18:05 Leopardstown

Thursday 17 August 2023

All16:3517:0517:3518:0518:3519:0519:3520:05

Bahrain Turf Club Desmond Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 18:05 | Winning time: 1m 40.61s

(3)

Howyoulikethat³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Billy Lee| T: Miss H McLoughlin| OR: 96| CD

10/1

Useful gelding. C&D winner. Career best when winning 10-runner handicap (11/2) at Killarney (8.1f, good to soft) 31 days ago, staying on well.

Form: 10-0451

(8)

Mutasarref¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 103| C

9/2

Smart gelding. Course winner. 22/1, respectable fifth of 16 in handicap at Galway (7f, soft) 11 days ago.

Form: 111-545

(6)

Pretreville²²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Ronan Whelan| T: A McGuinness| OR: 101| CD

33/1

C&D winner. 12/1, sixth of 7 in minor event at Naas (7f, soft) 22 days ago.

Form: 135-376

(5)

Villanova Queen⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 104| CD

9/2

Useful filly. C&D winner. 2 wins from 4 runs this year. Career best when winning 19-runner handicap at Royal Ascot (8f, good, 25/1) 57 days ago. Expected to be bang there.

Form: 38-1681

(2)

Alfred Munnings^p1²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 101| C

11/4

Lightly-raced winner. 1¾ lengths second of 4 to Self Belief in Meld Stakes (5/2) at this course (9f, good to soft) 28 days ago, unsuited by drop in trip. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Should progress.

Form: 16-32

(9)

Lord Massusus²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Gary Carroll| T: J G Murphy| OR: 102| D

11/2

Useful gelding. 2 wins from 4 runs this year. 7/1, 5½ lengths seventh of 10 to Zarinsk in Minstrel Stakes at this course (7.2f, good to soft) 21 days ago.

Form: 13-1147

(1)

Shayzann⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh| D

16/1

Twice-raced winner. 1 win from 2 runs this year. 10/11, won 10-runner maiden at Naas (8f, good to firm) 50 days ago, responding well. This is a big step up but has potential.

Form: 41

(4)

Thornbrook¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 102| C| D

7/2

Useful filly. Course winner. 7/1, creditable length third of 9 to Random Harvest in Valiant Fillies' Stakes at Ascot (8f, good to soft) 19 days ago. Can make presence felt.

Form: 138-013

Non-Runners

(7)

Goldana¹⁹

Weight: 9-9| Age: 4

T: J P O'Brien J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

Forecasts

Alfred Munnings (11/4), Thornbrook (7/2), Mutasarref (9/2), Villanova Queen (9/2), Goldana (5/1), Lord Massusus (11/2), Howyoulikethat (10/1), Shayzann (16/1), Pretreville (33/1)

THORNBROOK was an excellent third in a Group 3 at Ascot 19 days ago and this lightly-raced 3-y-o is preferred to Villanova Queen, who was seen to good effect when winning a handicap at the Royal Meeting. Alfred Munnings is another low-mileage 3-y-o who needs considering.