Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race (Plus 10)

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 1m 44.7s

(2)

Vafortino¹⁷²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: M P Sheehy⁽⁵⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 101

11/4

Useful colt. 2 wins from 7 runs last year. Again ran well when third of 16 in minor event (6/1) at Naas (7f, heavy) back in October, racing much closer to the pace than the pair that beat him. Player.

Form: 166133-

(3)

Allez Barza¹²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 87

66/1

14/1, shaped as if better for run on first run since leaving A. Fabre when fifth of 13 in minor event at Dundalk (7f) in December, considerately handled. Moved yards again and this should reveal more.

Form: 63165-

(5)

Erzindjan¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Colin Keane| T: D K Weld| OR: 91

9/2

Lightly-raced winner. 3/1, run best excused when seventh of 11 on handicap debut at the Curragh (7f, soft) 18 days ago, keeping on when snatched up 1f out. Can give a good account in this small field.

Form: 614-7

(4)

Laelaps^h1¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 91| D

18/1

Fairly useful colt. Winner at Navan in October. Possibly needed the run after 5 months off when tenth of 11 in handicap at the Curragh (7f, soft, 10/1) 18 days ago. Hood on 1st time.

Form: 84216-0

(6)

Liffey River^t1²⁰⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: S M Crosse| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 95| D

4/1

Not seen to best effect when 14¼ lengths seventh of 9 to Cadillac in Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown (8f, good, 13/2). Off 6 months. Tongue strap on 1st time. Has to be taken seriously.

Form: 217-

(1)

Roman Empire¹⁷¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| CD

11/8

Twice-raced winner. 5/2, proved a different proposition after 3 months off when won 9-runner maiden at this C&D (heavy). Off 171 days. Open to further improvement.

Form: 41-

Forecasts

Roman Empire (11/8), Vafortino (11/4), Liffey River (4/1), Erzindjan (9/2), Laelaps (18/1), Allez Barza (66/1)

This can go to LIFFEY RIVER, who is better than he could show when well-beaten in a Group 2 at Leopardstown in September and has his best days ahead of him. Vafortino and Roman Empire will provide some stern opposition though, and can chase the selection home in that order.