1.35 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Nursery Handicap 6f
Banks Of The Boyne was essentially running into a brick wall when meeting the extremely well-handicapped Seven Nation Army in a nursery at the Galway Festival and he emerged from that second-placed effort with his reputation enhanced. That is why he makes appeal after the handicapper opted to lower him 1lb for finishing second. That run came over seven furlongs, but he previously showed the pace required for six furlongs when second in a Fairyhouse maiden at this trip.
High Morals shaped with a degree of promise on debut here, and when second over a mile at Bellewstown. If he can leave a poor Galway run behind on possibly unsuitable ground, he could be a danger off 76 on his nursery bow.
SELECTION: BANKS OF THE BOYNE
Next best: High Morals
2.10 Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden 6f
Cormac Farrell has been having a good run with his breeze-up graduates and another of them, Coincidenza, will be intriguing to follow on her debut for Donnacha O’Brien. A €25,000 yearling, this Ten Sovereigns filly changed hands for 200,000gns at the breeze-ups and is out of a 95-rated mare. Her trainer has had plenty of luck with the sire too.
The Pipeman posted an encouraging debut when second to Shesthedevil in a Navan maiden last month. The winner raced well away from where he was positioned and he’s entitled to come forward for the run. Heart Of You is down in trip after a solid fifth on his Galway introduction over seven furlongs.
SELECTION: COINCIDENZA
Next best: The Pipeman
2.45 Melbourne Cup Carnival Handicap 1m
Bundle Of Interest ran a lot better than her finishing position of seventh suggests last time out at Gowran Park. She met all sorts of traffic when coming with a lively-looking run and was eased right down when it became apparent she wasn’t going to make it through the gap her rider wanted. It remains to be seen whether the mile is definitely her best trip, but her only previous win came under Dylan Browne McMonagle on similar ground to this, and the champion jockey is back aboard now.
At the opposite end of the weights, it would be dangerous to dismiss Alto Sax. He’s been very consistent and Reece Holohan’s 7lb claim will be a good asset here. Tofino was a minor eye-catcher last time at Killarney and deserves a market check.
SELECTION: BUNDLE OF INTEREST
Next best: Alto Sax
3.20 Velo ‘Official Coffee At The Curragh’ Irish EBF Maiden 1m 1f
The Galway Festival meeting of Zarak Pasha and Thomas Chippendale, when second and third to Victory Speech, looks a key formline here and preference is for Joseph O’Brien’s twice-raced colt. On both occasions, the Zarak juvenile has demonstrated clear maiden-winning ability and stepping up to nine furlongs shouldn’t be an issue.
Four lengths separated Zarak Pasha and Thomas Chippendale at Ballybrit, but that margin will be much reduced now, judged on how Ballydoyle’s newcomers tend to improve. The Camelot colt raced with plenty of promise in his own right then. Four newcomers from Joseph and Aidan O’Brien in the same race each have appealing pedigrees.
SELECTION: ZARAK PASHA
Next best: Thomas Chippendale
3.55 Tote Guarantee, Never Beaten By SP Handicap 1m 2f
After a fine third at Galway, when probably paying the price for over-racing in the early stages, Thyer is bound to have a big say off just 2lb higher here. Dropping in trip a couple of furlongs ought to be no problem to him and was only beaten a length and a quarter by the fast-finishing Sir Jeremy then. The form has also been given a boost by the runner-up winning the Connacht Oaks Handicap on her next start.
Guinelot didn’t win a strong maiden at Ballinrobe, albeit the runner-up won a claimer next time. That said, an opening mark of 71 could be appealing if she has improvement in her as a lightly-raced three-year-old by Camelot. The similarly unexposed Youcansaythatagain posted a higher-calibre performance when winning at Down Royal and looks one with more left to offer for an in-form Andy Oliver.
SELECTION: THYER
Next best: Guinelot
4.25 Newbridge Silverware Royal Whip Stakes (Group 3) 1m 2f
This looks a perfect opportunity for twice Group 1-placed and French Derby fourth A Boy Named Susie to notch his first victory outside of maiden company. Last month’s Coral-Eclipse runner-up takes a massive drop in class and gets 7lb from his older rivals.
Omni Man ran creditably behind Ethical Diamond at Leopardstown over a couple of furlongs further last week when fourth (beaten two and a half lengths). He might stick his hand up for the best of the minor money.
SELECTION: A BOY NAMED SUSIE
Next best: Omni Man
4.55 William Hill Irish EBF Juvenile Sprint Stakes (Listed) 5f
Paddy Twomey has a strong hand here and a chance is taken on his maiden New Bond Street putting the experience of three previous runs to good use on her first try at five furlongs. The Havana Grey filly has been apparently well fancied on all three starts in good maidens and this doesn’t look the deepest of listed events.
Stablemate Concorde Landed was turned over as 6/5 favourite at Naas last time in a listed race, but was noted to have been keen to post and possibly took a bad step in the closing stages. She can show a lot better now, having won well at the same venue on debut. Katie McGivern’s dual winner Grayrobin has momentum up and shouldn’t be far away.
SELECTION: NEW BOND STREET
Next best: Concorde Landed
5.25 Bet With Tote On Racing & Sports Handicap 5f
Bold Optimist’s last two wins came at five furlongs, the most recent of which came here two years ago in a 0-100 sprint handicap on good ground. It’s tough to approach him with any real confidence given his drought between wins, but he fired a warning shot when second at Naas last time and could be on a workable mark when all falls right.
Mary Shoelaces, Harry’s Hill and Happy Henry reoppose after finishing 1-2-5 here four weeks ago. With the first two nudged up the weights, and the fifth still on his original mark, he ought to have a decent chance of bridging the gap in a season where he has really found his feet as a sprinter.
SELECTION: BOLD OPTIMIST
Next best: Happy Henry