Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes (Group 1)

2YO only | Class 1 | 1m | 6 Runners | Turf

(4)

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 104| BF

Just a maiden win to his name so far but heading back in the right direction when runner-up in a Group 3 last time out at Leopardstown. Step up in trip certain to suit as will the forecast ground.

Form: 17532

(5)

Innisfree²⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 107| D

Two wins from three starts and bids for a hat-trick after a Group 2 success at the Curragh last time out. Ought to be even better over longer trips than this but proven in conditions and not one to rule out.

Form: 211

(1)

Kameko²⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 108| BF

Maiden winner at Sandown on debut and runner-up in a pair of Group races subsequently, 1½L in front of Iberia last time in the Royal Lodge. Interesting contender if he handles these conditions (all runs on good or quicker ground).

Form: 122

(2)

Louisiana¹⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: P B Beggy| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 104| BF| D

Showed plenty of promise in a trio of maiden efforts and didn't need to improve to win on handicap debut last time out when recording a wide margin success. This is plenty tougher but proven in conditions.

Form: 3221

(3)

Mogul⁴²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 108| D

Improved from debut to win a Curragh maiden in good style and impressive at Leopardstown in the Group 2 Champions Juvenile Stakes last time. Brings the strongest form into this, though needs to prove he's effective on soft ground.

Form: 211

(6)

Royal County Down^p⁴²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: B A Curtis| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 92| BF

Early promise and progression has leveled out in a couple of below-par efforts and well beaten in behind Mogul in the Group 2 Champions Juvenile Stakes last time out. Hard to envisage him turning that form around and more exposed than most.

Form: 421156

Forecasts

Mogul (8/15), Innisfree (4/1), Kameko (5/1), Louisiana (20/1), Iberia (25/1), Royal County Down (50/1)

Aidan O'Brien bids for his third consecutive renewal of this race and he has solid claims of adding to his tally, saddling five of the six declared here. MOGUL is the obvious candidate after an impressive Group 2 success last time out and he's first string on jockey bookings with Donnacha O'Brien in the saddle. Louisiana relishes testing conditions and he's not one to dismiss, despite the sizable step up from handicap company. Qatar Racing owned Kameko rates as the main danger to the selection having put up a huge effort in the Royal Lodge last time out.