Ire-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Huxley Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 2m 13.98s

(1)

Foxes Tales⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 111| D

9/2

Drew a blank last year but stepped up on his reappearance third in Winter Derby at Lingfield when impressively landing listed Magnolia Stakes at Kempton (10f) just under 6 weeks ago. Every chance he will be in the mix back on turf.

Form: 4649-31

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(5)

Layfayette¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Colin Keane| T: N Meade| OR: 109| D

20/1

Rattled off a quick-fire hat-trick on return in 2022 and bounced back to form with the benefit of a recent run under his belt when attempting to make it consecutive wins in the Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh (10f, soft) 11 days ago. Likely to find a couple too strong.

Form: 5777-32

(4)

Mujtaba^t²⁰²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Jim Crowley| T: W J Haggas| OR: 114| C| D

4/1

Back on track when landing a 1¼m Doncaster handicap in good style in September and having been a shade disappointing when sent off favourite for the Cambridgeshire, put up a borderline very smart effort when taking handicap by 7 lengths at Newbury (10f, heavy) 6 months ago. Major player.

Form: 1/04181-

(3)

Point Lonsdale²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 113| D

5/6

Leading juvenile in 2021, winning 3 Group races and second in Group 1 National Stakes. Well held in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on his sole 3-y-o start but wasted no time getting back on the up when landing Alleged Stakes on return at the Curragh (10f, heavy) 26 days ago. Sure to be popular.

Form: 1112/0-1

(2)

Poker Face²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: J P Spencer| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 108| D

10/1

Most progressive last autumn, winning all 3 starts, including on handicap debut at Pontefract. Lost unbeaten record but still emerged with plenty of credit upped markedly in grade when runner-up on return in Earl Of Sefton at Newmarket (9f, soft) last month and can be involved again.

Form: 111-2

(6)

Royal Champion²⁰⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: J Mitchell| T: R Varian| OR: 111| D

22/1

Smart performer who boasted a progressive profile last term, turning what looked a competitive listed Doonside Cup beforehand into a rout at Ayr in September. Was amiss in Champion Stakes at Ascot (10f, good to soft) 6 months ago so watching brief advised on return.

Form: 414319-

Forecasts

Point Lonsdale (5/6), Mujtaba (4/1), Foxes Tales (9/2), Poker Face (10/1), Layfayette (20/1), Royal Champion (22/1)

A customary small field for this Group 2 contest but it promises to be a cracker, MUJTABA getting the verdict to make his first outing at pattern level a winning one after his demolition job in a handicap at Newbury 6 months ago. Point Lonsdale wasted no time getting back on the up when making a winning return at the Curragh last month, so he's put forward as the main danger, with recent Kempton scorer Foxes Tales taken to fill out third spot.