4.15 GOFFS VINCENT

O’BRIEN NATIONAL

STAKES (GROUP 1) 7F

Beckford: Followed up a good win in an auction maiden with a clear cut success in the Group 2 Railway Stakes and did better again when going down by ½l to Sioux Nation in the Phoenix Stakes last month. His last effort suggested that 7f wouldn’t be an issue and with the slow ground no problem a bold showing is expected.

Berkeley Square: Progressed from two solid runs in defeat to win a Tipperary maiden two months ago. He has since come up short in two outings at pattern level but he did only weaken late on when fifth in the Tyros Stakes and his latest third in the Futurity was a respectable run.

Brother Bear: Talented sort who defeated Sioux Nation on his debut over 6f and then ran out a decisive winner of the Marble Hill Stakes here several weeks later. Ran very well and was perhaps a shade unlucky not to win the Coventry Stakes (beaten just over ½l into fourth) next time but wasn’t quite so good when third in the Anglesey Stakes last time. This trip is an unknown.

Coat Of Arms: Comes into this as a five-race maiden but his narrow Leopardstown defeat against Delano Roosevelt and a short-head second to Rostropovich in the Futurity are testament to his abilities. He might have a better chance than his odds imply.

Gustav Klimt: Did exceptionally well to overcome trouble in running in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket several weeks later. That last effort marked him out as one of the top two-year-olds of 2017 and he is likely to take all the beating even though the ground may be slower than ideal.

Lethal Steps: Got up late on to win a 6f maiden on his debut at Leopardstown and then outclassed his rivals at Killarney conditions race before going down by 3¼l to Ballet Shoes in a Tipperary listed race. That last run leaves him with plenty to do but there is a strong chance that the best is yet to come from him.

Rostropovich: Has won two of his four starts and fulfilled the considerable promise of his maiden success to edge out Coat Of Arms in last month’s Futurity Stakes. The slow ground wasn’t ideal for him last time and he wouldn’t want the ground to ease any further so he mightn’t be certain to confirm that Futurity form.

Verbal Dexterity: Looked a huge talent when winning his maiden by 9½l over this course and distance on heavy ground in June and coped well with better ground and a shorter trip when beaten 1l by Beckford in the Railway Stakes next time. On his return from a 72-day break he looks to have his ideal conditions and he could mount a strong challenge for victory.

the verdict

Gustav Klimt worked wonders to overcome trouble in running in the Superlative Stakes last time. That effort marked him out as one of the leading two-year-olds of 2017 and he can back up that display with a victory over Beckford whose finishing effort in the Phoenix Stakes would suggest that 7f will be no problem for him. Verbal Dexterity is not one to underestimate and nor is Coat Of Arms.