Ryan McElligott
2.15 COOLMORE STUD REQUINTO EBF FILLIES MAIDEN 5F
Could It Be Love is a newcomer of some note. This daughter of War Front is a half-sister to the outstanding American juvenile champion and leading sire Uncle Mo and, while she is sure to progress from this initial outing, she might still be able to prevail. Summerseat Mist is a major threat following her fine debut third behind Fille Du Septembre at Dundalk. On that occasion she was beaten less than ½l and she finished just a head behind the subsequent winner Sirici.
Damsefly is another to note following quite an encouraging debut sixth behind T For Tango at Naas earlier this month. Himmah is an interesting newcomer for a yard that won the first two-year-old race of the season.
Selection: COULD IT BE LOVE
Next best: Summerseat Mist
2.45 NAVAN WELCOMES OWNERS TODAY APPRENTICE HANDICAP (45-70) 5F 182YDS
This could see Doonard Prince maintain his good run of form. He ended 2016 in excellent heart with a pair of 6f handicap wins at the Curragh and a runner-up finish over 5f at this track. On his comeback at Dundalk last month he performed quite respectably to finish fourth to Elusive Approach in a 7f handicap. The drop back in trip should help his cause and he often tends to progress well from his first run of the season.
Bubblesontherise comes here fit following a series of outings at Dundalk. She has dropped 22lbs since she first moved into handicaps and her penultimate 2l fourth to Strategic Heights at Dundalk would suggest that she can make her presence felt at this level.
Selection: DOONARD PRINCE
Next best: Bubblesontherise
3.20 COOLMORE STUD POWER STAKES (LISTED) 5F 182YDS
Psychedelic Funk is a hopeful choice to make a winning return to action. He started last season in great style by notching up a pair of wins and finishing third to Caravaggio in the Coventry Stakes.
On his last couple of runs he couldn’t quite match that earlier form, although his second to Peace Envoy in the Anglesey Stakes was boosted by the winner’s subsequent Group 1 placing. A return to his peak would entitle him to take plenty of beating. Son Of Rest is a dangerous opponent.
Last season’s National Stakes fourth trounced a subsequent winner when landing a Cork maiden in effortless fashion earlier this month. Alphabet was an impressive winner of a 6f maiden at Naas last month. That showing indicated that she would be quite at home in stakes company and she is another leading contender.
Selection: PSYCHEDELIC FUNK
Next best: Son Of Rest
3.55 COOLMORE STUD EBF SALSABIL STAKES (LISTED) 1M 2F
On her debut at Leopardstown earlier this month, Bengala indicated that she would be at home at stakes level when coming home well from off the pace to edge out Aurora Butterfly in a 1m 2f maiden. This race demands a good deal more but Bengala will progress well from that initial outing and she looks a filly of some promise.
Queen Anne’s Lace began her season with a good effort against older fillies when she was beaten less than 2l into fourth by Czabo in the Group 3 Park Express Stakes. She is a lively contender.
Butterflies lacks the advantage of a recent outing and she was well behind Queen Anne’s Lace when they met in a Curragh Listed race last October. However, she might be better judged on her creditable third to Sea Of Grace and the subsequent Group 3 heroine Eziyra in a 1m Group 3 last August. Angel Island looked promising in winning a 1m Cork maiden a couple of weeks ago and she is another to consider.
Selection: BENGALA
Next best: Queen Anne’s Lace
4.25 COOLMORE VINTAGE CROP STAKES (GROUP 3) 1M 6F
Order Of St George lacks the advantage of a recent outing and is sure to progress markedly from his first outing since last October but he still gets the vote to succeed.
An outstanding stayer at his best, he was an 11l winner of the 2015 Irish St Leger, he then won last season’s Ascot Gold Cup while he posted a terrific effort to take third behind Found in the Arc de Triomphe last October. Nothing in the field can match that level of form. Encouragingly, he did win first time out last season.
Twilight Payment was beaten 5½l by Torcedor at Leopardstown earlier in the month but he is now 7lbs better off and there is a strong chance he will improve markedly for that run. He is a talented stayer and may reverse that Leopardstown form while also confirming the placings with his old rival Forgotten Rules.
Selection: ORDER OF ST GEORGE
Next best: Twilight Payment
4.55 WESCO ELECTRICAL FORTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY HANDICAP 1M 2F
This could fall to Althiba following a most encouraging return at Leopardstown where she was beaten 1½l into third by Settle For Bay and the Madrid Handicap scorer Gino Severini. That showing would suggest that she will have little trouble making her mark this season and she is chosen to cope with the significant step up in trip. There is sufficient middle distance form in her immediate family to suggest that 1m 2f will be within her reach.
Room To Roam began his season with a sixth place finish in the same Leopardstown race and he progressed from that to lose out by just a head to San Remo in an extended 1m 2f handicap at Dundalk last week. He must have every chance.
Pandagreen could be interesting as her effort last season suggest that she might come into her own over middle distances as a thee-year-old.
Selection: ALTHIBA
Next best: Room To Roam
5.25 COME TO THE FAMILY DAY MAY 20TH HANDICAP 1M 5F
All Body And Soul might be able to defy top weight. This well bred gelding has run just seven times and looked quite a progressive type last year when his four runs yielded a pair of 1m 4f wins at Dundalk and a very creditable 2½l third to Tarazani in a Galway handicap. There could be more to come from him and he might see off Tommy Welsh who has done well since moving into handicaps.
The latter has notched up wins over 1m 4f and 2m at Dundalk and remains open to further progress despite creeping up 11lbs in the weights. Ondamoura finished in front of the selection at Galway and commands respect on his first outing since October.
Selection: ALL BODY AND SOUL
Next best: Tommy Welsh