17:52 Leopardstown

Thursday 8 August 2024

All16:5217:2217:5218:2218:5219:2219:5220:22

Bahrain Turf Club Desmond Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 17:53 | Winning time: 1m 40.48s

(3)

Mutasarref¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 108| CD

12/1

C&D winner. 2 wins from 4 runs this year. Had winning run ended but typically did all he could when 5 lengths third of 6 to Poet Master in Minstrel Stakes (7/2) at the Curragh (7f, good) 18 days ago. Each-way claims.

Form: 81-3113

(7)

Lord Massusus¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Gary Carroll| T: J G Murphy| OR: 108| CD

5/1

Won this corresponding event last year. Six wins from 19 Flat runs. 11/4, ran respectably behind a highly progressive sort when 3¾ lengths second of 6 to Poet Master in Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh (7f, good) 18 days ago. Expected to be bang there.

Form: 2-32712

(5)

Real Appeal^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Ronan Whelan| T: A McGuinness| OR: 104| CD

100/1

C&D winner. Latest win at Dundalk in March. 33/1, followed a below-par effort with an even worse one when 16¼ lengths last of 7 to Diego Velazquez in Meld Stakes at this course (9f, good) 3 weeks ago.

Form: 29-1267

(6)

Empress Of Beauty⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Shane Foley| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 97

80/1

1 win from 2 runs this year. Ran poorly for no obvious reason when 23½ lengths seventh of 8 to Jan Brueghel in International Stakes at the Curragh (10f, good to soft, 28/1) 40 days ago. Bounce back required.

Form: 1236-17

(9)

Bright Stripes²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Billy Lee| T: A Oliver| OR: 102| D

25/1

Latest win at the Curragh in May. Respectable 8¼ lengths third of 7 to Diego Velazquez in Meld Stakes (22/1) at this course (9f, good) 3 weeks ago. Likely to find a few too good.

Form: 2-81833

(2)

Galen²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 100| D

5/4

2 wins from 3 runs this year. 4/9, career best when winning 4-runner minor event at Killarney (8.1f, good to firm) 24 days ago, in command before final 1f then forging clear. Undoubtedly ready for this higher grade, so merits serious consideration for an in-form yard.

Form: 2-211

(8)

Mountain Bear¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 106| BF

20/1

9/4, lost all chance at the start when 22 lengths last of 6 to Poet Master in Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh (7f, good) 18 days ago, very slowly away. Is better judged on when making the frame in the Jersey, so fancied to get back on track.

Form: 412-746

(1)

Ylang Ylang⁶⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 111| BF| C| D

7/4

Frankel filly who won 3 of her 5 starts as a juvenile, notably the Fillies' Mile. Good ¾-length fifth of 16 to Elmalka in 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on reappearance but just wasn't herself when sent off a warm order in Oaks at Epsom (12f, soft) in June. Worth chancing back in grade/trip.

Form: 1931-56

Non-Runners

(4)

Power Under Me¹⁵

Weight: 9-9| Age: 6

T: G M Lyons J: Seamie Heffernan

Forecasts

Galen (5/4), Ylang Ylang (7/4), Lord Massusus (5/1), Power Under Me (10/1), Mutasarref (12/1), Mountain Bear (20/1), Bright Stripes (25/1), Empress Of Beauty (80/1), Real Appeal (100/1)

An intriguing renewal of the Desmond Stakes with several considered but the suggestion is YLANG YLANG, who flopped when sent off a warm order in the Oaks at Epsom in June but has had some time to recover and returns back down in trip/grade. Last year's winner Lord Massusus can give the selection most to think about, with the progressive Galen rounding off the shortlist dipping his toe into pattern company for the first time.