15:40 Curragh

Sunday 26 August 2018

All13:3514:0514:3515:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Manguard Plus Royal Whip Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 2m 9.63s

(6)

Brendan Brackan²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-6| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 103| C

33/1

Smart performer who won three times last year, but not at his best for a while, and soundly beaten in an extended 1m handicap at Galway on latest outing.

Form: 461-370

(1)

Deauville^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 110| D

11/4

Not really built on a promising return when runner-up in Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket, but still running to a solid level, and not disgraced in the Arlington Million last time. This is easier, and he should go close.

Form: 0-25026

(4)

Reckless Gold⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 102| C

16/1

Produced a career-best effort when third of 6 to Yucatan in International Stakes over C&D last month, but that form isn't rock solid, and he will need to better it to score here.

Form: 6358-43

(8)

Success Days^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: W J Lee| T: K J Condon| OR: 111| CD

11/4

Useful when he gets his own way on the front end and has won four Group races in his time; best at this trip with plenty of cut, and stiff task when behind Alpha Centauri at Deauville last time.

Form: 00-0259

(3)

Beautiful Morning¹¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 106| D

5/1

Generally kept in races restricted to her own sex, and made the journey over to Yarmouth to plunder listed John Musker Stakes in September. Only fifth to Cliffs of Moher in Group 2 at Naas in May, and more needed to get competitive here.

Form: 4521-35

(5)

Verbal Dexterity^t1³⁰²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 117| C

5/2

Impressive winner of Group 1 National Stakes here in September, and not at best when only fourth to Saxon Warrior in Racing Post Trophy. Not seen since, but big chance if ready with a first-time tongue tie applied.

Form: 1214-

(2)

Broadway^t¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 99

20/1

Useful performer at her best, but fully exposed now, and not been at her peak on recent starts. Stiff task on balance.

Form: 100377

Non-Runners

(7)

Ming¹⁵

Weight: 8-13| Age: 3

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

Forecasts

Verbal Dexterity (5/2), Deauville (11/4), Success Days (11/4), Ming (4/1), Beautiful Morning (5/1), Reckless Gold (16/1), Broadway (20/1), Brendan Brackan (33/1)

It has to be taken on trust that VERBAL DEXTERITY retains all the ability he showed last year, and he's clearly had his issues, but if he has trained on that he will take plenty of catching, and it's worth remembering how strong he was at the finish of the National Stakes here. If he fails to fire, then perhaps Success Days can bounce back after facing a stiff task in France. Deauville is also in the mix on his return from foreign jaunts.