18:52 Leopardstown

Thursday 27 July 2023

All16:3717:1217:4718:2218:5219:2219:5220:22

Frank Conroy Irish EBF Maiden

Off time: 18:53 | Winning time: 1m 47.52s

(6)

Alonzo

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien

13/2

Foaled January 25. Frankel colt. Brother to useful 7f winner Hans Andersen. Dam 2-y-o 5f winner who stayed 7f. Newcomer for excellent yard.

Form:

(2)

Alpha Cephei³⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: Luke McAteer| T: D Marnane

16/1

Sixth of 12 in minor event (33/1) at this course (7.2f, good) on debut 35 days ago.

Form: 6

(7)

Chief Little Rock

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien

6/1

Fourth foal, brother to smart 10.7f-2m winner Okita Soushi. Dam, Australian 6f-1m (Group 1) winner, out of half-sister to high-class performer (best at 6f) Starspangledbanner. Lots to like on paper.

Form:

(4)

Gandolfo¹⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: Chris Hayes| T: N Meade

4/1

Promising individual. 33/1, third of 13 in maiden at Killarney (8.1f, good to soft) 10 days ago, running on late. Open to improvement so has to be taken seriously.

Form: 03

(1)

Halberd¹⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: Gary Carroll| T: G M Lyons

18/1

Ninth of 13 in maiden at Killarney (8.1f, good to soft, 12/1) on debut 10 days ago. Should have more to offer.

Form: 9

(9)

Highland Bells

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: Ben Coen| T: M Mulvany

100/1

Foaled March 10. Highland Reel colt. Half-brother to several winners, including useful 5f/6f winner Crimson Sand and 2-y-o 5.5f-7f winner Chevalier du Lac. Dam 2-y-o 6f-8.4f winner.

Form:

(3)

Juxtaposition

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: Billy Lee| T: P Twomey

3/1

Foaled May 1. €50,000 foal, €85,000 yearling, Churchill colt. Half-brother to several winners, including winner up to 6f Fighter Pilot and 6f winner Jameerah, both useful. Dam 2-y-o 6f winner who stayed 8.5f. Newcomer for successful yard.

Form:

(8)

Ringside Timing⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: Rory Cleary| T: J S Bolger

33/1

40/1, seventh of 9 in maiden at the Curragh (7f, soft) on debut 5 days ago. Yard in good form.

Form: 7

(11)

The Equator

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien

2/1

Foaled February 16. Galileo colt. Brother to useful 2-y-o 1m winner Bluegrass. Dam winner up to 6f (Commonwealth Cup/Sprint Cup, also Cornwallis Stakes at 2 yrs). Newcomer of extreme interest.

Form:

Non-Runners

(5)

Instant Appeal²⁶

Weight: 9-7| Age: 2

T: Mrs J Harrington J: Shane Foley

(10)

Shihoku¹⁹

Weight: 9-7| Age: 2

T: M O'Callaghan J: Colin Keane

Forecasts

The Equator (2/1), Shihoku (9/4), Juxtaposition (3/1), Gandolfo (4/1), Instant Appeal (9/2), Chief Little Rock (6/1), Alonzo (13/2), Alpha Cephei (16/1), Halberd (18/1), Ringside Timing (33/1), Highland Bells (100/1)

Lots of depth to this maiden with SHIHOKU just about the most persuasive option given he seems sure to build on the promise of his Naas run 3 weeks ago. Instant Appeal is expected to give it another good go, with The Equator just about the pick of a good-looking bunch of newcomers on paper.