Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 2m 10.59s

(5)

Acapulco Bay⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Billy Lee| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 100

13/2

Thrice-raced winner. Second of 6 in minor event (5/2) at Naas (8f, heavy) 49 days ago, clear of rest. Has some way to go in terms of matching stablemate Delacroix but he's a promising colt nonetheless and shouldn't be underestimated.

Form: 21-2

(3)

Delacroix⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 116| CD

1/3

Promising individual. Didn't need to improve to win 7-runner Ballysax Stakes at this C&D (good, 4/7) 42 days ago by 2¼ lengths from Lambourn (winner of a Chester Group 3 during the week), having run of race. Leading claims.

Form: 21212-1

(1)

Purview¹⁷⁰

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

11/1

Once-raced winner. 7/4, won 12-runner maiden at Dundalk (8f) on sole 2-y-o start, staying on well. This represents a significant rise in class but he falls firmly into the "could be anything" category.

Form: 1-

(4)

Rock Of Cashel⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Gavin Ryan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 103

28/1

Useful colt. 22/1, 6½ lengths sixth of 7 to Henri Matisse in Leopardstown 2000 Guineas Trial at this course (7.1f, good) 42 days ago. Seemingly the least-fancied of the Ballydoyle trio.

Form: 81465-6

(2)

Tennessee Stud¹⁹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 110| D

7/1

Useful colt. 6/10, won 3-runner Criterium de Saint-Cloud at Saint-Cloud (9.9f, soft) by 1½ lengths from Green Storm in October. Likely to improve further and he's a big player.

Form: 3121-

Forecasts

Delacroix (1/3), Acapulco Bay (13/2), Tennessee Stud (7/1), Purview (11/1), Rock Of Cashel (28/1)

On the face of it ACAPULCO BAY has plenty on his plate in attempting to lower the colours of more established stablemate Delacroix, but the son of Dubawi wasn't beaten far by that rival on debut at the Curragh last summer and, having suffered a setback after winning a maiden there next time, he didn't have the opportunity to show his true worth as a 2-y-o. His reappearance effort over 1m at Naas was highly encouraging and this step up in trip looks a good move. Tennessee Stud also has claims.