14:15 Leopardstown

Sunday 7 May 2023

All13:0513:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

Cornelscourt Stakes (Fillies' Group 3)

Off time: 14:16 | Winning time: 1m 46.22s

(7)

American Sonja¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 100

2/1

Promising type. Career best when winning 11-runner handicap at Gowran (7f, soft, 11/8) 18 days ago, forging clear. Looks a pattern-class filly in the making and a bold show is on the cards.

Form: 4221-1

(10)

Aspen Grove²¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: M A Enright| T: J A Stack| OR: 100| D

25/1

Fairly useful filly. 7 lengths seventh of 12 to Blue Rose Cen in Prix Marcel Boussac (35/1) at Longchamp (8f, soft), merely passing beaten rivals. Off 7 months and likely to find a few too good.

Form: 5017-

(4)

Clounmacon²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 90

9/1

Lightly-raced winner. Career best when winning 14-runner maiden (6/4) at Dundalk (7f) 23 days ago, readily. This is a significantly tougher assignment.

Form: 224-1

(11)

Comhra⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Rory Cleary| T: J S Bolger| OR: 95

22/1

Fairly useful filly. 16/1, respectable 5¾ lengths sixth of 10 to Insinuendo in Park Express Stakes at the Curragh (8f, heavy) 43 days ago. Others make more appeal for win purposes.

Form: 21274-6

(5)

Curvature³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 92| CD

5/1

Thrice-raced winner. Won 10-runner heavy-ground C&D maiden (5/1) 35 days ago, keeping on well. Probably capable of better still but likely biting off more than she can chew upped in class here.

Form: 4-21

(8)

Dame Kiri³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 95

9/1

Lightly-raced winner. 9/1, 5½ lengths seventh of 10 to Never Ending Story in 1000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown (7.1f, heavy) 35 days ago. Yard also saddles Delightful.

Form: 3341-7

(2)

Delightful²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 92| C

25/1

Fairly useful filly. Winner here in October. 9¾ lengths last of 7 to Jannah Rose in Prix Vanteaux (83/10) at Longchamp (9f, good to firm) 28 days ago. Dame Kiri is presumably the stable No 1.

Form: 4321-97

(6)

Nightcliff²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: N G McCullagh| T: David J Geary| OR: 95

25/1

Lightly-raced winner. Successful at the Curragh in October. 15/2, 6½ lengths fifth of 7 to Goldana in Gladness Stakes at the Curragh (7f, heavy) 21 days ago. Each-way squeak.

Form: 541-55

(9)

Tarawa¹⁹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Billy Lee| T: D K Weld| C

15/2

Twice-raced winner. Won 13-runner maiden (5/2) at this course (7f, soft) when last seen in October, doing better ridden with more restraint. Unexposed and open to improvement, this filly, who holds Group 1 entries, needs considering.

Form: 51-

(1)

Thornbrook²³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 104| C

9/1

Thrice-raced winner. 12 lengths eighth of 11 to Tahiyra in Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh (7f, heavy, 17/2) on final 2-y-o start. Solid third in the Debutante Stakes prior to that and, like stablemate American Sonja, she's high on the shortlist.

Form: 138-

(3)

Zarinsk³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 104| C

11/2

Lightly-raced winner. 11/2, creditable 5 lengths third of 10 to Never Ending Story in 1000 Guineas Trial at this course (7.1f, heavy) 35 days ago. Should be in the mix if coping with this step up to a mile.

Form: 1441-3

Forecasts

American Sonja (2/1), Curvature (5/1), Zarinsk (11/2), Tarawa (15/2), Clounmacon (9/1), Dame Kiri (9/1), Thornbrook (9/1), Comhra (22/1), Aspen Grove (25/1), Nightcliff (25/1), Delightful (25/1)

Joseph O'Brien holds a strong hand here, with his representatives AMERICAN SONJA and Thornbrook both making plenty of appeal. The latter brings solid Group form to the table and is not passed over lightly but American Sonja impressed when landing a 7f Gowran handicap on her reappearance last month and she can be expected to take this step up in class/trip in her stride. The promising Tarawa is third choice ahead of Zarinsk.