13:15 Limerick

Saturday 22 April 2017

All13:1513:4514:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. (C & G) Maiden

Off time: 13:18 | Winning time: 1m 29.8s

Settings

Selected odds by:

(13)

Billyfairplay

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: M A Gallagher| T: W J Martin

100/1

Unraced son of Dark Angel. Dam a winner over 1m2f on good-to-firm. Yard better known for their handicap winners and probably best watched here.

Form: 00

(12)

Comhghairdeas¹⁹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Declan McDonogh| T: A Slattery| OR: 80

12/1

Finished runner-up in three of his four outings to date. Latest came over an extended 6f here in October and likely to play a leading role on his first run since being gelded.

Form: 2722-0

(8)

Diarist¹⁷⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: W J Lee| T: W McCreery

25/1

Beaten 12L into eighth when making his debut over 7f at Dundalk last October. Probably best watched in this contest.

Form: 8-43

(7)

High Altitude⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Chris Hayes| T: J J Murphy

12/1

Signs of promise on debut at Killarney last July and having his first run since being gelded when finishing 5L fifth of 18 at Cork over an extended 1m last time out. Interesting runner in this.

Form: 6-56

(10)

Man Cave²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: C J McGovern⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell

100/1

Well held in two maiden outings to date including when beaten over 18L over 1m at Dundalk in March and will probably fair better in handicaps.

Form: 08

(4)

Masalai

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: R P Downey⁽³⁾| T: E Lynam

50/1

Unraced son of Art Connoisseur purchased for €19,000 at the yearling sales in 2015. Half-brother to winners including 7f winner Sweet Temptation but will probably benefit for the experience.

Form:

(11)

One Liner¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington

25/1

Well beaten in two Leopardstown maiden events so far in his career. Finished 18½L behind the winner over 1m2f earlier this month and drops markedly in trip here.

Form: 6-78

(3)

Pennsylvania¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 83

6/1

Plenty of experience given he has six runs to his name already. Finished runner-up in three maiden events so far including twice over 7f at two. Well beaten twice in hood and blinkers (both left off today) this year including off a mark of 85 in a handicap last time out and this drop back into maiden company should suit.

Form: 222-593

(2)

Sao Paulo¹⁸⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: N G McCullagh| T: C Byrnes| OR: 77

25/1

Improved with each outing culminating in a third placed finish over 1m at Navan in October when with previous stable. Current connections paid 40,000 gns for him later that month and he's an interesting runner in this contest.

Form: 853-

(5)

Shamad^b1²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: P J Smullen| T: D K Weld

10/1

Finished fifth on both starts to date most recently over 7f at Cork on heavy ground earlier this month. Had earlier shaped as if the drop in trip would suit when weakening into fifth at The Curragh last August. Wears blinkers for the first time in this.

Form: 5-

(9)

Stander²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Rory Cleary| T: J C McConnell

100/1

Well beaten in two maiden races to date. Latest of those came over 6f at Naas a month ago and he's probably best watched today.

Form: 80

(1)

True Valour²⁶¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Colin Keane| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 91

11/10

Beaten a short-head on his third run in maiden company over 7f at Leopardstown (good) in August. Had previously finished a close third at Naas over 6f and he looks likely to run well in this contest.

Form: 632-1

(6)

Yulong Xionghu

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: S Foley| T: M Halford

7/2

Unraced son of Raven's Pass. Purchased for €62,000 as a yearling in 2015 and a half-brother to 1m Flat winner Crafty Roberto.

Form: 2

Forecasts

True Valour (11/10), Yulong Xionghu (7/2), Pennsylvania (6/1), Shamad (10/1), High Altitude (12/1), Comhghairdeas (12/1), Diarist (25/1), One Liner (25/1), Sao Paulo (25/1), Masalai (50/1), Billyfairplay (100/1), Stander (100/1), Man Cave (100/1)

TRUE VALOUR was beaten a short-head on his most recent start at Leopardstown in August and can get off the mark at the fourth time of asking in this opening 7f maiden race. The selection had earlier finished third on soft ground and can get the better of Pennsylvania who was beaten in a handicap last time out but had some solid maiden form prior to that with Comhghairdeas taken to finish third on his first outing since being gelded.