2.20 Irish Stallion Farms EBF

Fillies Maiden 5f

Nevermindtherain is a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner and Guineas fancy Puerto Rico, plus she’s by a sire known for producing top-class juveniles. Ballydoyle is always an obvious go-to when there’s a lack of form to go on, as is Robson De Aguiar when it comes to the juvenile contests.

His filly Your Song is bred to be precocious, as is Paddy Twomey’s Sioux Nation filly Velozee and Jessica Harrington’s well-related Aedhmar, who cost 270,000gns.

Conor Hoban gave Johnny Murtagh’s newcomer Celestial Crown a promising mention in last week’s feature on first-season sires and Ben Coen’s choice could be worth a look.

SELECTION: NEVERMINDTHERAIN Next best: Your Song

2.54 Down Syndrome Centre Cork Rated Race 5f

Amiata appeals on return to turf with a cut in the ground. Colin Keane’s mount won his maiden and showed great promise on debut over this trip, and has had excuses on other occasions on the turf.

His two Dundalk runs see him drop to a workable mark, while the top two might find it tough on return under their hefty weights, plus their dams don’t suggest they’ll be speedy enough for the minimum trip. There was only half a length between Oh Cecelia and Shadow Run at Naas last month, and given that it was the latter’s first run since October, he should take a step forward today. The filly’s rise in the weights also works in his favour.

SELECTION: AMIATA

Next best: Shadow Run

3.25 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden 5f

Cardiff By The Sea’s form stands head and shoulders above the rest here. Bought at the breeze-up sales for 320,000gns, the St Mark’s Basilica filly finished on debut to the more experienced Charles Darwin, who subsequently landed the Norfolk Stakes.

She subsequently finished a length and three-quarters behind True Love in the Queen Mary Stakes, and was found to be lame after disappointing next time out. Once she handles today’s soft ground, which her dam won on, she should be hard to beat.

White Smoke is one of a number of others to have shown promise, and the Coulsty filly is hoped to appreciate this drop in trip.

It may also work in favour of the race-fit Fate’s Gambit, who didn’t get home on heavy ground last month.

SELECTION: CARDIFF BY THE SEA

Next best: Fate’s Gambit

4.02 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Cork Stakes (Listed) 6f

As a Group 1-winning juvenile, and Group 1 performer since, Bucanero Fuerte is the class horse in the race, and deservedly much higher rated than the other two who carry a penalty for stakes wins last season.

King Cuan was placed in three stakes races last term and the fact that he didn’t win one, and therefore avoids a penalty, works in his favour here. He was the beaten favourite 12 months ago, but he had a two-year absence to overcome then, and is expected to figure highly in the placings this time.

This is a marked step up in class for progressive handicapper Unique Journey, but his recent run and ability to handle this sort of ground could give him the upper hand in placing today.

SELECTION: BUCANERO FUERTE

Next best: King Cuan

4.37 Mallow Garden Festival 22nd, 23rd & 24th May Fillies Maiden 7f

Andy Slattery has enjoyed a terrific start to the turf season and looks to have a good chance of continuing the trend here with Expert Dancer. She overcame a slow start to finish fourth on debut and followed up with a fine third in a competitive Curragh maiden next time out.

Her stablemate got the better of Ballydoyle’s Group 3 performer Signora last month, with the well-backed Frankel filly appearing to pay the price for racing keenly on heavy ground on her first start since June. She is hoped to settle better today with that run under her belt and has a fitness advantage.

Despite her uninspiring sales results, Flagstone Lady is a well-related filly, out of a mare who was listed-placed on soft ground. Market support will provide further pointers for her, as well as debut third Girl Bear and the well-bred Mardi Gras Queen in particular.

SELECTION: SIGNORA

Next Best: Expert Dancer

5.12 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Noblesse Stakes (Listed)

1m 4f 25yd

Wemightakedlongway won the Salsabil Stakes less than 12 months ago, meaning she avoids the penalty that Elana Osario carries for her course-and-distance win in the Give Thanks Stakes.

Perhaps more importantly, though, Wemightakedlongway was hugely consistent for the rest of the season, finishing fourth in the Epsom Oaks and Pretty Polly Stakes, second in the Irish Oaks, and was beaten just half a length in the Prix de l’Opera.

This looks an ideal opportunity to return to winning ways, with runner-up honours potentially between the aforementioned Elana Osario and It’s A Heartbeat. The latter finished lame when last seen, but her penultimate run rates highly, having won with authority at the Curragh, beating a rival who subsequently won a premier handicap and a listed race.

SELECTION: WEMIGHTAKEDLONGWAY

Next best: It’s A Heartbeat

5.45 SIS Supporting Irish Racing Handicap 1m

Perisher’s opening mark of 80 looks more than fair, considering his debut second, when he separated horses that each subsequently went close in the Futurity Trophy and won a Group 3. He didn’t follow up on his next two starts, but has been gelded since.

Chapel Lane is another who could progress as a three-year-old and outrun his rating. He caught the eye over six furlongs on debut, but appeared to stay a mile when last seen in October, and is bred to improve with time.

The German-bred Adel should also take a step forward today, having run well for a long way in the Madrid Handicap on return, which saw him dropped 4lb.

Handicap debutante Love Orchid is also worth considering as the Saxon Warrior filly steps up in trip.

SELECTION: PERISHER

Next best: Chapel Lane