14:30 Curragh

Friday 14 August 2020

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

Comer Group International Irish St Leger Trial Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 14:33 | Winning time: 3m 2.29s

(3)

Aircraft Carrier¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Rory Cleary| T: L Comer| OR: 86| D

150/1

Useful gelding but only seventeenth of 20 in handicap at Galway (16.8f, soft, 125/1) 18 days ago. Very tough ask here.

Form: 50680-0

(6)

Broad Street⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Chris Hayes| T: L Comer| OR: 104

40/1

Smart horse but last of 12 in listed race (11/1) here (8f, good) 48 days ago, slowly away. Significantly up in trip but hard to warm to.

Form: 1/137-30

(4)

Giuseppe Garibaldi^t²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Gary Carroll| T: L Comer| OR: 93

150/1

Fifteen runs since last win in 2018. 100/1, tailed-off fifth of 6 in Curragh Cup over C&D 27 days ago. Others much preferred.

Form: 9/036-75

(9)

Master Of Reality²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 113| D

7/2

Smart gelding but below-form second of 6 to Twilight Payment in Curragh Cup over C&D 27 days ago. Not ruled out if back on song here.

Form: 3354-62

(7)

Micro Manage⁴³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: S Foley| T: W P Mullins| OR: 107| C

5/1

Only 3 runs but he arrives on hat-trick after impressive wins in Tipperary maiden and handicap here (12f, evens) 14 months ago. Intriguing contender who shouldn't be underestimated despite absence.

Form: 01/1-

(10)

Sea The Lion⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-11| J: Ronan Whelan| T: J P Fahey| OR: 104| C

25/1

Useful gelding. 33/1, not disgraced when 2½l last of 5 in Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown (12f) 8 days ago. Course winner so not totally dismissed.

Form: 13/27-45

(1)

Delphi^b²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 104| C

10/11

Fast improving colt who completed hat-trick in 12f listed race at Leopardstown by 4¼l from Numen. More to come now he goes up to 14f so interesting contender for yard who have farmed this event.

Form: 7-111

(5)

Monument Valley²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 92

4/1

Opened his account at fifth attempt in excellent style in maiden at Ballinrobe (12.8f) last month. Capable of better still for top yard but this represents a big step up in class.

Form: 9-7221

Non-Runners

(8)

Maria Christina⁴⁰

Weight: 9-8| Age: 4

T: D K Weld J: D A McCormack

(2)

Search For A Song¹⁹

Weight: 9-8| Age: 4

T: D K Weld J: O J Orr

Forecasts

Delphi (10/11), Search For A Song (13/8), Master Of Reality (7/2), Monument Valley (4/1), Micro Manage (5/1), Sea The Lion (25/1), Broad Street (40/1), Maria Christina (66/1), Aircraft Carrier (150/1), Giuseppe Garibaldi (150/1)

Aidan O'Brien has won this Group 3 for the last six years so his upwardly mobile DELPHI is hard to side against, especially as he promises to be well served by the step up in trip as he goes in search of a fourth straight win. Last year's Irish St Leger heroine Search For A Song will doubtless present a stern test, while lightly-raced Micro Manage shouldn't be underestimated either.