16:25 Down Royal

Saturday 24 June 2023

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2517:0517:40

BoyleSports Ulster Derby (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 16:26 | Winning time: 2m 45.14s

(6)

Tower Of London¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: K K Hennessy⁽⁷⁾| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 99

5/2

Lightly-raced winner. Career best when winning 5-runner listed race at Leopardstown (12f, good, 11/10) 16 days ago by 1¾ lengths from Shamwari, driven out. Major player on handicap debut. Yard also saddles Hippodrome.

Form: 15-61

(9)

Young Ireland²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Rory Cleary| T: J S Bolger| OR: 91

14/1

6 lengths fourth of 6 to Drumroll in Gallinule Stakes (16/1) at the Curragh (10f, good) 27 days ago. Up in trip for this handicap debut and he merits respect.

Form: 50-3214

(5)

Hippodrome²⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Colin Keane| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 90

17/2

Lightly-raced winner. 13 lengths last of 6 to Speirling Beag in Eyrefield Stakes (5/1) at Leopardstown (9f, soft), badly hampered. Off 8 months and improvement likely now handicapping.

Form: 5616-

(7)

Matt Connor²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: G M Ryan| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 85

9/1

Two wins from 3 runs this year. 3/1, career best when winning 10-runner handicap at Fairyhouse (10f, good) 23 days ago, driven out. Should stay this trip and he has to be respected in his bid to complete the hat-trick.

Form: 689-311

(8)

Dubawi Spectre^v¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Nathan Crosse| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 84

9/1

11/2, career best when winning 6-runner handicap at Fairyhouse (12f, good to firm) 15 days ago, doing better under change of tactics. Trainer going well and he should make his presence felt.

Form: 5-42431

(4)

Ibrahimovic³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: M L W Bell| OR: 83

9/2

Thrice-raced maiden. Second of 11 in minor event at Salisbury (9.9f, good to firm, 11/4) 37 days ago. Up in trip for this handicap debut and he has to be of interest.

Form: 5-32

(2)

Pearl Of Australia³³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: L F Roche| T: N Meade| OR: 81

10/1

Career best when winning 14-runner maiden (12/1) at Roscommon (10.3f, good to soft) 33 days ago, always holding on. Up in trip for this handicap debut and more needed.

Form: 643-541

(1)

Letiza¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: J A Powell⁽⁵⁾| T: J Feane| OR: 79| BF

12/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 2/1, good second of 9 in maiden at Navan (10f, good to soft) 13 days ago. Up in trip now handicapping and she needs to raise her game.

Form: 8222

(3)

Malbay Madness¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Siobhan Rutledge⁽⁵⁾| T: E Mullins| OR: 78

5/1

First run since leaving E. D. Linehan when excellent second of 10 in handicap at Navan (10f, good to soft, 9/1) 13 days ago. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 00123-2

Forecasts

Tower Of London (5/2), Ibrahimovic (9/2), Malbay Madness (5/1), Hippodrome (17/2), Dubawi Spectre (9/1), Matt Connor (9/1), Pearl Of Australia (10/1), Letiza (12/1), Young Ireland (14/1)

IBRAHIMOVIC has improved with each of his three starts to date and further progress is anticipated here now moving up in trip for this handicap debut. Michael Bell's representative gets the nod ahead of Tower of London, who landed a listed race in decisive fashion recently and he looks dangerous. Aidan O'Brien also saddles another appealing candidate in Hippodrome, while the hat-trick seeking Matt Connor and Dubawi Spectre are others to consider.