by 3½L at Down Royal over this trip. Well behind Flag Of Honour and Giuseppe Garibaldi the time before over this C&D and despite a weight-pull reversal seems unlikely.

Form: 236-231

(8)

Flag Of Honour⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 109| CD

9/4

Stamina has always looked his strong suit and proved that when stepped up to this trip last month where he won the Group Two Curragh Cup over C&D beating Giuseppe Garibaldi and Twilight Payment. Harder here with penalty but still the one to beat.

Form: 51-3501

(3)

Giuseppe Garibaldi^b1,t⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: M C Hussey| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 108

7/1

Listed winner ran probably his best race to date when second to stablemate Flag Of Honour over C&D in the Curragh Cup. Disappointing at Goodwood latest so the blinkers are now added in an effort to revive him.

Form: 311323

(1)

Southern France^t⁶⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 107

11/4

Just had the four races so far showing improvement in each. Last seen finishing second to classy stablemate Kew Gardens in Group Two Queen's Vase over 1m6f at Royal Ascot. That form puts him in the thick of things and respected with more to come.

Form: 2112

Non-Runners

(6)

Family Tree⁴⁷

Weight: 8-12| Age: 3

T: A P O'Brien J: M C Hussey

Forecasts

Flag Of Honour (9/4), Southern France (11/4), Thomas Hobson (5/1), Twilight Payment (11/2), Giuseppe Garibaldi (7/1), Laws Of Spin (12/1), Family Tree (14/1), Renneti (20/1)

Aidan O'Brien and Willie Mullins dominate this field but over this trip the former looks to have the considerably stronger hand. Flag Of Honour probably sets the standard based on his C&D win last time out but he is opposable with a 5lb penalty for that success so it may pay to chance the less experienced SOUTHERN FRANCE who won a 1m5f Navan Listed race before finishing second in the Group Two Queen's Vase. O'Brien can make it a 1-2-3 with Giuseppe Garibaldi also a contender if the first-time blinkers bring about improvement.