16:35 Sligo

Wednesday 7 August 2019

All14:0514:3515:0515:3516:0516:3517:0517:35

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Connacht Oaks Fillies Handicap

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 2m 52.74s

(4)

Echo Park²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 87| BF| CD

4/1

Won this race last year, and has been running respectably more recently. Beaten favourite when only sixth at Killarney last time, but capable of taking a hand if bouncing back from that disappointment.

Form: 1-64076

(7)

Latoyah Of North^t⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Gary Carroll| T: M Mulvany| OR: 85

2/1

Been running well all year, and produced a lifetime best when 1¼L third of 12 to Mr Adjudicator in a valuable handicap at Galway last week. Sure to be in the thick of things as long as this doesn't come too soon.

Form: 551273

(1)

Operatic Export^p⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 83

14/1

Won her maiden at Leopardstown a year ago in good style but well beaten in four starts this time around including in Listed class last time. Still looks too high in the handicap.

Form: 1-0857

(2)

Cj Cregg^h,t⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Colin Keane| T: J C McConnell| OR: 72| D

13/2

Well behind Latoyah of North in the Ulster Oaks last time, but had been in good form prior to that, winning at Roscommon and Limerick in June. May be able to bounce back given a break, and latest win has worked out pretty well.

Form: 336117

(3)

Hayyel¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: J A Heffernan| T: R Brabazon| OR: 71| C

12/1

Best effort when winning an extended 1¼m maiden here in June, and easy enough to forgive latest effort in the Ladies' Derby at the Curragh. Needs to improve on balance of form, but is unexposed, and can't be ruled out.

Form: 06317

(6)

Trevena⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: J M Sheridan⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 71| D

14/1

Beaten narrowly at Dundalk in February, but not so good on turf, and well held at big priced on last two starts on this surface, albeit shaping a bit better at Galway last time.

Form: 1-29698

(5)

Kastasa⁸⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: A J Slattery⁽⁵⁾| T: D K Weld| OR: 79

11/4

Shaped well on debut in a Thurles maiden and duly scored with a strong late finish at Clonmel on her reappearance. Better form when third on handicap bow at Leopardstown in May, and will take the beating with further progress anticipated now.

Form: 4-13

Forecasts

Latoyah Of North (2/1), Kastasa (11/4), Echo Park (4/1), Cj Cregg (13/2), Hayyel (12/1), Trevena (14/1), Operatic Export (14/1)

KASTASA is open to plenty of improvement after just one start in handicaps, when third to Ulster Derby runner-up King's Vow, and a well-run race at this trip should prove ideal, so she is given the nod ahead of Latoyah of North, who ran a stormer at Galway. CJ Cregg was behind that rival at Down Royal, but was in good form prior to that, and may have benefited from a short break.