2.00 Lynn Lodge Stud Irish EBF Maiden 5f

This is likely to be a more manageable assignment than last time for the Michael O’Callaghan-trained I Am Invictus, who cost 160,000gns at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale before finishing a promising third on his only start at Naas. The winner of that five-runner affair, the highly excited River Tiber, is favourite with multiple firms for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, and the fourth-placed Supersonic Man won well on his next start at Tipperary. The form looks solid.

Pearls And Rubies, a Ballydoyle newcomer by No Nay Never out of Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes winner Diamondsandrubies, commands automatic respect. Given how Jessica Harrington and the Marnane family have been flying along with their two-year-old runners, Strong Possibility is also worthy of inclusion on the shortlist for her debut.

SELECTION: I AM INVICTUS

Next best: Pearls And Rubies

2.35 Navan Racecourse Handicap 5f

Tawaazon arrives here in the form of his life and should be able to cope with a 2lb nudge up the weights for winning the Habitat Premier Handicap at the Curragh a fortnight ago. James McAuley’s sprinter has won here before and seems versatile in terms of ground. This seven-runner affair is technically a drop in class for the selection.

Screen Siren is probably better on slower ground but still has the potential to show up well here, Only Spoofing has tumbled down to an attractive mark if able to regain some of his old form and Lokada’s race-fitness is probably an edge over returning Dundalk winner Harmony Rose.

SELECTION: TAWAAZON

Next best: Screen Siren

3.10 Gain The Advantage Series Handicap 5f

A wide-open affair in which cases can be made for a few. Course-and-distance winner Stanhope was below his best here last time but must have a say if back to form off 1lb lower than his last winning mark. This track and trip has suited him nicely in the past and he should go well under Siobhan Rutledge, who knows him well.

Sosallycanwait is 0-19 but should be up to winning a handicap like this off a mark of 50 when putting it all together, Teddy Boy has won here before but might ideally prefer a slightly slower surface, for all that he is a winner on good ground, and stablemate Collective Power is entitled to be in the mix after his recent return from a mini-break at Tipperary when finishing mid-field after getting a little behind early.

SELECTION: STANHOPE

Next best: Collective Power

3.40 Darley Irish EBF Kooyonga Stakes (Listed) 1m

The first running of this listed event for fillies and mares can go the way of Cigamia, provided she’s sharp enough to do herself justice on her return from a 267-day break. Conceding a 3lb penalty for winning the Listed Cairn Rouge Stakes in 2022 doesn’t make life any easier but she shaped last season as though she could be a better operator as a four-year-old. Stablemate Inishnee failed to fire on her debut for Willie McCreery at Kempton but has a chance on ratings.

Dower House dropped away tamely when trying to make the running in the Irish 1000 Guineas. This should be more her cup of tea than classic company, while listed runner-up Didn’thavemuchtodo must be considered a massive player if ready to run to form for Joseph O’Brien on the back of a 273-day absence.

SELECTION: CIGAMIA

Next best: Didn’thavemuchtodo

4.10 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Fillies & Mares Maiden 1m 2f

The Johnny Feane-trained Letiza has shown enough to suggest she is up to winning a fillies’ maiden of this level and enters this contest with the highest official rating on offer of 80. She split blacktype fillies in a Dundalk maiden in April and then bumped into the 93-rated Perfect Portrait at Gowran when beaten just a length. That sort of form looks the best on offer here.

Stepping up to a mile and a quarter is bound to be a big plus for Guided on the evidence of her latest appearance against the boys at Leopardstown when catching the eye staying on strongly close home into sixth (of 20 runners). Expect her to give the selection most to think about. Semantics has generally been a bit disappointing since a couple of fairly promising efforts to begin her career last season but it wouldn’t be a shock if she popped up with a win somewhere along the way this summer.

SELECTION: LETIZA

Next best: Guided

4.40 Royal County Handicap (Premier Handicap) 1m 2f

This three-year-old-only event has been won by some useful types in recent years such as Downdraft, Nickajack Cave (both listed and Group 3 winners) and Yashin (recent Group 3 winner at Leopardstown). Being the second-highest rated runner in the line-up didn’t stop two of those winners in the high 80s, and one who arrives here with a similar type of profile is the unexposed Kalikapour, representing Tracey Collins and Mick Halford.

This ready Dundalk maiden winner probably got a bit too far back and was entitled to need his first run since December when seventh of 11 runners (beaten six and three quarters of a length) in a strong-looking handicap at Naas last month. The third-placed Betterdaysrcoming has since franked the form by winning at the Curragh on Guineas weekend. Stepping up in trip and fitting Kalikapour with cheekpieces for the first time could eke out improvement from one who is open to progress.

Canute did some good late work over an insufficient seven furlongs in the race won by Betterdaysrcoming at the Curragh and needs respecting here for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore, who prefers him over recent Curragh maiden winner Subzero. Giselles Defence and Malbay Madness haven’t shown the same class as the aforementioned contenders but could well be on the premises off lovely low weights.

SELECTION: KALIKAPOUR

Next best: Canute

5.10 Cusack Hotel Group Family Raceday July 15th Handicap 1m 2f

Cleopatra’s Needle is 0-13 but has hinted at winning potential for Harry Rogers and should be in the mix if delivering her best in a first-time hood. Being drawn wide in stall 20 isn’t necessarily a negative given she tends to be ridden quietly and has the assistance of Billy Lee. It’s possible this trip could prove her optimum after finishing third over an extended mile and a half last time at Tipperary.

There was definite improvement from the unexposed Bright Moment at Gowran last month and going back up in trip to 10 furlongs looks likely to be in her favour on the evidence of how she saw out that mile assignment. Lisamaria is an unknown at this distance, having never been tried over further than a mile and one furlong, but she shouldn’t be too far away if seeing it out.

SELECTION: CLEOPATRA’S NEEDLE

Next best: Bright Moment