19:25 Leopardstown

Thursday 8 August 2019

All17:1517:5018:2018:5519:2519:5520:25

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden

Off time: 19:26 | Winning time: 2m 46.93s

(6)

Hannon^t³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: Ross Coakley| T: J C McConnell| BF

4/1

Carries joint top-weight but displayed a good level of ability over hurdles through the winter. Made a highly promising debut under this code when third at Bellewstown (1m6f; good) recently and arrives now with solid credentials.

Form: 3

(7)

World Premier¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: N P Madden| T: N Madden

25/1

Has made an okay start to life for new yard since making debut under this code two starts ago. Never looked a realistic danger in maidens, and seems more of a type to go for a valuable handicap with.

Form: 63

(8)

Be Fair²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Robbie Colgan| T: J J Murphy

50/1

Could only manage midfield on debut when eighth at Killarney (1m; good). Now stepped up in trip but can only be watched for the time being.

Form: 8

(3)

Futurum Regem⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: H P Finegan

66/1

Difficult to recommend after he ran in accordance with odds of 50-1 on debut at Galway (7f; good) last week when 11th of 15. Steps up markedly in trip, but has too much to prove.

Form: 0

(2)

Mutadarrib⁵⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Chris Hayes| T: K Prendergast

14/1

Step up in trip from 1m to 1m3f allowed him to show a fair bit more than he did on debut when last seen. Could take another step forward now, but has a little bit to find on form and looks one for handicaps.

Form: 05

(5)

Zarafshan¹⁰⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: O J Orr| T: D K Weld| OR: 77

11/4

Obviously suffered a small injury since latest run, given he hasn't been seen for 105 days. Finished runner-up to none other than the talented Sir Dragonet when last seen. Connections obviously seem to think he can win a maiden.

Form: 6-82

(1)

Azophi³⁷⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: C O'Donoghue| T: J M Oxx

20/1

Looked in need of the step up in trip on debut over 1m at this track. Should be given another chance for powerful connections, as she is likely to improve a fair bit on this first start over 1m4f. Watch the betting.

Form: 7-

(9)

Geolai

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

10/1

New Approach filly. Made €200,000 as a yearling. Full-sister to Listed winner Glamorous Approach. Should have no problems with the trip on debut (related to stayers) and she is an interesting contender.

Form:

(4)

Quote^t¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 78

11/10

Step up in trip almost worked the oracle last time when she was beaten just a neck at the Curragh (1m4f; good to firm). Form of that contest has since been franked by the winner, and so she is a major player.

Form: 9-4762

Forecasts

Quote (11/10), Zarafshan (11/4), Hannon (4/1), Geolai (10/1), Mutadarrib (14/1), Azophi (20/1), World Premier (25/1), Be Fair (50/1), Futurum Regem (66/1)

This is quite a difficult puzzle to solve. Talented dual-purpose performer Hannon made an encouraging start to life on the level when finishing a close third at Bellewstown. There should be more to come from him as he drops back in trip to 1m4f.Quote is greatly respected after she found a good chunk of improvement when stepped up to 1m4f to go agonisingly close at the Curragh last month. However, we'll stick with ZARAFSHAN who took a sizeable step forward on what he had shown in previous outings when a three-length second to Sir Dragonet when last seen in April. Provided he is ready to roll on return from an absence he could take some stopping.