1.10 Juddmonte ‘Lead Artist’ Irish EBF Maiden 7f

Aidan O’Brien is seeking a fifth straight win in this race and saddles half of the six-runner line-up for this year’s edition. It’s extremely difficult to go against Ryan Moore’s number-one choice in any of these maidens, but a chance is taken on Ballydoyle’s second-string, the beautifully-bred Victory Speech. By Wootton Bassett and out of Words, he’s a full brother to last year’s Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes winner Beautify and a half to Irish Oaks third Library. Speakers Corner, another Wootton Bassett colt, is the mount of Moore and is out of Group 2-placed mare Credenza, whose first couple of runners haven’t quite caught fire. The stable’s other representative, Drumbeat, is out of a South African Group 1 sprint winner.

Of the remainder, Anchor Road was a real eye-catcher on debut behind Abraham Lincoln when not all went smoothly. That form has been working out well and the experience of that initial run won’t be lost on him. Dermot Weld and Moyglare’s newcomer Porto Vecchio is of obvious interest as a brother to Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Homeless Songs, while Johnny Murtagh’s debutant Fort Dearborn, by Starspangledbanner, cost €150,000 as a yearling. (MB)

SELECTION: VICTORY SPEECH

Next best: Anchor Road

1.40 Hailey Equine Irish EBF

Fillies Maiden 7f

It was a step in the right direction from Vishaya when a close second in a Killarney handicap on Monday and this doesn’t look the deepest of maidens, by Curragh standards, for her to play a prominent role. On the evidence of her front-running showing over a mile earlier this week, stepping back to seven furlongs shouldn’t be an issue.

Rebel Wave was only just touched off at Limerick last time and is rated 3lb superior to the selection, but the drier ground on offer here isn’t guaranteed to be ideal. The Willie McCreery stable has been among the winners this week, though. Nautic Star has been running with consistency and should be in the shake-up again. Newcomers Stooked (Ger Lyons) and Otsana (Paddy Twomey) are worth a second look. (MB)

SELECTION: VISHAYA

Next best: Nautic Star

2.15 Al Shira’aa Racing Meadow Court Stakes (Group 3) 1m 2f

After catching the eye running on strongly from off the pace for second in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes here three weeks ago, One Look looks a standout for Paddy Twomey as she drops in class without any penalties to carry. Her record over an extended nine furlongs and this trip reads 221232, including two seconds at the highest level and a victory in this race 12 months ago.

Nyra is down a quarter mile in trip from a cracking second to Irish Oaks hopeful Sparan Nua in the Munster Oaks last time - and her Group 3 win did come over just a furlong further than this. She could well have more to come. The selection’s stablemate Moody is another who needs to prove her pace at this trip but is in excellent shape after back-to-back listed wins the last twice. Rhapsody has a fair deal to find on official ratings but adds to a decent British challenge that includes listed winners Dreamasar and Francophone. (MB)

SELECTION: ONE LOOK

Next best: Nyra

2.50 Liverpool FC Foundation Scurry Handicap 6f 63yd

Headmaster looks capable of notching his second premier handicap of the year here, now 8lb higher than when winning the Habitat in May. He won despite the traffic that day and the manner in which he finished suggests there may be more to come.

Genesis has made a similar jump in the ratings following last month’s Rockingham victory and may also be capable of justifying that rise, given that his three other career wins came over six furlongs.

Last year’s winner Go Athletico, meanwhile, has dropped down to a career-low mark of 78, off which he chased home a seemingly well-treated three-year-old last time out. The eight-year-old ran into a wall of horses in the Habitat but previously finished a fine third to today’s topweight Keke and meets him on better terms now.

The 2025 Habitat winner Moltophino finished a fine fifth in this race 12 months ago off 6lb higher. He likely needed the run in this year’s Habitat and stumbled leaving the stalls in the Rockingham next time, so those defeats can be discounted. (AL)

SELECTION: HEADMASTER

Next best: Go Athletico

3.25 Tulfarris Hotel And Golf Resort Sapphire Stakes

(Group 2) 5f

A hot contest in which a case could be made for virtually all of the 10 declared. The fillies’ allowance and weight-for-age conditions work in favour of progressive three-year-old Havana Anna, whose yard couldn’t be in better form.

Her Commonwealth Cup fourth to Venetian Sun is difficult to fault and the Cheveley Park runner-up previously did well to win the Lacken Stakes on her first start of the season. Her best form may be over six furlongs, but this supplementary entry should be sharper for her growing experience.

Experienced five-year-olds Rosy Affair and Jakajaro both warrant plenty of respect but their respective fourth and fifth in the King Charles III Stakes holds question marks due to the winner finishing strongly off a blistering pace that couldn’t hold up. Bucanero Fuerte, who finished third in the Flying Five over course and distance last year, had excuses this season and is worth giving another chance here. (AL)

SELECTION: HAVANA ANNA

Next best: Bucanero Fuerte

4.00 GAIN Railway Stakes (Group 2) 6f

Ryan Moore chose wrong in the Coventry Stakes and it may well be the case again as he remains loyal to Confucius.

Wayne Lordan’s mount Carry The Flag might not have been impressive when winning a listed race two weeks ago, and was a beaten favourite of the Norfolk Stakes prior to that, but he should be hard to beat back over six furlongs, the trip over which he made the running and finished a gallant second to Great Barrier Reef in the Marble Hill Stakes here.

Immortal Guard showed signs of inexperience back in third that day and was much more professional when rallying for a close second in the Anglesey Stakes next time. He should go close again.

His stablemate Tribeca should not be underestimated on his return to six furlongs, given how the maiden he won has worked out. (AL)

SELECTION: CARRY THE FLAG

Next best: Immortal Guard

5.10 Hill Of Allen Stud Handicap 1m 2f

There are question marks surrounding the form of the top horses’ maiden wins and their ability to act on this firmer ground, but with only six declared, competition is low. A good run on heavy ground is a negative for Noble Honour and while Yousaynothingatall won well on soft, her sister handled this ground.

The horse Genchev beat in a Navan maiden has yet to run since, but his earlier form was smart, including when finishing fourth behind subsequent stakes winners Endorsement and Limestone, with Christmas Day behind him.

Vanir’s second at Gowran has worked out well and she went one better next time, when traffic problems meant the winning margin would never be great. This is only her fourth start, so there is more room for improvement to defy her opening mark. (AL)

SELECTION: VANIR

Next best: Genchev

5.45 WTW Willis Handicap 5f

Dylan Browne McMonagle is a significant jockey booking for Nouvel Espoir, who was left with a lot to do last time out, yet finished well to be fourth in a sprint handicap at Naas a fortnight ago. The last time that the champion jockey combined with this Jimmy Barcoe-trained gelding, the pair took fourth behind Rockingham runner-up and winner Sarahmae and Genesis in a five-furlong handicap at Cork.

Absoluteassignment,representing the Tony Mullins stable, shaped like he might appreciate this drop down in trip when finishing second on handicap debut over six furlongs in May. More patient tactics didn’t work out subsequently in a race won by Midnight Dusk, who impressed here next time out.

Carrigans Grove has dropped to below her last winning mark after running over trips further than her ideal and is worth considering, as is Real Encounter in first-time cheekpieces. (AL)

SELECTION: NOUVEL ESPOIR

Next best: Absoluteassignment