18:23 Leopardstown

Thursday 7 August 2025

All17:2017:5318:2318:5319:2319:5320:25

Bahrain Turf Club Desmond Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 18:24 | Winning time: 1m 39.67s

(3)

Chicago Critic¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 110| CD

8/1

Career best when overcoming pace bias to win 6-runner Amethyst Stakes over C&D in May. Better for run after 10-week absence when 6¼ lengths ninth of 10 to Diego Velazquez in Minstrel Stakes (11/1) at the Curragh (7f, soft) 18 days ago. Respected.

Form: 374-719

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(4)

Johan²⁸⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Ronan Whelan| T: J Channon| OR: 109| D

12/1

Has several major handicaps in Britiain on his CV and signed off last season with a respectable 4¾ lengths third of 9 to Alcantor in Prix Perth at Saint-Cloud (8f, soft). Might need this after 9-month break.

Form: 015/013-

(6)

Lord Massusus^h¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Gary Carroll| T: J G Murphy| OR: 106| CD

9/1

Smart gelding. Won listed race over C&D in April. 16/1, creditable 1¾ lengths fourth of 10 to Diego Velazquez in Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh (7f, soft) 18 days ago, faring best of those held up. Place claims.

Form: 815544

(2)

Mutasarref¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 108| BF| CD

7/2

Won 4 times at listed/Group 3 level last season, including this race. Again gave running when 1¾ lengths third of 10 to Diego Velazquez in Minstrel Stakes (14/1) at the Curragh (7f, soft) 18 days ago, not clear run. Has good chance on form.

Form: 21-2373

(5)

Jancis¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Wayne Lordan| T: W McCreery| OR: 104| C

11/4

Useful filly. Course winner. Creditable ¼-length fourth of 9 to Cheshire Dancer in Valiant Fillies' Stakes at Ascot (8f, good to firm, 5/1) 12 days ago. Can give another good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 18-2554

(1)

Alakazi³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 108| CD

15/8

Lightly-raced winner. 1 win from 3 runs this year. Very good 2¼ lengths second of 8 to Skukuza in listed race at the Curragh (8f, good, 11/4) 39 days ago, not ideally placed. Continues to go the right way and should be in the mix.

Form: 7-132

Non-Runners

(7)

Dance Night Andday²⁸

Weight: 9-6| Age: 5

T: R O'Sullivan J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

Forecasts

Alakazi (15/8), Jancis (11/4), Mutasarref (7/2), Chicago Critic (8/1), Dance Night Andday (8/1), Lord Massusus (9/1), Johan (12/1)

A competitive Group 3 in which last year's winner MUTASARREF is fancied to repeat the trick. Ger Lyons' gelding is most consistent at this level and finished ahead of several of his oppposition in the Minstrel Stakes last time, so is fancied to get the better of the upwardly-mobile Alakazi and Chicago Critic, who should step forward from his recent Curragh run.