Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden (Plus 10)

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 1m 57.49s

(6)

Ben Alexander⁴⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Ronan Whelan| T: H Rogers

66/1

Gelding by Toronado out of a Haafhd mare. Cost 20,000 guineas as a yearling and half-brother Baylagan third in the Listed Criterium du Bequet. Needs to improve on dour debut here at the festival.

Form: 0

(1)

Dirk Diggler²⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: N G McCullagh| T: A Mulholland

100/1

€8,000 yearling by Famous Name is half-brother to six winners. Well held and never a factor in a couple of gloomy starts to date.

Form: 00

(4)

Elite Trooper Grey²³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Shane Foley| T: W McCreery

6/1

Full-brother to useful 6f/7f winner Penny Pepper, and half-brother to several other winners. Not disgraced on debut at the Curragh last month but needs to improve here.

Form: 0

(3)

Excelcius^t1²⁷

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

5/2

Exceed and Excel colt that cost 110,000gns as a yearling. Normal yard improver who is sure to be on the premises in first-time tongue-tie.

Form: 62

(5)

Sovereign²⁴

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

8/15

Galileo half-brother to the yard's dual middle-distance winner Triplicate. In rear and never nearer in a couple of career spins to date. Expected to improve sooner rather than later.

Form: 56

Non-Runners

(2)

Tinandali¹⁷

Weight: 9-5| Age: 2

T: D K Weld J: Declan McDonogh

Forecasts

Sovereign (8/15), Tinandali (2/1), Excelcius (5/2), Elite Trooper Grey (6/1), Ben Alexander (66/1), Dirk Diggler (100/1)

TINANDALI can improve and develop from his promising sixth of 13 beaten a little over 6L on debut at the Curragh earlier this month, a race that has seen seventh place Japan win at Listowel last week. The Ger Lyons-trained Excelcius, second at Killarney last month and Aidan O'Briens Sovereign can battle it out for the minor honours.