19:15 Navan

Friday 3 July 2020

All16:4017:1017:4018:1018:4519:1519:4520:15

Royal County Handicap (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 19:15 | Winning time: 2m 10.6s

(7)

Protagonist⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 92| D

15/8

Rejuvenated gelding comes here looking to land a hat-trick of comfortable victories at Gowran Park and Fairyhouse last month. Carries 16lb more than first win but can be expected to produce another bold bid.

Form: 0344-11

(4)

Baby Zeus³¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 90

15/2

Won his maiden at Killarney on debut and had excuses when runner-up over the same C&D last time. Leading player sent straight into handicap action at this time.

Form: 12-

(1)

Delphi^b⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 88

3/1

Colt by Galileo. Off the mark on his second career start landing a 1m maiden at the Curragh last month on seasonal reappearance. Open to significant improvement.

Form: 7-1

(9)

Sacramento^t¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: S M Crosse⁽³⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 87

15/2

Four-race maiden, not without ability in three juvenile starts in his first season before a promising seasonal debut in a Leopardstown 1m2f handicap last month. 5lb higher mark for third place finish won't help his cause.

Form: 452-3

(5)

In From The Cold¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Chris Hayes| T: M Mulvany| OR: 86

25/1

Experienced 16-race gelding, triple winner at up to 7f, on good or slower ground. Running well in defeat in a couple of starts this time round, both at Gowran Park, and cannot be discounted.

Form: 421-164

(8)

Sonnyboyliston¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Ben Coen⁽³⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 84

7/2

Off the mark at the fourth time of asking last month when landing a Gowran Park 1m contest on yielding ground on handicap debut off a 16lb lower mark. Yard going well.

Form: 600-1

(6)

Azila^v¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: O J Orr| T: D K Weld| OR: 83

50/1

Six-race maiden. Will need to improve on dismal seasonal debut effort at Gowran Park last month finishing nearer last than first on good ground over 1m. Step up in trip may suit.

Form: 55523-8

(2)

Crassus¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: G M Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 79

20/1

Five-race maiden produced a career best effort on return to action in a Roscommon maiden on good to firm ground over a similar trip last month. Appears to need more but may have been given a handy opening handicap mark.

Form: 7430-3

(3)

Simply True²⁵⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Ronan Whelan| T: A Oliver| OR: 77| BF

50/1

Best effort when landing a 7f nursery at Gowran on his penultimate start, and gelded after finishing a respectable seventh here on his final start. More to do from mark 7lb higher than his sole win.

Form: 510217-

Non-Runners

(11)

Psyche¹⁶

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: Mrs J Harrington J: T P Madden

(10)

Thames River¹⁶

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: J P O'Brien J: Declan McDonogh

Forecasts

Protagonist (15/8), Delphi (3/1), Sonnyboyliston (7/2), Sacramento (15/2), Baby Zeus (15/2), Thames River (8/1), Crassus (20/1), Psyche (20/1), In From The Cold (25/1), Simply True (50/1), Azila (50/1)

With 11 going to post it is hard to see past the chances of PROTAGONIST as he bids to land the hat-trick. The Jessica Harrington-trained, Wooton Bassett gelding has been rejuvenated since a move from the yard of Jamie Osbourne, winning at Gowran Park and Fairyhouse last month. The 16lb rise since his first win may not be enough to stop his progression despite the likes of Sonnyboyliston, winner at Gowran Park last month, the Aidan O'Brien-trained Delphi and Baby Zeus for trainer Ger Lyons all providing stiff opposition.