15:20 Cork

Sunday 1 September 2019

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5017:2017:50

Matchbook Straight Seven Irish EBF Premier Nursery Handicap (Plus 10)

Off time: 15:21 | Winning time: 1m 24.82s

(3)

Royal County Down^b1²⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 89| D

9/4

Colt by Gleneagles got off the mark at the third time of asking when landing a Down Royal maiden over 7f and followed up with a career best on handicap debut at Galway. Still entered in a host of Group races before end of season.

Form: 4211

(7)

Silence Please³⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 89| D

5/2

Gleneagles filly bought for 27,000 gns as a yearling. Half-sister to a number of winners including the high class Gallante. Ran on well on debut at Gowran Park last month to beat 10 rivals, 1½L. Can go well once again.

Form: 1

(4)

Marchons Ensemble^b1⁴⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 84| BF

7/2

Pour Moi colt. Winner at Bellewstown over 7½f before running well in defeat in a Killarney median auction contest when last seen in July. More needed but not ruled out in first-time blinkers.

Form: 213

(1)

Windham Belle⁶⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 8-13| J: W J Lee| T: W McCreery| OR: 81

20/1

Winner on the AW at Dundalk in May, the daughter of Anjaal needs to step up on a below-par effort at the Curragh over 6f when last seen in June. Looks a tall order on form shown.

Form: 0139

(5)

Mythologic²⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 8-9| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 77

7/2

Four-race maiden, improved effort at the Galway festival when settling better early in the race before finishing a neck behind Royal County Down last month. Open to more improvement.

Form: 3282

(6)

Dolce Sicily²⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 8-7| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 75

33/1

Winner of a Fairyhouse maiden in June before a desperate handicap debut at Sligo last month, the filly finishing last of 13 beaten 21L over the 5½f trip. Likely to find it tough going here.

Form: 8010

(2)

Ampeson⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 8-5| J: Chris Hayes| T: R O'Brien| OR: 73

33/1

Five-race maiden, well held on all starts to date including a 12L defeat at Bellewstown on Wednesday. Has plenty to prove at present and others look more convincing at this level.

Form: 03759

Forecasts

Royal County Down (9/4), Silence Please (5/2), Mythologic (7/2), Marchons Ensemble (7/2), Windham Belle (20/1), Ampeson (33/1), Dolce Sicily (33/1)

The Ballydoyle representative ROYAL COUNTY DOWN holds all the aces here following a couple of battling wins at Down Royal and at the Galway festival last month. The already, tough and genuine Gleneagles colt sports first-time blinkers which can only assist in seeing off the likes of the Jessica Harrington-trained, Silence Please, winner on debut at Gowran Park in July and Marchons Ensemble, Pour Moi colt holding his form well in July. The Joseph O'Brien-trained, Mythologic appears a potential improver and can give a decent account of himself.