16:15 Curragh

Sunday 26 May 2024

All13:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:1516:5017:25

Heider Family Stables Gallinule Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 2m 8.23s

(7)

Chief Little Rock³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 107| BF

11/4

Lightly-raced winner. Respectable length third of 6 to Bellum Justum in listed race (4/5) at Epsom (10.1f, good to firm) 33 days ago. Solid form claims but Ryan Moore prefers Mundi.

Form: 2122-3

(8)

Ecureuil Secret²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Oisin Murphy| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 98

14/1

Twice-raced winner. 1 win from 2 runs this year. 6/1, 2 lengths fourth of 5 to Bright Stripes in listed race at this course (8f, soft) 20 days ago. Up in trip and no more than an each-way squeak.

Form: 14

(1)

Mundi⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien

13/2

Highly promising type. Won 13-runner maiden at Dundalk (8f, 7/2) on debut 44 days ago, driven out. Open to significant progress now upped in trip in a race that his powerful connections have farmed in recent times.

Form: 1

(4)

Norwalk Havoc²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 100

14/1

Lightly-raced winner. 2 wins from 3 runs this year. 13/2, creditable length second of 5 to Bright Stripes in listed race at this course (8f, soft) 20 days ago. Can make his presence felt now upped in trip.

Form: 6-112

(5)

Spoken Truth³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Chris Hayes| T: D K Weld| D

9/4

Twice-raced winner. 13/8, won 11-runner maiden at Cork (10.2f, good to soft) 30 days ago, pushed out. This is far sterner test but he's well-bred and remains open to improvement.

Form: 4-1

(2)

Stromberg³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 103| BF

15/2

Lightly-raced winner. 15/8, creditable second of 5 in minor event at Cork (10.2f, good to soft) 30 days ago. Each-way chance.

Form: 2115-2

(9)

The Equator⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Declan McDonogh| T: A P O'Brien| D

11/2

Twice-raced winner. Won 9-runner maiden (7/2) at Leopardstown (10f, heavy) 46 days ago, forging clear. Should progress but doesn't look the main Ballydoyle challenger on jockey bookings.

Form: 4-1

(3)

Vestigia¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Robbie Colgan| T: S Lavery| OR: 86

33/1

Fairly useful colt. Career best when winning 11-runner maiden (4/1) at Gowran (8f, heavy) 17 days ago. Shouldn't have any issues with this step up in trip but the strength of the opposition is another matter.

Form: 90426-1

Non-Runners

(6)

Formal Display¹⁹⁸

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: G M Lyons J: Colin Keane

Forecasts

Spoken Truth (9/4), Chief Little Rock (11/4), The Equator (11/2), Mundi (13/2), Stromberg (15/2), Formal Display (12/1), Ecureuil Secret (14/1), Norwalk Havoc (14/1), Vestigia (33/1)

It looks significant that Ryan Moore has opted to ride MUNDI ahead of Chief Little Rock, who is a proven Group-class performer. Indeed, Mundi looked very promising indeed when landing a Dundalk maiden on debut last month and this superbly-bred colt possesses stacks of potential. Spoken Truth is also promising and he is third choice, albeit only marginally as there's another promising Ballydoyle colt on show in The Equator, while Norwalk Havoc and Stromberg are no back numbers either.