Comer Group International Irish St Leger Trial Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 18:15 | Winning time: 3m 10.48s

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(3)

Master Of Reality⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Wayne Lordan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 118| D

3/1

Took form to a new level when only beaten a length by Stradivarius in the Gold Cup on latest start, travelling best in the process. Question is whether the drop back in trip is against him, but if not, looks the one to beat, despite the 3lb penalty.

Form: 250-143

(1)

Capri⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 113| C

7/2

2017 St Leger winner, and has twice run well in the Arc, top class stayer at best but has been below form this season and now needs to get his season back on track. Well behind Master Of Reality at Ascot and work to do to turn that form around.

Form: 540-536

(4)

Downdraft^t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 101| D

11/2

Winner of his last two starts, both Listed contests, at Roscommon and Down Royal and is clearly going the right way this season, but this much the hardest task he's faced so far and he needs another personal best to challenge the principals.

Form: 1-19611

(2)

Southern France¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 112

5/2

Highly tried this season and his ¾l second to Stradivarius in the G2 Yorkshire Cup reads very well, but looks one-paced whatever trip he's tried over. Possible that slower ground could help his cause though, so not written off just yet.

Form: 7-32644

(5)

Cimeara³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Chris Hayes| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 101| D

14/1

Took a Listed event at Cork on her seasonal debut in April and has more or less run to that form since then, her close third in a G3 at Leopardstown last time reading well enough. Likely to be playing for places at best tonight though.

Form: 11-1783

(6)

Eminent Authority^t⁵⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 98

6/1

Gets plenty of weight from the others as a 3yo and staying looked very much his game when fifth in the Queens Vase at Ascot last time. Unexposed and likely to do better, so not totally discounted tonight, and might be the one for an upset.

Form: 135

Forecasts

Southern France (5/2), Master Of Reality (3/1), Capri (7/2), Downdraft (11/2), Eminent Authority (6/1), Cimeara (14/1)

The question here is whether Master Of Reality, who left his previous form behind when beaten a length by Stradivarius in the Gold Cup, is going to be as effective dropped back in trip tonight. He has won over this trip, that being at Navan in April, but that form was well below what he showed last time, and he might be vulnerable. A back-to-form Capri would represent a huge threat but there's signs that he's not the horse he was, and has a little to prove now. Southern France has a big race in him somewhere and it could be here, but the fast improving EMINENT AUTHORITY gets plenty of weight and in what might be testing ground, can make that count.