1.20 Fitz Agriplant Maiden 7f
Fozzy Stack struck with a first-time-out three-year-old at Cork last weekend and might be able to do the same here with the nicely-bred Valentina Eclipse. The Gleneagles colt, wearing a hood on debut, is from a useful family that the trainer knows well. Khafar hinted at winning potential on her debut at Newbury last August for Charlie Hills/Shadwell before having her form taper off slightly in two subsequent runs. The well-bred Dubawi filly is an interesting stable-switcher to Paddy Twomey after her 24,000gns sale.
SELECTION: VALENTINA ECLIPSE
Next best: Khafar
1.55 Captain Dara Fitzpatrick Memorial Maiden 1m 4f
It was an eye-catching return to action for Cannes when second in a 10-furlong maiden behind a race-fit rival here last month, and he’s bound to be in the thick of it again now - especially with the step up in trip looking a plus for him. This will be the driest ground he’s faced. If he copes with it, he’s got strong claims. Antigua finished five lengths behind the selection last time and gets cheekpieces now. The longer distance also should well be a positive. Almazann was only narrowly denied as 9/4 favourite on his Cork debut 16 days ago and has a nice profile for this too. Of the unraced contenders, Count Bezukhov has quite the pedigree, being by Wootton Bassett and out of German Oaks winner, Miss Yoda.
SELECTION: CANNES
Next best: Antigua
2.30 Al Shira’aa Racing “Mutamakina” Stakes (Group 3) 7f
Ground conditions could be a vital factor here, as several of the top candidates have shown their best with an ease underfoot, like Joseph O’Brien’s admirable Princess Child. A tentative nod goes to the Paddy Twomey-trained City Of Memphis, who has been brought along gradually and made a winning return at Gowran recently in much calmer waters. Her Irish 1000 Guineas fifth to Lake Victoria last season proved she can cope with decent ground and that she belongs at this level. Carla Ridge is bound to have a strong season ahead. However, the combination of a 218-day absence, stepping back up to seven furlongs and racing on quicker ground than her best display came on mean she mightn’t quite show her very best here. Snellen will be a player if sharp enough on her comeback, while any market confidence behind Joseph O’Brien’s German recruit Quebec would be worth noting.
SELECTION: CITY OF MEMPHIS
Next best: Carla Ridge
3.05 Porsche In Support Of Breast Cancer Ireland Amethyst Stakes (Listed) 1m
Triple Group 3 winner/2024 French 2000 Guineas third Alcantor starts life with Joseph O’Brien in a listed race without any penalties, and can get off to a winning start, if sharp enough after 218 days off. It’s encouraging that he won a Group 3 on his seasonal reappearance last year and he’s also officially 5lb ahead of his nearest-rated rival here. British challenger Excellent Believe commands respect and has race fitness on his side. There wasn’t much to split Tokenomics and Mississippi River behind The Lion In Winter last time, though the former didn’t have it all go his own way then and could step up. Catalina Delcarpio remains open to further improvement.
SELECTION: ALCANTOR
Next best: Excellent Believe
3.40 Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial Stakes (Group 3) (3yo) 1m 2f
Despite a disappointing comeback over course and distance last month, Group 1-winning two-year-old Pierre Bonnard is given another chance to prove himself - even with five and a half lengths to make up on Endorsement (now in cheekpieces) from their Ballysax meeting. Aidan O’Brien suggested there would be a good deal of physical improvement to come from the off-season Derby favourite and we’ll learn much more about him now. The form of Shaihaan’s Curragh maiden win in March has been franked by the runner-up Latin America winning well at Navan, and the third Asakir winning a maiden here last month.
SELECTION: PIERRE BONNARD
Next best: Shaihaan
4.15 “It’s Family Day At Leopardstown” Fillies Maiden 1m 2f
Johanna Walsh, not beaten far at Gowran last time, has started her career with two rock-solid runs and wouldn’t be winning out of turn. The Sea The Stars filly looks set to relish the 10 furlongs around here and has an excellent draw in stall two for Dylan Browne McMonagle. It looked an above-average maiden that Beatific finished fifth in here last month, with the winner rated 106 and the runner-up winning a Group 3 next time out. Wickedly Wootton is a well-bred newcomer worth consideration for Paddy Twomey.
SELECTION: JOHANNA WALSH
Next best: Beatific
4.50 Leopardstown Golf And Driving Range Handicap 1m 2f
A most tricky handicap to solve. Candleford Green has the potential to improve beyond a mark of 78, having won a Gowran maiden when last seen in the autumn. She’s bred in the purple and saved one of her best efforts for this track at two. Ob La Di, representing an in-form yard, is another mare with solid enough course form, and she was racing over shorter than ideal last time when blowing away the cobwebs at Gowran. Truth Be Told looks a useful stable-switcher to Michael Grassick and Diamond Exchange fired a warning shot last time. Akecheta is capable if bringing her ‘A’ game down in grade here.
SELECTION: CANDLEFORD GREEN
Next best: Ob La Di
5.20 Breast Cancer Ireland Handicap 1m 4f
The hat-trick-seeking Keepsgettingbetter might do just that for Donnacha O’Brien. She received a 9lb hike for last time and her progression has been coming on the all-weather, but conditions ought to suit and trying a mile and a half for the first time has the potential to improve her further. Stablemate Eniac should come forward from his Dundalk comeback and might be a different proposition now upped in trip on handicap debut. Bay Of Stars has top-weight for a reason, after a nice performance to win a maiden at Dundalk last time, while Darius Dark looks capable of further improvement after a win off 5lb lower at Cork.
SELECTION: KEEPSGETTINGBETTER
Next best: Darius Dark