15:35 Navan

Saturday 18 May 2019

All13:2513:5514:3015:0515:3516:0516:4017:15

Ladies Day At Navan 1st June Handicap

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 1m 1.22s

(6)

Empire State³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 84| D

11/8

By Scat Daddy out of a Not For Love mare. Cost $275,000 yearling. Made it seventh time lucky when justifying odds-on favouritism for AW maiden at Dundalk over 5f last month; more needed back handicapping on turf and may have something to offer.

Form: 7223-41

(4)

Dragons Call⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: S M Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: J Feane| OR: 83| CD

11/2

Made winning start in handicaps over C&D in September off a mark of 78 on good ground. Held since in two runs over 6f at Naas either side of winter break. Can be competitive back here over minimum trip.

Form: 52414-9

(5)

Offline⁶⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Ben Coen⁽⁵⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 81| D

16/1

AW winner over 5f at Dundalk on debut last year, though didn't progress afterwards in four turf runs, including try over this C&D. Ran down the field on seasonal bow at Dundalk, would need to see some progress before weighing in with him.

Form: 13356-8

(2)

My Laureate³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 77

4/1

Filly hasn't built on promising debut over 6f in Fairyhouse maiden last summer. Ran sound race on reappearance at Naas (6f, good to yielding; 10-1) when fourth of 20 but will surely require a good deal more to get head in front (beaten over 7L).

Form: 2050-4

(9)

Sundance Star³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Shane Foley| T: K J Condon| OR: 76| D

4/1

Promising filly, looks good in sprints having thrice finished second in turf maidens last year. Off the mark on reappearance at Dundalk on handicap bow and should be further progress to come on turf. Respected.

Form: 4222-1

(1)

Compton's Finale^b,t¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: D N Curran⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A Keatley| OR: 67

16/1

13-race maiden has twice flopped on turf this season, including over C&D (good) in March on reappearance. Did post a better effort on the AW in between times, but easily enough opposed after latest Curragh showing.

Form: 733040

(7)

Emily Grace^b³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Rory Cleary| T: M C Grassick| OR: 61| D

20/1

Broke maiden tag on final outing of 2018 at Dundalk over this trip, though well held back there on reappearance last month. May come on for that outing but hasn't figured on previous two runs over C&D.

Form: 72581-7

(3)

Jarrocho^h1³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁵⁾| T: D Marnane| OR: 60

16/1

Often travels well but remains a maiden after eight attempts (five on turf). Connections have so far tried a variety of trips ranging from 5f-1m. Well beaten at Dundalk (5f, AW) on reappearance.

Form: 73704-8

Non-Runners

(8)

Aloysius Lilius²¹

Weight: 8-11| Age: 3

T: G O'Leary J: Killian Leonard

Forecasts

Empire State (11/8), Aloysius Lilius (7/2), My Laureate (4/1), Sundance Star (4/1), Dragons Call (11/2), Jarrocho (16/1), Compton's Finale (16/1), Offline (16/1), Emily Grace (20/1)

It's hard to fully quantity EMPIRE STATE's Dundalk maiden win but he took the drop to 5f in his stride and improved to open his account. He's no star by his trainer's high standards but, being by Scat Daddy, he's entitled to have a flair for a speed test and might have more to give now back on turf and sent handicapping. Dragons Call should be able to give him a race, while another Dundalk scorer, Sundance Star, is also in the picture along with UK import Aloysius Lilius, who went close at Ripon recently.