GRENKE Finance Ballyroan Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 19:22 | Winning time: 2m 37.87s

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Selected odds by:

(1)

Johannes Vermeer^t³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 112| C

4/5

Group 1 winner as a juvenile and back to form with a Group 3 win last time out at the Curragh. Runner-up and third have both franked the form subsequently and this colt is still lightly raced; entirely possible there's more to come and may be up to conceding a penalty to this field.

Form: 1/3-4571

(4)

Santa Monica³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Declan McDonogh| T: C O'Brien| OR: 99| D

20/1

Registering her second career success when a surprise winner in Group 3 company at Cork in June. Well beaten in a Group 1 at the Curragh last time out though and would need improvement to land this contest.

Form: 35-9418

(7)

Stellar Mass³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 108| CD

8/1

Won a Group 3 last year but has been a little disappointing in three starts this campaign. Yard have been a little out of form in recent weeks and may be best watched for now.

Form: 157-404

(2)

The Grey Gatsby^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: P J Smullen| T: D K Weld| OR: 113| C

5/1

Very smart on his day but not won since beating the mighty Australian here back in 2014 in the Irish Champion Stakes. Not shown enough on two starts for this yard to be of interested for win purposes here but fast ground will be up his street.

Form: 2605-45

(6)

Grandee¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 102| CD

7/1

C&D winner in Listed company in June and while he's been a little disappointing in two starts since, it's possible he will improve for the switch to faster ground. Each-way claims.

Form: 1-62193

(5)

Spanish Steps²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 100

6/1

Runaway winner of a maiden two starts back, winning by 7L and not seen to best effect in a Group 1 at Saint-Cloud last time out. This much easier and every chance he will do better here on fast ground but seemingly the yard's second string.

Form: 8-3219

Non-Runners

(3)

Act Of Valour¹⁴

Weight: 8-12| Age: 3

T: M O'Callaghan J: Colin Keane

Forecasts

Johannes Vermeer (4/5), The Grey Gatsby (5/1), Spanish Steps (6/1), Grandee (7/1), Stellar Mass (8/1), Act Of Valour (12/1), Santa Monica (20/1)

Aidan O'Brien appears to hold the aces in this contest and it's JOHANNES VERMEER who is likely to take all the beating if in the same form as his Group 3 win last time. Spanish Steps bit off more than he could chew in Group 1 company last time and this will likely prove a more realistic level while The Grey Gatsby clearlt can't be dismissed on old form but has been disappointing on his last two runs for this yard.