13:30 Leopardstown

Thursday 23 July 2020

All13:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:30

Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C & G) Maiden (Plus 10)

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 1m 47.32s

(8)

Benaud^t1

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: S M Crosse⁽³⁾| T: J P O'Brien

22/1

€37,000 yearling; half-brother to winners Seolan (7f/1m 2yo inc Listed), Sancerre (5f 2yo) and Cima Devil (Italy 1m1f); dam 5f-6f winner in Italy (inc at 2YO). Newcomer for Joseph O'Brien; sports tongue-tie.

Form:

(6)

Fernando Vichi¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: G M Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: Donnacha O'Brien

8/15

€40,000 yearling; dam 1m2f winner; sister to three winners over middle distances; half-sister to two other winners, including German Group 1 winner. 16-1 but 3¾L clear of Brazil when second on debut at Navan, just failing to get up. Leading player.

Form: 2

(7)

Fight Zone¹³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| BF

4/1

Bred to be speedy. By War Front out of US bred unraced mare. Brother to smart 5f winner King Neptune; fifth in really strong Curragh maiden (6f, yielding; 13/8f) on debut this month; should be competitive upped in trip.

Form: 5

(1)

Sir William Bruce

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

12/1

Brother to winners Circling (US 1m½f stakes/Ire 1m2f) and Easter Lily (7f 2yo/1m2f Listed); dam 6f 2yo Listed winner, half-sister to US 1m1f stakes winner Cherokee Reef. Newcomer for yard that also runs Brazil.

Form:

(2)

Sword Zorro¹⁸

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

11/2

Colt by Zoffany, cost €165,000 as a yearling. Closely related to winner over 1m4½f, Venture Storm. Not beaten fair when third of four on debut at Fairyhouse (7f, good to yielding; 10-1) on debut this month. Up in trip in tougher race on paper.

Form: 3

(3)

Tabarly²⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: L F Roche| T: A McGuinness

125/1

Gelding by French Navy; well held in maidens at Tipperary (5f) and Limerick (6½f) last month and unlikely to be the answer here upped in distance.

Form: 78

Non-Runners

(5)

Brazil¹⁴

Weight: 9-5| Age: 2

T: A P O'Brien J: Wayne Lordan

(4)

Vocito

Weight: 9-5| Age: 2

T: J S Bolger J: K J Manning

Forecasts

Fernando Vichi (8/15), Brazil (15/8), Fight Zone (4/1), Sword Zorro (11/2), Vocito (10/1), Sir William Bruce (12/1), Benaud (22/1), Tabarly (125/1)

Brazil (fourth) was much shorter in the betting but FERNANDO VICHI (second) had nearly 4L in hand at the line when they clashed on their respective debuts at Navan a fortnight ago. Both can improve for the outing but no surprise should Donnacha O'Brien's charge again hold sway over the Ballydoyle inmate. Newcomer Sir William Bruce should have something to offer while better is expected of Sword Zorro after his debut third (of four) at Fairyhouse.