15:40 Naas

Sunday 24 March 2019

All13:3014:0014:3515:0515:4016:1016:4517:20

Lodge Park Stud Irish EBF Park Express Stakes (Fillies & Mares Group 3)

Off time: 15:42 | Winning time: 1m 49.31s

(1)

Yulong Gold Fairy¹⁶⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Shane Foley| T: D K Weld| OR: 105| C

6/4

Only 4¾L adrift of Alpha Centauri in the Irish 1,000 guineas in May before landing a Listed contest at the Galway festival and a win in the Concorde Stakes in October. Yard landed this race with Making Light last year and Vote Often in 2014.

Form: 255141-

(4)

Drombeg Dream¹⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Colin Keane| T: A Leahy| OR: 99| D

11/1

Progressive sort last term landing a couple of minor contests at Gowran Park and Limerick when last seen in October. More improvement required and needs a couple of the main protagonists to falter.

Form: 106911-

(3)

Ellthea¹²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Billy Lee| T: J A Stack| OR: 98| C

13/2

Failed to hit the heights in three starts last season although set stern tests in first two contests. Trainers father Tommy landed the race in two consecutive years with Pollen in 2010 and Lolly For Dolly 12 months later.

Form: 759663-

(5)

Hand On Heart¹⁵⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Wayne Lordan| T: J A Stack| OR: 87| D

20/1

Won her first two starts and can be forgiven a poor run at Listowel when missing the break. Yard keen to land the race once again following wins of Lolly For Dolly and Pollen for father Tommy in 2010 and 2011.

Form: 1107-

(6)

Iiex Excelsa^p¹⁵⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Chris Hayes| T: J A Stack| OR: 90

20/1

Last of 14 beaten 24L in a Listed contest here when last seen in October. Pollen in 2010 and the popular Lolly For Dolly, a year later landed the spoils for the yards retired licence holder Tommy Stack.

Form: 623140-

(9)

Normandel¹⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 99

14/1

Poor form in just a couple of appearances last term. Yard have a long history in the race sending out Alexander Goldrun to win in 2004, Oh Goodness Me in 2009 and Rehns Nest six years ago. Worth a market check.

Form: 8635/U4-

(8)

Rionach^h¹⁸⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Leigh Roche| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 95| D

12/1

Sea The Stars filly, cost 125,000 gns as a yearling. Half-sister to Crowning Glory and dam a half-sister to Crowded House. Won on her first two starts last season but faded as the year went on. Looks a tall order on form shown.

Form: 211329-

(2)

Delphinia¹⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 91| D

2/1

Galileo filly out of Irish 1000 Guineas winner Again. Off the mark at the third time of asking in a Galway maiden on soft ground in October. Yard have a poor record in this contest. Somehow, 2017, Fluff, 2016 and Easter in 2015 all beaten. Caution.

Form: 071-

(7)

Fresnel³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Gary Halpin| T: J Davison| D

20/1

Daughter of Sea The Stars out of a Duke Of Marmalade mare. Won a 1m maiden on the AW at Dundalk on sole start to date last month at odds of 40/1 but this is a completely different assignment.

Form: 1

Forecasts

Yulong Gold Fairy (6/4), Delphinia (2/1), Ellthea (13/2), Drombeg Dream (11/1), Rionach (12/1), Normandel (14/1), Hand On Heart (20/1), Iiex Excelsa (20/1), Fresnel (20/1)

YULONG GOLD FAIRY can add to the wins of Making Light last year and Vote Often in 2014 of the yard, building on some solid and consistent efforts last term culminating in a win in the Group 3 Concorde stakes at Tipperary in October. In a race where the O'Brien and Bolger runners deserve special consideration, Michael O'Callahans Rionach and the Fozzy Stack pair of Liex Excelsa and Hand On Heart can go well at a price, all looking capable of hitting the frame.