18:10 Leopardstown

Thursday 13 June 2019

All17:3518:1018:4019:1019:4020:1020:40

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden

Off time: 18:11 | Winning time: 1m 32.52s

(1)

Affected^t1

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

11/1

Lope De Vega filly who is a half-sister to a Listed winner. No surprise to see her make her presence felt on debut in a race where most are exposed. Market check advised.

Form:

(9)

Annie Pender²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: W J Lee| T: W McCreery

16/1

Ran to a similar level than she did on debut when seventh at Naas (1m; good to firm) last time out. This is a slightly easier assignment than the two she has been tasked with so far but she does have questions to answer.

Form: 57

(8)

Kalanoura^h1,t²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 81

3/1

Hasn't progressed since making an encouraging effort over this trip on debut last season. Produced two disappointing runs over 1m since then (both of which have came this year). Place claims back over this trip.

Form: 2-56

(5)

Lon Dubh¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: L F Roche| T: D W O'Sullivan

20/1

Produced a low-key effort when eighth on debut at Gowran (1m; good to firm). Plugged on well that day but drop back to 7f poses somewhat of a question mark against her.

Form: 8

(3)

Mantequilla¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Gary Carroll| T: G P Cromwell

66/1

Drops down to 7f after making her debut over 1m at Navan (1m; good to yielding) 12 days ago. Sent off at 50-1 and ran accordingly. Of much more interest when moving into handicaps.

Form: 0

(7)

Mater Matuta^p1¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 74

7/1

Shaped more encouragingly on seasonal debut when fourth at Gowran Park (7f; good). That was her first attempt at 7f, but not open to as much improvement as others in the line-up and doesn't hold an overly attractive profile.

Form: 270-4

(4)

Morpho Blue²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 81

13/8

Interesting that connections are persevering with this daughter of Mastercraftsman, considering that she now qualifies to run in handicaps. Ran well in maidens, and this is the easiest one she has contested to date so likely to put up a bold show

Form: 62-4

(6)

Russian Vine²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: M A Gallagher| T: R Brabazon

20/1

Finished fifth on debut at Navan (5f; good to firm), where she didn't seem to have a great deal of speed. Thus, this significant step up in trip should be more in her favour and she is a definite player.

Form: 5

(2)

Time Tunnel³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: O J Orr| T: D K Weld| BF

5/1

Made a fairly disappointing start to her racing career when failing to justify market favouritism on debut at Gowran Park (7f; yielding to soft). Should improve significantly for that experience and likely to be a different proposition now.

Form: 7

Forecasts

Morpho Blue (13/8), Kalanoura (3/1), Time Tunnel (5/1), Mater Matuta (7/1), Affected (11/1), Annie Pender (16/1), Lon Dubh (20/1), Russian Vine (20/1), Mantequilla (66/1)

A contest in which many can be ruled out with confidence, mainly due to their exposed profiles. Affected makes her debut for Joseph O'Brien and should be able to play some sort of a role, especially as she is fairly well related. Meanwhile, Russian Vine should fare a lot better than she did first time out (when not disgraced) as she steps up to 7f from 5f. However, it would be a major disappointment if TIME TUNNEL couldn't get off the mark at the second attempt. This Invincible Spirit filly is an extremely well-bred type, and it is best to put her modest debut effort down to inexperience. She should be a vastly different proposition now and can take this with ease.