17:40 Curragh

Friday 23 August 2019

All17:1017:4018:1018:4019:1019:4020:10

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden (Plus 10)

Off time: 17:43 | Winning time: 1m 43.12s

(16)

Agitare¹⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger

7/1

Teofilo colt, related to multiple winners, denied only on the winning post in debut at Leopardstown (1m, good; 16-1) this month and holds strong claims with progress expected.

Form: 2

(10)

Amhran Na Bhfiann

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien

12/1

Galileo newcomer for Ballydoyle, holds a host of big-race entries in Ireland and Britain over the final months of the season. Needs close attention.

Form:

(3)

Bo's Beech⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Luke McAteer⁽⁷⁾| T: J M Barrett

100/1

Beaten out the gate having gone off big prices in 7f maidens at this course twice already this month. Hard to envisage the extra furlong altering things dramatically.

Form: 00

(14)

Cabot Hills²⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien

3/1

Bred in the purple being by Gleneagles out of Irish Oaks winner Peeping Fawn. No match for front-running winner Free Sole at Leopardstown (1m, good to firm; 13-2) on debut last month but held on for second. More to come.

Form: 2

(9)

Dark Pine²⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Chris Hayes| T: D K Weld

25/1

Son of Dandy Man didn't show enough in last month's debut at Leopardstown to merit support in this line-up. Should continue to learn for his outings.

Form: 7

(8)

Degraves¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien

3/1

Son of Camelot who cost 92,000 gns as a yearling and is nicely-bred. Fair start when fourth in 7f course maiden (good to soft; 16-1) already this month and entitled to build on that.

Form: 4

(13)

Dragon Man

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Robbie Colgan| T: M C Grassick

100/1

Dragon Pulse gelding, trainer enjoyed maiden two-year-old winner this season (1-49 overall) but a shock should he land this prize first time out.

Form:

(2)

First Thing

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Colin Keane| T: N Meade

8/1

Dawn Approach gelding. Yard's juveniles not flying, with just 1-17 record in 2019, though the booking of Colin Keane on debut ensures he is at least worth a cursory betting check.

Form:

(1)

Gold Maze

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington

6/1

Interesting to see what the market makes of this colt by Derby-winner Golden Horn, with trainer Jessica Harrington boasting an enviable 22 per-cent strike-rate with two-year-old's this year (20-87).

Form:

(6)

Kokura⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: N G McCullagh| T: J P Murtagh

66/1

Colt by Fountain Of Youth out of a Dr Fong mare, unfancied 33-1 shot and was tailed off in 7f soft-ground maiden on debut here last week. Watching brief for now.

Form: 0

(7)

Majeski Man¹⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Rory Cleary| T: Mrs D Foster

50/1

Son of Dandy Man with plenty going for him on paper. Outran his odds (50-1) on debut at Galway this month when sixth of 14, may settle for similar aspirations in this line-up.

Form: 6

(5)

Odd Venture⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Gary Carroll| T: P Tallis

100/1

Inexpensive son of Epaulette, gelding prior to finishing down the field in a 1m Gowran Park maiden recently. Unlikely to be troubling the judge this evening.

Form: 9

(15)

Persia

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien

12/1

Second newcomer for Aidan O'Brien amongst a trio he runs, this nicely-bred son of Galileo is clutching a fistful of big-race entries over the next six weeks and must be respected.

Form:

(11)

Silvertown

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Billy Lee| T: A Oliver

33/1

Make Believe colt represents a yard that is 0-32 with two-year-old's in the previous 12 months. Best watched on debut, though booking of Billy Lee is a positive.

Form:

(12)

Sinawann¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford

9/1

Son of stallion sensation Kingman with some nice winners on his page. Beaten 4L into fourth of 19 in 7f maiden (good to soft; 16-1) here on debut. Will have to build on that now.

Form: 5

(4)

Sondheim⁶⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: O J Orr| T: W T Farrell

40/1

Born To Sea colt, well held on debut at Leopardstown (7f, good; 25-1) in June and lacks the scope of some of these. Can be watched after a short break.

Form: 5

Forecasts

Degraves (3/1), Cabot Hills (3/1), Gold Maze (6/1), Agitare (7/1), First Thing (8/1), Sinawann (9/1), Persia (12/1), Amhran Na Bhfiann (12/1), Dark Pine (25/1), Silvertown (33/1), Sondheim (40/1), Majeski Man (50/1), Kokura (66/1), Bo's Beech (100/1), Dragon Man (100/1), Odd Venture (100/1)

Aidan O'Brien scooped this race last year and he's got plenty hopes of doing so again with CABOT HILLS, second on debut and a very likely improver with Ryan Moore on top here. Stablemates Amhran Na Bhfiann and Persia are also noted newcomers alongside Gold Maze for a stable with excellent form in this sphere all season. Agitare was just thwarted late on in his debut at Leopardstown and is well worth considering while Degraves should build on a debut fourth here a fortnight ago.