Croom House Stud Rated Race

Off time: 18:06 | Winning time: 1m 23.92s

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(2)

Branch Line⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: K J Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 92| D

4/1

Gelded over the winter, he has run two promising races on turf this season. Firstly when close second here over 7f (good to firm) behind Rock In Peace and, 40 days ago, when third behind Irishcorrespondent and subsequent winner Homesman over 1m (good) at the Curragh. Fair claims here with rider taking 5lb off.

Form: 15-323

(4)

Ma Fee Heela¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: S B Kelly⁽³⁾| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 88| BF| D

13/8

Off the mark in 7f maiden at Dundalk (AW) last month and since run credible race in similar company to this over same trip at Leopardstown (good to yielding) this month. Remains open to further progress and doesn't need much more to have leading claims.

Form: 2513

(1)

Music Box^h⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Anastasia O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 86| BF| D

13/8

Maiden winner at Gowran Park earlier in the month (7f, soft to heavy) has since been well beaten in Group 3 over 6f at the Curragh and finished close second in 7f fillies' race at Fairyhouse (good) behind progressive rival. Player in this field seemingly.

Form: 322182

(3)

Alfredo Arcano^h,t¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: O J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: D Marnane| OR: 85

13/2

A dual AW winner at Dundalk earlier in the year, he was behind Branch Line at this venue in April (7f, good to firm) before running a very nice race when second to Solar Halo over 6f (good to firm) at the Curragh in May. No impact when dropped to 5f at the same venue since and just isn't the most convincing currently, though step up in distance again should assist.

Form: 1-12444

Non-Runners

(5)

A Little Bit Me¹

Weight: 9-2| Age: 3

T: J A Stack J: K K Hennessy

Forecasts

A Little Bit Me (5/4), Ma Fee Heela (13/8), Music Box (13/8), Branch Line (4/1), Alfredo Arcano (13/2)

A Little Bit Me is no certainty to turn up here having held an engagement at Leopardstown on Thursday evening. Regardless, she has a significant ratings rise to overcome in what looks a tricky contest. Music Box was not beaten far last time by a progressive looking rival and should go well again while Ma Fee Heela ran credibly in similar company at Leopardstown last time and has potential for bitter. BRANCH LINE drops back from a mile but shouldn't meet anything of Irishcorrespondent's class here and has already run well over 7f at this track. He can progress again and give weight away in this.