1.10 Fitz Agriplant Maiden 7f
Rated 87 on the back of finishing fourth in the Goffs Million when last seen, Valencia looks the one to beat for Joseph O’Brien. Her lack of a run for 225 days is a slight concern, but she has competed well in better maidens than this, both here and at the Curragh, last season.
Monkstown could put the experience of his two maiden runs to good use, especially now the stable’s runners are probably in a stronger place on the whole than earlier in the season. One who could outrun his price from an each-way perspective is Ciaran Murphy’s Teffian Warrior. He showed pace on his debut when eighth at the Curragh and could show better on this sounder surface.
SELECTION: VALENCIA
Next best: Teffian Warrior
1.45 Captain Dara Fitzpatrick
Memorial Maiden 1m 4f
With natural improvement from his debut fourth here 32 days ago, Lombardi Trophy ought to be bang there for Donnacha O’Brien. The Galileo colt found plenty off the bridle over 10 furlongs on that occasion and stepping up to this trip looks a positive. He should be all the better for that experience. Perhaps the biggest threat to the selection is Dabashan, though. He did some good late work at Dundalk on his only start in March when showing some rawness and is in the right hands to improve.
SELECTION: LOMBARDI TROPHY
Next best: Dabashan
2.20 Al Shira’aa Racing ‘Mutamakina’ Stakes (Group 3) 7f
It was a perfectly respectable comeback from Vespertilio when second over six furlongs at Cork five weeks ago, and she’s probably reverting to her optimum trip now around a course where she’s run well before. That Cork form got a boost too when the winner, Lady With The Lamp, followed up in listed company at Chelmsford next time out. Fiery Lucy, last seen finishing a smashing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf behind Lake Victoria, is an obvious player, but her lack of a recent run means we mightn’t see the very best of her here. Irish Champions Festival scorer Chantez has run lately, but needs to show much better now in the first-time hood (upset in the stalls last time). She loves this course and distance and represents a team in top form.
SELECTION: VESPERTILIO
Next best: Chantez
2.55 Porsche In Support Of Breast CancerIreland Amethyst Stakes (Listed) 1m
He isn’t likely to be at concert pitch here with the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot on the horizon, but Diego Velazquez can afford to run below his best and still collect, according to official ratings. He was the best of these when winning at the Irish Champions Festival on his final start of 2024, will appreciate the sound surface and he was only beaten a length in the French 2000 Guineas on his first start last season - he can to a good level when fresh.
The admirable Mutasarref was just touched off by today’s rival Lord Massusus in listed company here last month but is 2lb better off now for a neck defeat and could easily improve for the run.
SELECTION: DIEGO VELAZQUEZ
Next best: Mutasarref
3.30 Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial Stakes (Group 3) 1m 2f
After a convincing display to win the Ballysax here six weeks ago, Delacroix is tough to get away from for Aidan O’Brien. The yard’s string also seems to be in a stronger place now than when he beat Chester Vase-winning stablemate Lambourn here last time.
Tennessee Stud, a Group 1-winning two-year-old on heavy ground at Saint-Cloud when last seen in October, also has form on decent ground and is being trained with an Epsom Derby bid in mind. He’s rated 6lb inferior to Delacroix and 10lb ahead of Acapulco Bay, who has a race-sharpness edge on him. Purview could be anything after impressing in a Dundalk maiden last November.
SELECTION: DELACROIX
Next best: Tennessee Stud
4.05 It’s Family Day At Leopardstown Fillies Maiden 1m 2f
Given she was returning from her first start since third in a Salisbury maiden as 8/11 favourite a full 237 days earlier, Butterfly Wings is entitled to come forward a fair deal from her fourth in a maiden here 32 days ago. That race was won by the highly impressive Catalina Delcarpio (better than the bare form reads when second in a tactical Salsabil Stakes since), while the runner-up wasn’t beaten far when second in a Gowran maiden this week.
Etawa finished a length and a quarter in front of the selection here last time and there shouldn’t be much between them again now.
SELECTION: BUTTERFLY WINGS
Next best: Etawa
4.40 Leopardstown Golf And Driving Range Handicap 1m 2f
Switching back to better ground and having blown away any cobwebs as an easy-to-back 16/1 shot on his stable debut last time, there’s every chance we’ll see a different version of Masoun now. Joseph O’Brien’s 87-rated performer was progressive for Johnny Murtagh and the Aga Khan last summer before selling for €105,000 and could have more to come. If she’s not found wanting for a run, having been off since a smart maiden win at Naas in September, Sidiza is a strong candidate for Dermot Weld. Her opening mark of 82 looks workable.
SELECTION: MASOUN
Next best: Sidiza
5.15 Breast Cancer Ireland Handicap 1m 4f
There was a nice form boost for the maiden that Mister Adam finished third in at the Curragh on the first day of the season when runner-up First Wave bolted up at Gowran this week. With that rival now up to a mark of 94, and Mister Adam only a length and a half behind him, a rating of 83 could represent decent territory for Ger O’Leary’s unexposed son of Too Darn Hot. He’s bred to be useful, being out of Irish St Leger heroine Voleuse De Coeurs.
There are several dangers, however. Drucker, still off bottom-weight after winning at Dundalk last month (up 5lb), is lightly raced and the ground should be right up his street.
SELECTION: MISTER ADAM
Next best: Drucker