P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:51 | Winning time: 2m 12.61s

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Selected odds by:

(1)

Guaranteed^t¹⁶¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 107| C

7/1

Finished his juvenile campaign with best effort over the longest trip he has faced when taking a Group 3 on good ground at Leopardstown on October. Extra furlong shouldn't be a problem and yard in good heart.

Form: 215721-

(2)

Broome¹⁸¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 112

5/2

Won his maiden on soft ground and rounded off by finishing runner up in a Group 2 here, then a Group 1 in France. Longer trip today shouldn't be a problem. Has the best form on offer and chosen by Moore.

Form: 51622-

(4)

Pythion¹⁸⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| C

12/1

Dead heated on good ground debut in July. Found the step up to Group 2 company at Naas beyond him on subsequent start and now tries soft ground for the first time.

Form: 16-

(3)

Sovereign¹⁶¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 103

7/1

Front runner who won his maiden by 14L in the mud at Galway and not disgraced when trying Group company subsequently. Needs to eke out some improvement but not ruled out.

Form: 56143-

(5)

Sydney Opera House¹⁶¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 110

9/2

Improved all starts last season and finished off by just been caught close home in a Group 1 in France at this trip. More to come this season though untried on ground softer than good.

Form: 215252-

(6)

Tankerville¹⁶⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Chris Hayes| T: D K Weld

7/4

All the rage on debut at Gowran Park last October and landed the odds with the minimum of fuss. Slightly softer ground to deal with but clearly held in high regard and yard in top form.

Form: 1-

Forecasts

Tankerville (7/4), Broome (5/2), Sydney Opera House (9/2), Sovereign (7/1), Guaranteed (7/1), Pythion (12/1)

With all the field making their three-year-old return the market should prove informative. At this stage narrow preference is for BROOME who improved with each run as a juvenile. Tankerville created a big impression on debut and could run a big race with Sydney Opera House also worthy of plenty of respect.