18:10 Sligo

Wednesday 9 August 2023

All17:0517:4018:1018:4019:1019:4020:10

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Connacht Oaks Fillies Handicap

Off time: 18:20 | Winning time: 2m 23.45s

(7)

Linden Lady¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: S D Bowen⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 94

50/1

First run since leaving Grant & Alana Williams when 10½ lengths last of 10 to Clounmacon in listed race at Naas (5.9f, soft, 50/1) on IRE debut 14 days ago. Difficult ask switched to a handicap.

Form: 535450

(5)

Perfect Portrait⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 92

5/2

Winner at Gowran in May and even better form when 3¼ lengths sixth of 9 to Library in listed race at Naas (10f, good to firm) 42 days ago. Makes handicap debut.

Form: 34-316

(8)

No Niki No^b²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Declan McDonogh| T: Eoghan O'Neill| OR: 81

10/1

Winner at Leopardstown in June. Creditable third of 6 in handicap (13/2) at Leopardstown (9f, good to soft) 20 days ago. Enters calculations given consistent profile.

Form: 19-5153

(2)

Independent Expert¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: A J Slattery| T: A Slattery| OR: 77

12/1

Latest win at Limerick in June. Good second of 8 in handicap (11/2) at Gowran (8f, soft) 11 days ago. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 335192

(1)

Coill Na Sionainne²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: Nathan Crosse| T: W McCreery| OR: 76

18/1

Twenty one runs since last win in 2021. 9/1, respectable third of 9 in handicap at Tramore (12f, good to soft) 29 days ago.

Form: 074203

(3)

Yokkell¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Ronan Whelan| T: J P Fahey| OR: 75

4/1

5/2, career best when winning 9-runner handicap at Ballinrobe (9.4f, good to soft) 16 days ago, well positioned. 5 lb rise asks for more but she's clearly in excellent order.

Form: 32-3261

(11)

Signora Bellissima^p²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: J A Powell⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 82| D

15/2

Winner at Leopardstown in April. 6/1, good fourth of 8 in handicap at Killarney (11.2f, good to soft) 22 days ago. Cheekpieces back on and she should be in the mix down slightly in trip.

Form: 0-14274

(6)

Starry Heavens^p²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Siobhan Rutledge⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 82

18/1

Cheekpieces on for first time, fourth of 5 in minor event at Killarney (8.1f, good to soft, 12/1) 23 days ago. Back up in trip. Makes handicap debut. Has work to do.

Form: 416-544

(9)

Lizzy's Filly⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: L F Roche| T: C Collins| OR: 73| D

7/2

First run since leaving Ciaran Murphy when didn't need to improve to win 12-runner maiden (6/4) at Ballinrobe (9.6f, good) 44 days ago. Changed yards again and mark looks very fair.

Form: 25222-1

(4)

Dabana⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Chris Hayes| T: M Fahey| OR: 68

14/1

Winner at Dundalk in February. Bit below form fifth of 18 in handicap at Galway (8.6f, soft, 7/1) 8 days ago. Back up in trip which will suit but more is needed.

Form: 2-31445

Non-Runners

(10)

Golden Spangle²

Weight: 8-8| Age: 3

T: J S Bolger J: Rory Cleary

Forecasts

Perfect Portrait (5/2), Lizzy's Filly (7/2), Yokkell (4/1), Golden Spangle (4/1), Signora Bellissima (15/2), No Niki No (10/1), Independent Expert (12/1), Dabana (14/1), Starry Heavens (18/1), Coill Na Sionainne (18/1), Linden Lady (50/1)

PERFECT PORTRAIT probably needs to improve to make a winning handicap debut bur she represents an excellent yard and her effort in listed company last time was a personal best. Lizzy's Filly should also have more to offer and she's a threat, along with the thriving-fully Golden Spangle.