3.10 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes (Group 1) 5f

Equilateral: Classy sprinter at his best and carried some good Dubai form into Royal Ascot where he chased home Battaash in the King’s Stand Stakes but struggled in the July Cup next time and was disappointing in a York listed race the following week.

Make A Challenge: Has developed into a marvellous sprinter and seems very well suited by the minimum trip as evidenced by a string of convincing stakes-race victories this season. Furthermore, his second to A’Ali in the Sapphire Stakes and his showing in a top-class sprint at Ascot late last season offer plenty of encouragement that he can play a leading role.

A’Ali: High-class sprinting juvenile who won three times at Group 2 level and looks just as good this season after recording a Group 3 success over Liberty Beach at Sandown before then defeating Make A Challenge in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes at this track in July. A recent fourth in the Nunthorpe represents another solid effort and he must have every chance.

Alligator Alley: Very smart sort as a juvenile when he won a York listed race as well as finishing second in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood. Began his season with a pleasing run at Naas but lines up with questions to answer after a below par run in a Dundalk handicap last month.

Glass Slippers: Emerged as a leading sprinter when winning last season’s Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye and was back to something like that form when chasing home Battaash in the King George Stakes at Goodwood six weeks ago. After just two runs this season she can progress again and a strong showing is likely.

Kurious: Hit a rich vein of form last summer to win listed and Group 3 events over five furlongs at Sandown. Struggled on her return at Royal Ascot but her latest fifth in the Nunthorpe was somewhat more encouraging albeit still leaving her with plenty to find at this level.

Maid In India: Defeated the smart Dakota Gold to win a Group 3 at Newbury over this trip just over a year ago. Returned to action with a decent third to Liberty Beach at Haydock but has struggled in two runs since then and now needs a career best.

Que Amoro: Much-improved filly who began her season with a five-furlong listed win at Ayr and posted much the best effort of her career when second to Battaash in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York last month. That last showing puts her in with every chance.

Rapid Reaction: Has looked better than ever this term as evidenced by a half-length second to Make A Challenge in a Naas listed race. However, she still has something to find with a number of these.

Sonaiyla: Vastly improved sort this year and followed up a Cork listed win with a terrific handicap success off top weight over seven furlongs here in July. She was beaten a neck by Glen Shiel in a six-furlong Group 3 here last month but that probably represented another step forward as the winner was then second in last week’s Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock. The drop back to this trip should not be an issue and she looks a big player.

Keep Busy: Struck at listed level in France as a juvenile and has developed into a decent and reliable stakes-class sprinter. However she does appear to have her limitations and her creditable third to Dakota Gold in a Beverley listed race still leaves her with plenty to do.

Liberty Beach: Classy filly who won at Group 3 level last year and showed that she has trained on when finishing third to Battaash in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot. Wasn’t at her best when fourth to that same rival at Goodwood last time but overall this reliable and solid sort deserves due consideration.

Na Blianta Beo: Lines up as an eight-race maiden and ran well at listed level earlier in the season, but she comes here off two somewhat disappointing defeats in Navan maidens.

Silver Spear: Capable type who has shown up well in two decent three-year-old handicaps this season and could be up to winning a decent prize at some point, but her best form still leaves her a long way short of the required standard.

You’resobeautiful: Followed a pleasing Navan maiden win in June with a listed second to Lady Penelope at Naas but struggled behind Sonaiyla in a Cork stakes race next time and was below form in a three-year-old handicap at this track last time.

Verdict

A highly competitive edition of this race and a case could be made for quite a few of the runners on their best form. A chance is taken on the vastly improved Sonaiyla who has posted one good effort after another this season and her latest second in a Group 3 at this track reads well.

Take Sovereign to remind us of his class in St Leger

4.40 Comer Group International Irish St Leger (Group 1) 1m 6f

Barbados: Capable sort on his day and has posted a couple of good efforts this season to reach the frame behind Twilight Payment and Master Of Reality, but even so he has plenty to do if he is to make an impact at this level.

Fujaira Prince: Very lightly raced six-year-old who looks to be fulfilling his potential this season as evidenced by a Royal Ascot handicap triumph which was followed by a half-length success in last month’s Ebor at York. This demands more but he looks well worth his place in good staying races.

Micro Manage: Lightly raced colt who made an excellent return from 14 months off the track to finish third in the Irish St Leger trial here last month when he gave the impression he would be all the better for that run. Has long looked a group-class stayer in the making and could have a major part to play.

Raa Atoll: German Group 2 winner has useful form but has been off the track for over 14 months and this represents quite a demanding starting point.

Sovereign: Shocked some high-profile rivals to win the Irish Derby last year. Has been restricted to just two runs since then but his second to Enable at Ascot last time was a creditable effort and he must be considered a leading player as he steps back up to a trip that should suit him very well.

Twilight Payment: Has finished seventh, fourth and sixth in the last three renewals of this race but looks better this season and has posted two commanding victories at Group 3 and Group 2 level over this course and distance. This is by far the strongest field he has encountered this term, but he is not one to take lightly at this track.

Search For A Song: Turned in a tremendous display to rout her opposition in this race last year. Hasn’t yet reached those heights this season but a third to Magical in the Tattersalls Gold Cup last time was encouraging and she should do much better now that she returns to this trip.

Passion: Smart filly who was third in the Irish Oaks and she looked right at home over this trip when landing a Naas Group 3 last time. This race will demand more but she is a tough and willing stayer who has plenty of the right qualities and she could easily make her presence felt.

Verdict

Sovereign ran a fine race behind Enable in the King George and that effort coupled with the level of form he showed to win last year’s Irish Derby earns him the vote. He could have most to fear from last year’s winner Search For A Song while the Irish St Leger regular Twilight Payment and the lightly raced Mirco Manage are two others that should be thereabouts at the finish.

Voice can gain deserved win

2.00 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Bold Lad Sprint Handicap 6f

Nordic Passage appeals as being good enough to land a premier handicap. He has winning course form, is quite versatile in terms of ground preference and he comes here off a good fourth to Make A Challenge in a listed race at Navan. He can deal with the improving Treacherous who has won three of his last four starts and impressed when winning comfortably at Goodwood last time.

SELECTION: NORDIC PASSAGE

Next best: Treacherous

2.35 Moyglare Jewels Blandford Stakes (Group 2) 1m 2f

A chance is taken on One Voice on her return to a trip over which she was an excellent neck second to Fancy Blue in the Nassau Stakes. A return to that form could suffice. Thundering Nights defeated Albigna in the Snow Fairy Stakes over a mile and one furlong here last month. The ground won’t be at all as testing this time but she has previously shown that she can handle a sound surface and she is a highly progressive sort.

SELECTION: ONE VOICE

Next best: Thundering Nights

5.15 Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sale Stakes 6f 63yds

Star Of Orion makes plenty of appeal with a rating of 94 and the form of his latest third in a seven-furlong York nursery looks solid with the first two having since shown up well in a decent affair at Doncaster subsequently.

The Blue Panther will be much happier at this trip than the five furlongs he won over at Bellewstown last time and he might be the one to test the selection.

SELECTION: STAR OF ORION

Next best: The Blue Panther

5.50 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Northfields Handicap 1m 2f

The improving Sonnyboyliston could be the one to beat as he looks to build on his defeat of Thundering Nights in a handicap over this course and distance in July. He is 13lbs higher in the weights as a result of that but first time cheekpieces could bring about further progress on his part.

Degraves ran quite respectably to be beaten less than two lengths into fourth in the Royal Whip last time and the drop down in class from stakes level could see him go well.

SELECTION: SONNYBOYLISTON

Next best: Degraves