15:25 Down Royal

Saturday 22 June 2019

All13:4514:1514:5015:2516:0516:4517:20

Magners Ulster Derby (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 15:26 | Winning time: 2m 54.9s

(2)

Zander^b1⁷⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 94

20/1

High hopes before the season diminished as the son of Oasis Dream failed to live up to expectations in a couple of dull efforts at Naas and when last seen at Cork in April. Running for the first time as a gelding and now fitted with blinkers.

Form: 3412-08

(9)

Hiroshima²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Gary Halpin| T: J Ryan| OR: 93

12/1

Started the season well winning a Southwell 1m4f maiden by 6L. Highly tried since, finishing well adrift of Derby winner Anthony Van Dyke on both occasions. Sights lowered in this contest.

Form: 7-180

(10)

King's Vow^b,t⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 90

13/2

Deservedly off the mark on turf on his sixth turf start at Leopardstown last month off an 11lb lower mark. Overall efforts have been positive and this Frankel colt rates a leading contender.

Form: 021-431

(6)

Dadoozdart⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: S Foley| T: N Meade| OR: 89

11/2

Left a dismal effort and a 8¾L defeat by I Am Superman in April behind him when landing the spoils of a Naas contest over 1m2f last month. Likely to go well again.

Form: 1440-01

(1)

Future Investment¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Gary Carroll| T: R M Beckett| OR: 89

7/2

Interesting British raider who comes here on a hat-trick following seasonal victories at Chelmsford and earlier this month at Ripon. Holds leading claims with more than capable jockey in the plate.

Form: 311

(5)

Millswyn⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: N G McCullagh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 87

20/1

Possibly needed the first run of the season when under pressure 2f out in a Naas 1m2f contest finishing over 10L adrift of Dadoozdart last month. Hard to fancy and plenty to prove.

Form: 9416-7

(11)

A Wave Of The Sea²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: S M Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 84| C

4/1

Arrives here on the back of two wins this season at Sligo and last month at this venue over 1m2½f. 6lb rise in the weights may not be enough to stop the Born To Sea gelding and is open to even more improvement.

Form: 311

(3)

Kashagan³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D Egan| T: A Watson| OR: 82

16/1

Improved on debut win when not beaten too far in better race at Thirsk last month. Interesting British raider with pilot who landed the Albany at Royal Ascot yesterday in the plate and is entitled make the shortlist.

Form: 15

(4)

Halimi⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Rory Cleary| T: J S Bolger| OR: 78

7/1

Improving with each start. Recent promising efforts have caught the eye and the Teofilo colt is likely to be in the mix here.

Form: 4522

(7)

Metier¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: A J Slattery⁽⁵⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 75

11/1

Has finished fourth of each of his three starts to date including a promising run at Roscommon earlier this month when 1L adrift of the winner, De Name Escapes Me. Not ruled out but more progression is required.

Form: 4-44

(8)

Fujimoto Flyer³²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Chris Hayes| T: E Mullins| OR: 73

12/1

Five-race maiden shaped well to finish second of 13 beaten 4¼L in a Sligo 1m2½f handicap last month. Looks a tall order off bottom weight but not easily dismissed.

Form: 029-82

Forecasts

Future Investment (7/2), A Wave Of The Sea (4/1), Dadoozdart (11/2), King's Vow (13/2), Halimi (7/1), Metier (11/1), Fujimoto Flyer (12/1), Hiroshima (12/1), Kashagan (16/1), Millswyn (20/1), Zander (20/1)

A chance is taken with the Ger Lyons-trained ZANDER who runs for the first time since a gelding operation. Highly thought of by connections last term, things haven't gone to plan this season, but the he can bounce back to form in first time blinkers, holding off the potential challengers in the shape of Kings Vow, A Wave Of The Sea and the Ralph Beckett-trained, Future Investment.