14:55 Leopardstown

Sunday 7 April 2024

All13:1513:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:12

Ballylinch Stud 'Priory Belle' Stakes (Fillies' Group 3)

Off time: 14:56 | Winning time: 1m 40.89s

(4)

A Lilac Rolla²³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: W J Lee| T: P Twomey| D

9/2

Promising sort. Two wins from 2 runs last year. Won 11-runner minor event (5/2) at the Curragh (7f, good) last summer, proving a head too strong for subsequent Group 1 winner Opera Singer. Entered in the Irish 1000 Guineas.

Form: 11-

(1)

Alpheratz²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Gary Carroll| T: J G Murphy| OR: 103

10/3

Thrice-raced winner. 4/1 and hooded for 1st time, ½-length second of 10 to Brilliant in Park Express Stakes at the Curragh (8f, heavy) 20 days ago, slowly away. Open to progress and she's not out of place in this line-up.

Form: 21-2

(6)

Buttons³⁰⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| CD

7/2

Once-raced winner. One win from 1 run last year. Won 6-runner maiden (4/6) at this course (7.1f, good) on debut. Off 10 months. Interesting that Ryan Moore partners this filly rather than her more established stablemate Cherry Blossom.

Form: 1-

(9)

Cherry Blossom^h1¹⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 103

10/1

Useful filly. 106/10, 3 lengths eighth of 12 to Big Evs in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita (5f, firm), met some trouble. Off 156 days and hood on 1st time. Expected to be bang there.

Form: 412248-

(7)

Finsceal Luas²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Rory Cleary| T: J S Bolger| OR: 88

18/1

Thrice-raced maiden. 2¾ lengths third of 18 to Money Dancer in maiden (5/1) at the Curragh (7f, heavy) 20 days ago, running on. Should progress but this demands a significant step forward.

Form: 74-3

(3)

Greenfinch¹⁵⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 84| D

22/1

Thrice-raced winner. One win from 3 runs last year. 5/2, won 13-runner maiden at Dundalk (7f), keeping on well. Off 158 days. The betting should indicate where he is in the pecking order in terms of the Aidan O'Brien-trained quartet.

Form: 721-

(11)

Kitty Rose¹⁸³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: J A Heffernan| T: N Lupini| OR: 101| BF| CD

4/1

Promising type. C&D winner. 2½ lengths second of 10 to Content in Staffordstown Stud Stakes at the Curragh (8f, soft, 11/10), doing too much too soon. Off 6 months. Likely to improve.

Form: 112-

(5)

Money Dancer²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: J A Powell| T: N Meade| D

28/1

Once-raced winner. Won 18-runner maiden at the Curragh (7f, heavy, 16/1) on debut 20 days ago, driven out. Should have more to offer and she may well take this step up in class in her stride.

Form: 1

(2)

Mysteries^h¹⁸⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: G M Ryan| T: Donnacha O'Brien| OR: 95

16/1

Lightly-raced winner. 7 lengths ninth of 14 to Mountain Bear in listed race (12/1) at Dundalk (7f). Off 6 months and hood back on. Others preferred.

Form: 31349-

(12)

Sweetest¹⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Declan McDonogh| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 82| D

66/1

Fair filly. 10/3, career best when winning 14-runner maiden at Dundalk (7f), suited by emphasis on speed, on final start of 2-y-o campaign. More exposed than some of these and she looks vulnerable.

Form: 232021-

(10)

Wendla¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 93

14/1

Thrice-raced winner. Won 9-runner maiden at Naas (8f, heavy, 11/2) 14 days ago, comfortably. Stable having good spell and, with further improvement on the way, she's not discounted.

Form: 26-1

Non-Runners

(8)

Lexington Belle¹⁵⁶

Weight: 9-2| Age: 3

T: Alice Haynes J: J M Sheridan

Forecasts

Alpheratz (10/3), Buttons (7/2), Kitty Rose (4/1), A Lilac Rolla (9/2), Cherry Blossom (10/1), Wendla (14/1), Mysteries (16/1), Finsceal Luas (18/1), Greenfinch (22/1), Lexington Belle (25/1), Money Dancer (28/1), Sweetest (66/1)

The vote goes to A LILAC ROLLA, who made it 2-2 when narrowly getting the better of Opera Singer at the Curragh in August, form which now looks seriously good in light of the latter's subsequent exploits, which include a very impressive performance in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp. Opera Singer's stablemate Buttons, who Ryan Moore prefers to Cherry Blossom and two others from the O'Brien yard, is feared most. Kitty Rose and Wendla need considering, too.