15:45 Down Royal

Friday 24 July 2020

All13:0013:3014:0014:3515:1015:4516:20

BoyleSports Ulster Derby (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 15:46 | Winning time: 2m 51.85s

(9)

Emperor Of The Sun²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: Gavin Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: Donnacha O'Brien| OR: 95

5/1

Galileo colt. Half-brother to multiple winners. Winner on second start at the Galway festival last August in the hands of his, now, trainer. Regularly slowly away may cost him.

Form: 313-4

(1)

Sunchart²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: Ben Coen⁽³⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 95

10/1

Runner-up behind Santiago on debut and improved to win a Tipperary maiden in October. Not disgraced in tow starts since racing resumed last month in Group 3 and Group 1 company. Could be of interest on handicap debut.

Form: 21-58

(4)

Baby Zeus²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 90

9/2

Won his maiden at Killarney on debut and had excuses when runner-up over the same C&D in August. Well held on return to action on handicap debut at Navan over 1m2f earlier this month. Likely to improve on that effort.

Form: 12-4

(6)

Marchons Ensemble⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Gary Carroll| T: G M Lyons| OR: 90

11/1

Mixed messages in a number of starts as a juvenile but stepped up to the mark on his third handicap start to finish within a ½L of Moll on seasonal reappearance at Leopardstown last month.

Form: 21360-2

(8)

Red Kelly²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Shane Kelly⁽³⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 89

9/4

Off the mark at the fourth time of asking for connections, landing a Leopardstown 1m2f contest on handicap debut at the beginning of the month off a 21lb lower mark. Life more difficult from revised mark.

Form: 08-01

(10)

Aesop²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 87

13/2

Won at the fourth attempt, winning a Leopardstown 1m2f maiden on good ground earlier this month. Won a little readily that day and can give another bold account on handicap debut.

Form: 597-1

(2)

Springbank¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Gary Halpin| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 83

15/2

Produced a chunk of improvement to land the spoils in a Fairyhouse 1m2f contest on second handicap start earlier this month off a 6lb lower mark. Requires plenty of respect.

Form: 396-01

(3)

Firstman¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 79

66/1

Landed a double in France on an artificial surface in January before a victory in a 1m claimer on turf in May. Last of five on stable and Irish debut earlier this month at Roscommon on first handicap start. Appears to have a mountain to climb.

Form: 573-115

(7)

Silvertown¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Chris Hayes| T: A Oliver| OR: 79| BF

22/1

Off the mark for connections at the fourth time of asking landing a Tipperary 1m1f contest on good ground on handicap debut last month off a 9lb lower mark before disappointing at Fairyhouse earlier this month.

Form: 955-16

(5)

China's Storm⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Rory Cleary| T: A Mullins| OR: 76

66/1

Winner at Dundalk on the AW in February, the Epaulette gelding was a never nearer ninth of 14 on first start on turf at Leopardstown last month. Plenty of questions to answer.

Form: 75-219

Forecasts

Red Kelly (9/4), Baby Zeus (9/2), Emperor Of The Sun (5/1), Aesop (13/2), Springbank (15/2), Sunchart (10/1), Marchons Ensemble (11/1), Silvertown (22/1), Firstman (66/1), China's Storm (66/1)

The 'big' rise of 21lb for the win of Red Kelly will not have gone down well with connections with the colt possibly struggling in this competitive affair from his revised mark. This may let in the Ger Lyons-trained BABY ZEUS who ran well on handicap debut at Navan earlier this month shaping well to finish 3¾L adrift of the winner Delphi. The selection could face stiff opposition from stablemate, Marchons Ensemble who is likely to improve on his second of 14 at Leopardstown last month. The Jessica Harrington-trained Aesop and Springbank, another from the Johnny Murtagh yard should not be easily dismissed.