19:15 Naas

Wednesday 25 July 2018

All17:4018:1018:4019:1519:5020:2020:50

Yeomanstown Stud Irish EBF Stakes (Fillies & Mares Listed)

Off time: 19:17 | Winning time: 1m 11.14s

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Selected odds by:

(2)

Amthaal¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: C D Hayes| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 75

33/1

Improved for the switch to better ground and followed up a close second at the Curragh with a win at Bellewstown earlier in the month. This is a tough ask on ratings but there's probably more progress to come and yard are in good form at present.

Form: 6021

(8)

Patuano²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: W J Lee| T: W McCreery| OR: 82| D

25/1

Career best effort when gaining her second career win at the Curragh in May. Has struggled off her revised marks in handicaps since though and hard to fancy here.

Form: 28-6176

(4)

Rajar^t¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: R P Whelan| T: K J Condon| OR: 85| D

25/1

Rattled off a hat-trick back in 2016 but hasn't won since and while she ran with credit at Naas on stable debut last time, this is a big step up in class. Others preferred.

Form: 62482-4

(3)

Blue Uluru²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: C T Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 99| BF| D

7/2

Four wins from nine starts and not beaten far in a competitive handicap at the Curragh last time out. Clearly thriving at present but needs to prove she's as effective over this trip.

Form: 88-2114

(6)

Could It Be Love^b,t¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 112| BF

11/4

Only one win from nine starts but she ran a big race in the Irish 1,000 Guineas earlier in the campaign and wasn't beaten far at Royal Ascot. Needs to bounce back from a below par effort at York but she's the one to beat provided she does.

Form: 182328

(5)

Fire Opal^t¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 75| D

50/1

Well beaten in her first couple of maiden efforts but she was much better last time out when winning a Navan maiden. Likely to kick on from that and go on improving now but still has plenty to find at this level.

Form: 041

(13)

Golden Spell^p1¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: N G McCullagh| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 97| D

16/1

Won at Navan in April and not beaten far here in Listed class next time over 5½f. Her very best efforts have come with some cut in the ground though and she's been below par on her last two runs, most recently on AW. Wears first time cheekpieces.

Form: 512453

(9)

Hello Brigette^p⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: G P Halpin| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 88| D

16/1

Has slowly worked her way back to form this year and got her head in front in a Leopardstown handicap in June. Not disgraced in a valuable handicap at the Curragh at the weekend but needs more to mix it at this level.

Form: 1-37015

(7)

Julia's Magic⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: G F Carroll| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 79| D

50/1

Denied in her hat-trick bid at the Curragh last time out but ran well in defeat behind Blue Uluru. Hard to imagine her reversing that form off level weights though now more than a stone worse off.

Form: 3591-14

(12)

Mamba Noire^v⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S Foley| T: K J Condon| OR: 98

16/1

Not won since her success in a maiden at Cork on debut. Ran with credit in defeat a few times at Pattern level last year though and while she's not matched than level in two starts this year, she may be capable of better back down in class.

Form: 3373-56

(10)

Now You're Talking³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: W M Lordan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 100

6/1

Looked a promising prospect when fourth of 23 in the Queen Mary in 2017. Returned with an easy win at Dundalk in March and ran with credit when placed here over C&D in Listed class next time. Well beaten twice since but respected back down in class.

Form: 48-1340

(11)

Soffia¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R P Downey| T: E Lynam| OR: 88| CD

9/2

Ran well in a pair of starts as a juvenile without winning but has taken her form to a new level this year, making it three wins from three starts over C&D last time. Yard excel with their sprinters and there could be more to come.

Form: 43-111

(1)

Sometimesadiamond³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 95| D

14/1

Not won since her debut and she's been struggling to make her presence felt at Listed level both towards the end of last season and start of this. Disappointed in a handicap last time and has plenty to prove at present.

Form: 34-4535

Forecasts

Could It Be Love (11/4), Blue Uluru (7/2), Soffia (9/2), Now You're Talking (6/1), Sometimesadiamond (14/1), Golden Spell (16/1), Hello Brigette (16/1), Mamba Noire (16/1), Rajar (25/1), Patuano (25/1), Amthaal (33/1), Julia's Magic (50/1), Fire Opal (50/1)

COULD IT BE LOVE may not have won since her maiden success at Dundalk but she's held her own in Group company, including the Irish 1,000 Guineas when runner-up and it would be no surprise to see her bounce back to form after a rare below par effort at York last time. Now You're Talking would appear to be the first-string for the in-form Joseph O'Brien and the filly wasn't beaten far in Listed company here earlier in the season. Soffia is clearly going the right way at present and couldn't be ruled after her successful hat-trick bid over course and distance last time out.