19:00 Dundalk

Friday 23 September 2022

All17:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Diamond Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 19:01 | Winning time: 2m 15.26s

(5)

Layfayette¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Chris Hayes| T: N Meade| OR: 109

20/1

Smart gelding. 3 wins from 6 runs this year. 8 lengths seventh of 9 to Duke De Sessa in Paddy Power Stakes (28/1) at Leopardstown (12f, soft) 13 days ago, merely passing beaten rivals.

Form: 111577

(8)

Aikhal¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 111

9/1

Smart colt. 1 win from 3 runs this year. 11¾ lengths fifth of 7 to Simca Mille in Prix Niel at Longchamp (11.9f, good to soft, 15/1) 12 days ago. Makes polytrack debut. More needed.

Form: 44-0165

(1)

Bear Story⁷¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 107| CD

6/1

Smart colt. C&D winner. Respectable 3¼ lengths second of 6 to Boundless Ocean in Meld Stakes at Leopardstown (9f, good to soft, 11/2) 71 days ago. Enters calculations.

Form: 332652

(3)

Freescape²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: W J Lee| T: D Marnane| OR: 99| C

66/1

Useful gelding. 5-time course winner. 7/1, fourth of 5 in minor event at Tipperary (7.5f, good to firm) 28 days ago, not knocked about. Significantly back up in trip. Others preferred.

Form: 15-4874

(2)

Hannibal Barca^t1⁹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: S M Crosse| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 109

13/2

Lightly-raced winner. 1 win from 2 runs this year. 12/1, 17¾ lengths seventh of 8 to Westover in Irish Derby at the Curragh (12f, good) 90 days ago. Tongue strap on 1st time and needs a second look down in class here.

Form: 314-17

(7)

Annerville⁸⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 92

50/1

Useful filly. 28/1, last of 14 in handicap at the Curragh (12f, soft) 89 days ago. Makes polytrack debut.

Form: 10-2780

(4)

Eskimo Komet³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Nathan Crosse| T: L Comer| OR: 85| C

200/1

Useful colt. Course winner. Winner here in March. 50/1, 7¼ lengths last of 16 to Neptune Rock in listed race at Listowel (9f, good) 3 days ago. Plenty to find on form.

Form: 3-17450

(10)

State Occasion³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: R G Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 104

10/11

Smart filly. 3 wins from 5 runs this year. Career best when winning 10-runner handicap (3/1) at York (10.2f, good to firm) 35 days ago, missing break. Solid claims.

Form: 3-14211

(6)

Vina Sena^h⁹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: M A Enright| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 82| C

80/1

Fairly useful colt. Course winner. 28/1, seventeenth of 19 in handicap at Royal Ascot (12f, good to firm), missing break. Off 99 days. Looks up against it.

Form: 1-99520

(9)

Cairde Go Deo⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 104| BF

5/1

Useful filly. 2 wins from 5 runs this year. Respectable 2¼ lengths second of 5 to Rumbles of Thunder in Give Thanks Stakes at Cork (12f, good, 5/4) 42 days ago, no match for winner.

Form: 6-31132

Forecasts

State Occasion (10/11), Cairde Go Deo (5/1), Bear Story (6/1), Hannibal Barca (13/2), Aikhal (9/1), Layfayette (20/1), Annerville (50/1), Freescape (66/1), Vina Sena (80/1), Eskimo Komet (200/1)

The hat-trick beckons for British raider STATE OCCASION, who has bagged strong handicaps at Goodwood and York the last twice and can be expected to take this step up in class in her stride. Bear Story landed this race 12 months ago and is likely to be in the thick of things this time round, too. He is next on the list ahead of Hannibal Barca and Aikhal.