Ryan McElligott

2.10 LADBROKES EBF (C&G) MAIDEN 1M

Taj Mahal has been unable to justify favouritism on his three starts to date but he is chosen in the hope that a step up to a mile will aid his cause. The manner in which he kept on to secure third in a Leopardstown maiden won by Lancaster Bomber suggested that a longer trip could suit.

He is chosen ahead of Lightening Fast, who showed good progress from his first outing to finish a 3l second to Whitecliffsofdover in a Naas maiden almost a month ago. He is another for whom the step up to a mile should be a positive. Yucatan was seventh to Utah on his debut but shaped as though he would be all the better for that initial experience. Captain Hardship is respected as the form of his last run ties in very closely with that of the selection.

Selection: TAJ MAHAL

Next best: Lightening Fast

2.40 FLAME OF TARA EBF STAKES (GROUP 3) 1M

After showing some promise on her intial outings, Butterflies appeared to take a marked step forward when winning a Gowran maiden over this trip last month. The runner-up has since been beaten, but the third-placed Winter went on to win nicely at Dundalk and there is every reason to believe that this filly can hold her own at this level.

She is preferred to the Galway maiden scorer Eziyra, who was 2l too strong for Hydrangea at Ballybrit. The runner-up from that race has since franked the form emphatically and there was a lot to like about the manner of Eziyra’s success that day. She can reverse the form of last month’s Tipperary maiden with Sea Of Grace, who beat her by 1l on that occasion. Madame Cherie is worth noting following an encouraging debut second to Hydrangea in a 7f conditions race at this track several weeks ago.

Selection: BUTTERFLIES

Next best: Eziyra

3.15 DEREK O’SULLIVAN MEMORIAL APPRENTICE HANDICAP (50-70) 1M 2F

Kandahari has shown enough on her last three outings to indicate that a race of this nature is within her grasp. She comes here off a respectable third to the impressive gambled-on winner Intrepid Prince at Galway and, prior to that, she showed up well when going down by ½l to Laws Of Spin in a reasonable Ballinrobe handicap. The latter has since boosted the form by defeating older opposition at Leopardstown.

King Of Aran didn’t enjoy much luck in running at a vital stage yet he was only just over 2l by Tap Focus at Roscommon last time. He appeals as one of the leading contenders for this prize.

Selection: KANDAHARI

Next best: King Of Aran

3.50 SNOW FAIRY FILLIES STAKES (GROUP 3) 1M 1F

A speculative vote goes to Epsom Icon, who needs to bounce back from a below par effort at Sandown last weekend. Encouragingly though, she is already a Group 3 winner at this trip and she ran very well over this course and distance last month when beaten less than 1½l by Bocca Baciata in a Group 2.

That run gives her an edge over several of these rivals and a line of form involving Santa Monica suggests that there is very little between the English raider and the likeable Adool. That one beat Santa Monica by ½l in a Gowran listed race earlier in the month and has progressed very well in just three runs to date. She should be capable of making further progress. Somehow may just prefer a longer trip, while Skiffle is an interesting contestant as she runs for the first time since finishing a well-held fifth in the Oaks at Epsom.

Selection: EPSOM ICON

Next best: Adool

4.25 ROUND TOWER STAKES (GROUP 3) 6F

Holy Cat looked a high-class juvenile when bolting up on her debut at Leopardstown earlier this month. On that occasion, the daughter of Kitten’s Joy was sent off a heavily backed favourite and she delivered a performance to match in handing out a near 5l beating to Alphabet. She is stepping up in class here and has to take on the colts but she looks equal to the task at hand.

She is given marginal preference over Intelligence Cross. He wasn’t at his best in the Richmond Stakes last time but his previous ½l second to Mehmas in the July Stakes at Newmarket is easily the best form on offer in this race. If the Ballydoyle colt returns to the form of the Newmarket run then Holy Cat will need to be at her very best to contain him.

Selection: HOLY CAT

Next best: Intelligence Cross

5.00 TOTE IRISH CAMBRIDGESHIRE 1M

He had no chance from an outside draw in a premier handicap at Galway last time and it would come as no surprise if Whiskey Sour were to play a leading role here. Previously, the Jeremy gelding turned in a nice effort to win a useful three-year-old handicap at Naas and his narrow victory over Tony The Gent that day indicated that a good handicap could be within his reach.

Cailin Mor looks to be coming into form. She followed a good fourth to Dream Walker in a valuable 7f Galway handicap with an excellent third in last week’s Ruby Stakes, which she may well have won in another stride. Texas Rock has been running well in useful handicaps to warrant consideration while Beau Satchel is another to mention as he has been placed in a number of premier handicaps over this course and distance.

Selection: WHISKEY SOUR

Next best: Cailin Mor

5.35 TIPPERARY CRYSTAL ROSE OF TRALEE HANDICAP 6F

Penny Pepper has already won a premier handicap at this track this season and she could strike again with her rider claiming a valuable 7lbs. Last time out she finished a respectable seventh in the Scurry Handicap and, prior to that, she was a clear-cut winner of a useful 7f fillies handicap on Derby weekend. A look at her form shows that she is quite at home over this trip and she has posted several honourable efforts over this course and distance.

A likely danger is Peacehaven. She is 4lbs higher than when winning a Naas handicap at the start of the month and showed up well last week when fifth to Ducky Mallon in a highly competitive contest over this course and distance.

Selection: PENNY PEPPER

Next best: Peacehaven