17:45 Leopardstown

Thursday 15 June 2017

All17:4518:1518:4519:2019:5020:2020:50

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden (Plus 10)

Off time: 17:46 | Winning time: 1m 17.51s

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Selected odds by:

(2)

Battle Of Jericho^t1

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien

7/2

War Front colt out of a dam who was a Group winner as a juvenile and later landed a Grade One in the US. Closely related to Jan Vermeer, who won the Group 3 Gallinule Stakes over 1m2f. Yard have won this four times since 2010. Holds some fancy entries but yard currently a sub-standard 5-37 with their turf juveniles this year.

Form:

(9)

Dowhatisay^p1,t¹¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien

14/1

Failed to significantly build on debut effort last time and cheekpieces now go on. Yard just 1-29 with their turf juveniles.

Form: 48

(4)

Lethal Steps

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: C T Keane| T: G M Lyons

5/2

Cost 68,000 gns as a foal and later led out unsold at 28,000 gns as a yearling. From the first crop of Lethal Force and a half-brother to My Sharona who won five races over 5f-6f. Pedigree suggests he will handle any going and he has a Group One entry later in the year. Yard are 3-12 with this age group on turf this year.

Form:

(3)

Mattymolls Gaga

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington

9/2

22,000 gns purchase by Dragon Pulse and a half-brother to Lord Clenaghcastle who won his first two races as a juvenile. Stable off to a good start with this age group with an above average 6-17 record this term. Rider has partnered four of the trainer's seven winners in the past fortnight from ten rides.

Form:

(7)

Messerati Kid

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: N G McCullagh| T: J P Murtagh

33/1

First foal of a dam who was useful at around 1m in Italy. Three of the yard's six juvenile runners have scored so one to note in the ring.

Form:

(1)

Pretty Boy Floyd¹²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: C P Hoban| T: Mrs S Dawson

100/1

Tenth of 11 runners beaten 15+ plus lengths on debut in a Navan maiden over the minimum trip at odds of 40/1. Bred to do better over further.

Form: 0

(5)

War Hero^t1²⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: R P Whelan| T: P J Prendergast

14/1

Declaration Of War colt, cost €100,000 as a yearling. Half-brother to Bogardus and dam was Listed placed and a half-sister to Listed winner Anna's Rock. Failed to get home on debut but drops in trip and tongue-tie goes on.

Form: 9

(6)

Dawn Delivers

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger

5/2

From the first crop of Dawn Approach (still seeking first winner) out a dam who was a middle-distance maiden. Half-sister to Mu Ajiza who was a winner from 7f-1m. Holds no big race entries and tackles colts on debut.

Form:

(8)

Rince Deireanach¹²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: R P Cleary| T: J S Bolger

16/1

Has speed in the pedigree but little evident on Navan debut. Up in trip and looks the yard's second string judged by jockey arrangements.

Form: 8

Forecasts

Lethal Steps (5/2), Dawn Delivers (5/2), Battle Of Jericho (7/2), Mattymolls Gaga (9/2), War Hero (14/1), Dowhatisay (14/1), Rince Deireanach (16/1), Messerati Kid (33/1), Pretty Boy Floyd (100/1)

Battle of Jericho is well entered up and represents connections with a good history in this. The Balydoyle juveniles are yet to fire on all cylinders whilst Jessica Harrington has unleashed a strong set of youngsters. Mattymolls Gaga has a speedy pedigree and the booking of Colm O'Donoghue has been significant in recent weeks. Ger Lyons is another whose first season horses are going well and LETHAL STEPS is another bred to do the business as a two-year-old. The ground should not be a concern and a Group One entry later in the year suggests he has shown something at home.