17:25 Leopardstown

Saturday 15 September 2018

All15:2015:5016:2516:5517:2518:0018:3519:10

Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares)

Off time: 17:28 | Winning time: 1m 39.23s

(4)

Alpha Centauri³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 124| D

3/10

Very impressive winner of the Irish 1,000 Guineas and blew her rivals away when winning the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. Arrives bidding for a fifth Group 1 success after two subsequent wins, latterly in France and she will be hard to beat.

Form: 5-01111

(7)

Clemmie^t⁶⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 110

20/1

Impressive winner of the Cheveley Park last season but she's finished behind Alpha Centauri in each of her three runs this season. While the yard's horses have turned the corner in recent weeks, it's hard to envisage her turning the form around.

Form: 111-953

(1)

Dan's Dream¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M R Channon| OR: 107

50/1

Newbury Group 3 winner earlier this year but struggled a little in deeper company until a solid effort when dropped back to Group 3 class at Tipperary last time. Plenty more needed here and would have liked some rain to arrive.

Form: 110062

(3)

Happily^b1,t⁷⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 110| BF| C| D

12/1

Prolific at two and won a pair of Group 1s but she's not quite been in the same form this season. Beaten favourite in a trio of Group 1s before finishing down the field in the Eclipse but given a break and may bounce back. Wears first-time blinkers.

Form: 10-3345

(5)

Laurens²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D Tudhope| T: K R Burke| OR: 111| D

10/1

Very smart filly and the winner of three Group 1 races, most recently at Chantilly in June. Had excuses last time out at York and while she probably would have liked some rain to arrive, she will be a tough filly to pass.

Form: 11-2116

(2)

Lightening Quick¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 102| C

66/1

Winner of a Group 3 earlier in the campaign but has struggled in three outings since and given little impression she's up to mixing it at this level.

Form: 18-1640

(6)

Magical⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 111| D

9/1

Won a Group 2 and placed at Group 1 level as a juvenile. Returned to form with a Group 2 success at the Curragh last time, winning with a fair amount in hand and certainly worth another crack at this level given the yard arrive in better form now.

Form: 1244-41

Forecasts

Alpha Centauri (3/10), Magical (9/1), Laurens (10/1), Happily (12/1), Clemmie (20/1), Dan's Dream (50/1), Lightening Quick (66/1)

There seems little point in opposing the very talented filly ALPHA CENTAURI in her bid for a fifth Group 1. Jessica Harrington's stable-star has rock solid form in the book and has won with different tactics in a whole range of different conditions. We may not have seen the best of Magical and Happily and they are both dangers for Aidan O'Brien but Laurens could be the main danger, particularly if she can get an uncontested lead.