18:15 Leopardstown

Thursday 4 August 2022

All16:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:2019:5020:25

Grant Thornton Ballyroan Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 18:20 | Winning time: 2m 39.07s

(4)

Layfayette⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Ben Coen| T: N Meade| OR: 109| D

8/1

Smart gelding. 13¼ lengths fifth of 7 to Broome in Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot (12f, good to firm, 11/1) 47 days ago. Possibly finding the ground on the quick side. Still of interest.

Form: 63-1115

(5)

Beamish³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Billy Lee| T: P Twomey| OR: 107| C| D

6/4

Thrice-raced winner, 2 from 2 this year, including at this course. 10/3, won 8-runner listed race at Roscommon (12f, soft) 37 days ago by ½ length from Yaxeni. Open to further improvement.

Form: 1-11

(2)

Cleveland⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: R L Moore| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 107| BF

3/1

Promising type. Creditable second of 16 in handicap at Royal Ascot (14.2f, good to firm, 2/1) 51 days ago, no match for winner. First run for yard after leaving Aidan O'Brien. Obvious claims.

Form: 551/512

(1)

Falcon Eight^b⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Chris Hayes| T: D K Weld| OR: 107| D

22/1

Smart gelding. 11/4, fifth of 8 in novice hurdle at Galway (20.7f, good) 7 days ago, needing stiffer test. Significantly down in trip. Blinkers on 1st time. Definite player on his best form.

Form: 34/19-54

(7)

Gear Up^t⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 108

4/1

Smart colt. Latest win at Gowran in June. Good length second of 7 to Camorra in Curragh Cup (10/3) at the Curragh (14f, good) 41 days ago, having run of race.

Form: 54-4512

(6)

Licence⁹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 103

8/1

Thrice-raced winner. 10/3, 13¼ lengths last of 7 to Layfayette in Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh (10f, good to soft). Off 94 days. Not completely dismissed back from a break.

Form: 1-27

(3)

Sandhurst^p⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 100| BF

33/1

Useful colt. 8/13, second of 3 in minor event at Galway (14.1f, soft) 6 days ago, running on late. Others have achieved more.

Form: 31/62-32

(8)

Manu Et Corde¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 101| C

28/1

Useful gelding. Course winner. 4/1, creditable 3¼ lengths third of 6 to Perotan in listed race at Down Royal (13.9f, good) 13 days ago. Needs to improve.

Form: 2-86353

Non-Runners

(9)

Duke De Sessa⁴⁰

Weight: 8-13| Age: 3

T: D K Weld J: Chris Hayes

Forecasts

Beamish (6/4), Cleveland (3/1), Gear Up (4/1), Duke De Sessa (6/1), Licence (8/1), Layfayette (8/1), Falcon Eight (22/1), Manu Et Corde (28/1), Sandhurst (33/1)

CLEVELAND maintained his progressive profile when second at Royal Ascot and he makes obvious appeal back in Group company on his first start for Joseph O'Brien. Beamish is an obvious danger and Layfayette is likely to bounce back quickly from a lesser effort.