REST OF THE CARD

2.05 K CLUB EBF MAIDEN 5F

Slumming Angel is given marginal preference over Blitz after both horses showed considerable promise in a 5f maiden won by Mr Scarlet at Naas last month. On that occasion the pair were separated by just a neck when finishing third and fourth. Blitz finished just in front of Slumming Angel on that occasion, but the latter gave the impression that she could improve substantially for that initial racecourse experience and she might just shade their latest clash.

Mur Hiba made excellent progress from her first run to finish a close third Velveteen in a 6f maiden here last month and she too looks capable of mounting a strong challenge for victory.

Selection: SLUMMING ANGEL

Next best: Blitz

2.35 LODER EBF FILLIES RACE 7F

This could see Hydrangea continue her progression. She improved from a respectable debut to finish a 2l second to Eziyra in a 7f fillies maiden at Galway last week. The daughter of Galileo didn’t enjoy the smoothest of passages at Galway and shaped better than the final result would suggest. The switch to this track could work in her favour and she is preferred to Light Laughter, who finished several lengths in front of Hydrangea when taking fourth in the 6f maiden won by Velveteen three weeks ago.

The step up to this trip should suit Light Laughter well. Dancing Waves is penalised as a previous winner. She commands respect having looked quite smart when running out a dominant 5l winner of a 7f Down Royal just over two weeks ago.

Selection: HYDRANGEA

Next best: Light Laughter

3.05 ANGLESEY LODGE EQUINE HOSPITAL EBF MAIDEN 1M

Utah is a hopeful choice to improve on his debut at Leopardstown. On that occasion, he was beaten just under 10l into sixth by Douglas Macarthur, but he certainly ran better than a bare reading of that result suggests. He looked quite green at various stages and then met trouble in running in the straight and, with a smoother run, could have finished several lengths closer.

It would come as no surprise to see him mount a strong challenge as that first outing should bring him forward significantly. His unraced stablemate Yucatan makes major appeal on pedigree as a son of Galileo and the brilliant Six Perfections, who has already produced the French Group 2 scorer Planet Five. Shamad (by Shamardal) and Dubai Sand (by Teofilo) are newcomers from top yards and both warrant due consideration.

Selection: UTAH

Next best: Yucatan

4.05 QATAR RACING & EQUESTRIAN CLUB PHOENIX SPRINT STAKES (GROUP 3) 6F

Eastern Impact might have the measure of the home defence. He has yet to win this season and was unable to justify odds-on favouritism at Chester last time.

However this former listed and Group 3 winner finished a creditable sixth in the July Cup and his fourth to Magical Memory in the Duke Of York Stakes in May is another strong piece of form in the context of this race. He is chosen ahead of last year’s star two-year-old Air Force Blue. After making no impression over a mile the latter ran better than his 12th place in the July Cup would indicate and there could yet be more to come from him over sprint distances.

The thoroughly reliable Fort Del Oro has already won twice at listed level this season. This is a much stronger race than the Sweet Mimosa Stakes that she won at Naas last month, but she should be able to give a good account of herself once again.

Selection: EASTERN IMPACT

Next best: Air Force Blue

4.35 PLUSVITAL HANDICAP 7F

This could see Chestnut Fire get off the mark for the season. A dual winner in 2015, he has been running with credit lately and he could have more to give than his recent form might suggest. His fourth to Have A Nice Day over this course and distance last month wasn’t a bad run and neither was his sixth to Beau Satchel at Galway last week.

On both occasions he gave the impression that he could be placed to win again when things fall right for him and this looks a good opportunity. The top-weight Texas Rock offered plenty of encouragement for the rest of the season when finishing second to Kadra over this trip at Leopardstown a few weeks ago. He is a contender along with Rattling Jewel, who struck to his task quite well in the closing stages of a 6f handicap at Naas on Monday, to suggest that a step up to this trip could suit.

Selection: CHESTNUT FIRE

Next best: Texas Rock

5.05 O’BRIEN’S WINES HANDICAP 1M

Castle Guest wouldn’t have the same scope for improvement as several of his rivals but he might be worth taking a chance on.

He is 7lbs lower in the weights than when winning last summer and his cause is further aided by his rider’s 10lbs claim. He comes here off a respectable third at Ballinrobe, but the run that stands out for this assignment is his fine third to Qatari Hunter in a premier handicap at Leopardstown last month.

Admittedly he has never won at a trip this short, but on the odd occasion that he has run over a mile in handicap company he has acquitted himself reasonably well. He is a hopeful choice over Aridity. The latter found the ground too soft at Naas last time, having previously bolted up at that track in May. There is more to come from him on a sound surface.

The blinkered Aspen Mountain is another that has more to offer and he was unlucky not to win a fair three-year-old handicap at Killarney in May on his last start.