16:35 Naas

Monday 7 August 2023

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:45

Ballyroan Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 16:36 | Winning time: 2m 35.41s

(5)

Layfayette³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Chris Hayes| T: N Meade| OR: 109| C| D

10/1

Smart gelding. 12¼ lengths fourth of 5 to Mashhoor in International Stakes at the Curragh (10f, good, 9/2) 37 days ago, having hopeless task from position. Should go well on pick of form.

Form: 323414

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(4)

Safecracker^h,t³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 103| D

40/1

Useful gelding. 15/2, career best when winning 11-runner handicap at the Curragh (12f, good to firm) 36 days ago, keeping on well. This asks a different question.

Form: 22-5721

(7)

Sunchart⁸⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Andrew Slattery| T: A Slattery| OR: 104

50/1

Useful gelding. One win from 21 Flat runs. Nineteen runs since last win in 2019. 40/1, 5 lengths fourth of 6 to Hamish in Ormonde Stakes at Chester (13.4f, heavy) 88 days ago, missing break.

Form: 572-244

(6)

Vauban^t⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Colin Keane| T: W P Mullins| OR: 114| D

4/6

Smart gelding. High-class winner at 17f over hurdles. Tongue strap on for 1st time in this code, won 16-runner handicap at Royal Ascot (14.2f, good, evens) 48 days ago, impressively. Clearly very talented.

Form: 4411/1

(8)

Gooloogong¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien

28/1

8/1, 14½ lengths seventh of 9 to Emily Dickinson in Curragh Cup at the Curragh (14f, soft) 16 days ago. This another stiff task but he's in excellent hands and is unexposed.

Form: 5-17

(2)

Peking Opera²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 105

13/2

Useful colt. 1 win from 3 runs this year. 6¾ lengths seventh of 8 to Feed The Flame in Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp (11.9f, good, 26/1) 24 days ago. This is easier.

Form: 21-1747

(1)

Pivotal Trigger³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 103

22/1

Useful colt. 1 win from 1 run this year. 29/1, creditable 8¾ lengths sixth of 20 to Fantastic Moon in Deutsches Derby at Hamburg (11.9f, good to soft) 36 days ago. Plenty to find on form.

Form: 3137-16

(3)

Valiant King⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 98

10/3

Winner at Navan in May. Very good second of 19 in handicap at Royal Ascot (12f, good to firm, 7/1) 46 days ago, finishing well. Clearly going the right way.

Form: 34-212

Forecasts

Vauban (4/6), Valiant King (10/3), Peking Opera (13/2), Layfayette (10/1), Pivotal Trigger (22/1), Gooloogong (28/1), Safecracker (40/1), Sunchart (50/1)

Having established himself as a high-class hurdler, VAUBAN turned a Royal Ascot handicap into a one-sided affair back on the level and his claims are fairly obvious on these terms. Valiant King is a 3-y-o on the up so demands respect, along with Layfayette.