18:50 Leopardstown

Thursday 18 July 2024

All16:4517:1517:4518:2018:5019:2519:5520:30

Meld Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 18:50 | Winning time: 1m 52.32s

(7)

Bold Discovery^p1³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 108| C

16/1

Useful gelding. Course winner. 40/1, 21½ lengths fourteenth of 15 to Israr in listed Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot (10f, good to firm) 30 days ago. Cheekpieces on first time. Should be back on his game.

Form: 1567-10

(1)

Real Appeal^p³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Ronan Whelan| T: A McGuinness| OR: 105| C

33/1

Useful gelding. 6/1, 9¾ lengths sixth of 7 to Mutasarref in Ballycorus Stakes at this course (7.2f, good to soft) 35 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Up in trip. Respected.

Form: 529-126

(3)

Self Belief¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Billy Lee| T: W McCreery| OR: 103| CD

17/2

Useful gelding. C&D winner. 8½ lengths fifth of 8 to Jan Brueghel in International Stakes at the Curragh (10f, good to soft, 18/1) 19 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Not dismissed.

Form: 5177-45

(5)

Tarawa^p⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Chris Hayes| T: D K Weld| OR: 104| CD

11/4

Useful filly. Didn't need to improve to win 8-runner listed race at this C&D (good, 2/1) 42 days ago by 2¼ lengths from Cairo, kept up to work. Should go well again.

Form: 3253-31

(2)

Diego Velazquez²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 111| BF| C

8/11

Smart colt. 2/1, well-beaten tenth of 14 to Calandagan in King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot (12f, good to firm) 27 days ago. Down in trip. Has more in his favour under these conditions and is fancied to get back on track.

Form: 116-480

(4)

Bright Stripes³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Ben Coen| T: A Oliver| OR: 102

22/1

Useful colt. 9/2, respectable 4 lengths third of 7 to Mutasarref in Ballycorus Stakes at this course (7.2f, good to soft) 35 days ago, unsuited by drop in trip. Longer distance should play to his strengths and he's worthy of consideration.

Form: 12-8183

(8)

Without Words²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 92

22/1

Useful filly. 22/1, fifteenth of 30 in handicap at Royal Ascot (8f, good to firm) 27 days ago. Remains with potential and could get back on the up here.

Form: 21-20

Non-Runners

(6)

Stromberg²⁸

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

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

Forecasts

Diego Velazquez (8/11), Tarawa (11/4), Self Belief (17/2), Stromberg (10/1), Bold Discovery (16/1), Bright Stripes (22/1), Without Words (22/1), Real Appeal (33/1)

DIEGO VELAZQUEZ made a highly promising return and has had excuses on both subsequent outings so, back down in trip, he's fancied to get the better of recent C&D listed winner Tarawa, who is an obvious player if allowed her own way in front. Real Appeal is another one to consider in a race where the whole field can be given some sort of chance.