1.45 Irish EBF Auction Series Fillies Maiden 7f

This is the maiden in which Coronation Stakes heroine Cercene caught the eye on debut 12 months ago. Given how strongly Joseph O’Brien’s string has been motoring along, a speculative vote goes to Alibah, a 42,000gns breeze-up buy from the Tattersalls Guineas Sale whose half-brother was placed on his first two starts in maidens for Richard O’Brien (Racing Post Rating of 81). It’s a positive for her chances that Dylan Browne McMonagle prefers her over stablemate Idiocracy, and she’s got a great draw in stall one.

Tahcawin, Cercene’s stablemate, made a promising enough first start when fifth on debut at Leopardstown 16 days ago, and is worthy of respect. That experience will be a nice advantage to have over the unraced ones here. The Willie McCreery-trained Sanctijude ran creditably enough in a Leopardstown maiden too when fourth on her only start five weeks ago. She’s worthy of shortlist inclusion.

SELECTION: ALIBAH

Next best: Tahcawin

2.15 O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Handicap 7f

The way that Jackandthefox has finished out the last twice over six furlongs suggested he could be worth a try back at this distance, and he might finally make the breakthrough in what looks a weak enough contest. He’s not banker material by any means, with an 0-18 record, but he’s been consistent enough to finish in the first four on his last seven starts. He’s also got a handy draw in stall three.

Sierra De Gredos, a winner here three starts ago, went close at Dundalk a fortnight ago when second and is now up 2lb. He also has blinkers replacing the visor he sported last time. It was a little disappointing Sneddy Eddie couldn’t take advantage of what looked a low-key affair at Ayr 20 days ago but he did win here on his previous start and could well still have a workable mark on 55. Dual all-weather scorer Drafted is making his first start for Charles Byrnes and looks one who can win races for the stable.

SELECTION: JACKANDTHEFOX

Next best: Sierra De Gredos

2.50 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Marble City Stakes (Listed) 1m4f

Acapulco Bay is 3lb wrong at the weights with Emit, but this trip looks more likely to suit the Aidan O’Brien-trained runner and he can make his battle-hardened profile count. He was beaten over a furlong further at Down Royal last time in the Ulster Derby, but trying to give 14lb to the winner and 19lb to the runner-up was probably a big ask in a tactical race and the ground probably won’t be as lively here as was the case then. That should be a help.

Emit couldn’t land a telling blow over 10 furlongs at Royal Ascot last time, and should find this much more manageable now. He seems pretty versatile in terms of ground. Deressa has work to do to get involved on the basis of her rating of 93 but she would have been much closer last time in the valuable Gowran Classic last time but for meeting trouble in running.

SELECTION: ACAPULCO BAY

Next best: Emit

3.25 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies & Mares Maiden 1m

The lack of a run for 308 days is clearly a negative for Continuite, yet she ticks a nice few boxes in the sense that she’s got the experience of two runs behind her, including a second at this track, and looks more promising than most of these. She came within a head of last weekend’s Irish Oaks third Island Hopping in a maiden here when last seen in September, and both the fifth (Calrissiana) and sixth (Kalixa) have gone on to win maidens since (third and fourth yet to appear again). She’s bred to be smart as a Frankel filly from a useful Juddmonte family.

Mystic Bella, another Frankel filly out of a quality mare, finished fifth and sixth in a couple of barrier trials and could be worth keeping an eye on for Henry de Bromhead.

Guarded, rated 79, disappointed at the Curragh last weekend but has a chance on her previous form. Katashuna made a pleasing debut when third at Naas 11 weeks ago and needs respecting, though she was the stable second-string on that occasion.

SELECTION: CONTINUITE

Next best: Mystic Bella

3.58 Bolands Mazda Carlow Handicap 1m

This is a tricky affair and Church Mountain gets a tentative vote for Denis Hogan. He never played a part from behind over an unsuitable trip as a 33/1 shot at Dundalk last time but his mark has been falling and he’s now back to a more suitable set-up. Competing off the same rating as his last win at Limerick in April, he has the ability to play a prominent role here if bringing his ‘A’ game.

Earls, who also has entries for next week at Galway, is on a workable mark in this type of grade but whether the ground is soft enough for him to be at his best is the concern. Raybiya would be of interest if bouncing back to something more like her penultimate fifth at Roscommon, and has a visor added now. Pier Pressure has place claims once again, while Daonethatgotaway is drawn wide but likes to come from off the pace anyway.

SELECTION: CHURCH MOUNTAIN

Next best: Raybiya

4.33 Racing TV Apprentice Handicap (Div I) 1m 1f 110yd

If Flier can revert to the sort of effort he delivered when second at Leopardstown two starts ago, he’ll be bang there again in what looks a weak enough handicap. Sneezy Foster’s Dundalk winner looks well suited to the trip if he can get involved from behind/from a wide draw. He’s ridden by Patrick McGettigan, who has been making a decent impression for a young claimer in recent weeks.

Barretstown, Gallo Dell Cielo and Dazzling Spirit have chances if able to rediscover some of their previous spark, while Chou Chou collected at Tipperary two starts ago and Conor Cusack’s 7lb claim is a positive to offset the rise he picked up for that.

SELECTION: FLIER

Next best: Chou Chou

5.07 Racing TV Apprentice Handicap (Div II) 1m 1f 110yd

Numidia caught the eye over further than this at Down Royal eight days ago when lacking racing room in the straight, and if he can prove as effective over this shorter distance, he’ll be in the mix again. He drops in class to an attractive contest and Rory Mulligan knows him well, having won on him at Dundalk last winter.

Roderick has a 7lb penalty to contend with for his win at Naas on Wednesday, though Patrick McGettigan can claim 4lb here, whereas he couldn’t claim at all in that mid-week contest. The quick turnaround and wide draw are more of a concern than the extra weight. Serafina was returning from 1,049 days off when down the field at Killarney last week and she’s entitled to be a lot sharper now. Famous Enough has a lovely low weight and ran well last time at Leopardstown, while Warazam has solid claims too.

SELECTION: NUMIDIA

Next best: Roderick

5.40 Get Galway Races Ready With The Tote Race 1m 1f 110yd

This represents quite the drop in class for Crypto Force and he ought to take advantage of it for Amo Racing and Adrian Murray. He didn’t run all that badly behind French Master in the Golden Gates Handicap at Royal Ascot, beaten five and three quarters of a length in mid-field, and he’s well treated by the race conditions. From a confidence point of view, it’s not ideal that he hasn’t won since the 2022 Beresford Stakes as a two-year-old but there was enough to take from his last start to suggest he still retains ability. Cristal Clere was second in a similar contest two starts ago at this track and Sam Coen’s 7lb claim helps counteract the fact he’s 3lb wrong at the weights with the selection. He shouldn’t be far away again.

SELECTION: CRYPTO FORCE

Next best: Cristal Clere