14:30 Tally Ho Stud European Breeders Fund Maiden
Aidan O’Brien had three consecutive short-priced winners in 2002-2004 but no favourite has won for seven years. Ballydoyle are represented by the expensive Forester this time and he’s an obvious one to keep an eye on but DYLANBARU gets the vote. Tommy Stack has won this twice in recent years and today’s representative is bred to be a very speedy juvenile. Jim Bolger won this last year with Whip Rule and his New Approach colt Dawn Approach has plenty of pace in his pedigree but the Holy Roman Emperor colt Canary Row is out of a mare who won over middle-distances.
15:00 Elusive Pimpernel Maiden
A 30-runner maiden on the first day of the Flat season doesn’t look a race to get too involved in and just one favourite has won in 10 renewals. Ahimsa represents Ballydoyle and showed some ability as a juvenile without looking a star though her high draw may be a plus and while Redoutable ran in some decent class events she appeared to go backwards as the season progressed. Rigoletta showed potential and is likely to get involved while Steely Grace ran well enough on her debut behind Bulbul at Naas to be on the short-list. John Oxx has won this twice in recent years and a chance is taken on his newcomer ROYAL VISIT, who is a half-sister to several winning sprinters and is drawn well enough to make a bold bid.
15:30 Irish Field Handicap
Tommy Stack has a tremendous record in this so Roscommon winner Great Huzzar must be respected despite a poor final run at Tipperary. Richard Fahey will want to get his campaign up and running so Jeannie Galloway, the winner of five races and certain to be suited by the ground, has to be on the short-list under Paul Hanagan. Glor Na Mara lost his maiden tag at the 16th time of asking at Dundalk but that was over a mile while Six Of Hearts invariably needs his first run and has been beaten in this in previous years. Croisultan is a classy sprinter who can go well despite a big weight but Maarek has been raised 9lb for beating a huge field on heavy ground here in September. MOUNTAIN CORAL probably isn’t quite up to this grade but fitness is a big advantage at this stage of the campaign and his recent form at Dundalk may just be good enough.
16:00 Lodge Park Stud EBF Park Express Stakes
It’s unlikely that LIBYS DREAM will have the quality to beat some of these later in the campaign but Tom Dascombe is striking while the iron is hot with the filly who landed a Listed contest at Wolverhampton and can take advantage of her fitness. Princess Sinead wasn’t far behind Maybe in the Moyglare here then was placed in a Group 3 while Ryan Moore’s presence on the impressive Leopardstown winner Twirl suggests she’s the more forward of the Ballydoyle pair, especially as he rode Homecoming Queen when she finished tailed off in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’. The older brigade are led by Anam Allta, who could hardly have landed a Tipperary Group 3 any easier in October where the heavy going played to her strengths.
16:30 Gabriel Curran Memorial Madrid Handicap
Just one favourite in 10 renewals suggests this is a hard race to fathom but Dermot Weld has a good record in the event and Swerve should go well. She disappointed in a Listed event won by Homecoming Queen here in October but had earlier won a Listowel maiden in a canter and may just have had an off-day. ISHVANA made a winning debut at Dundalk in April and competed at a high level subsequently. She wasn’t beaten far in a couple of Group 3’s and looks the type to make good progress so she’s handed the vote. Patrimonium has a fitness advantage having been in action at Dundalk where she easily won a handicap before a narrow defeat by the useful Honourable Emperor while Coolnagree almost defied a 7lb weight rise for her nursery success at Leopardstown when returning there a week later.
17:00 www.thetote.com Irish Lincolnshire
Drombeg Dawn won this last year and is 2lb lower here though the first four home were drawn high. She goes well fresh and must be considered for a follow-up though this looks a better class contest. Billyford has bounced right back to his best on Polytrack recently and is still on a fair mark so must be on the short-list as is Prince Of Fire, another who has been going well at Dundalk. TAKE IT TO THE MAX began last season’s campaign with a victory from a mark of 72 and he’s now on 97 thanks to a successful year which included four wins. His latest victory at Leopardstown in October was gained convincingly and he can take this back to the UK. The very lightly-raced Font Of Wisdom makes his handicap debut in this tough event while Windsor Palace will no doubt be pleased to be relieved of the pacemaking duties he performed for his illustrious stablemates. Sharestan beat a huge field on his belated debut here in June and is the type to do well this year.
17:30 Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden
VIOLET LASHES gave the well-regarded Kissed a fright on her second start at Navan in October and, as the remainder were well beaten, normal progress should see her difficult to beat. The winner’s stablemate Unanimous produced a decent debut performance behind Pierre D’Or here in August but there’s no particular reason why he should finish in front of Where’s Danny, who finished a very good third in the same race. Both Speaking Of Which and Waving are likely to do better when tackling further and the market should be watched for positive signs of the remainder.