13:45 Curragh

Sunday 26 July 2020

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:1517:45

Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund (C & G) Maiden

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 1m 15.44s

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Selected odds by:

(7)

Breagagh

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: W J Lee| T: M C Grassick

28/1

Slade power gelding. First foal. Dam raced only once over 1m on the track. Half-sister to 6f Listed winner Rock Jock and 1m2f winner Breden. Not the most taking pedigree and likely to be up against some useful sorts.

Form:

(9)

Coill Avon²³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons

11/4

Kingman colt who seems to be getting better with racing. Nice debut was followed up with 2L second at Navan (5f) and looks to have the scope to progress again. Shortlisted.

Form: 62

(4)

Fine Distraction⁴⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Chris Hayes| T: D Bunyan & G O'Leary

100/1

Looked to face a stiff task on debut and ran accordingly when 17th of 18 at Naas (6f) last month. Equally as tough ask today and makes limited appeal.

Form: 0

(10)

Flexible Approach

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger

7/1

Third foal. Dam was unraced, half-sister to 1m winner Somasach and closely related to former Belmont Stakes winner (Easy Goer). Yard can ready one for the debut efforts so not discounted.

Form:

(8)

French Company⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: G P Halpin| T: J G Coogan

150/1

Well-held on debut at the Curragh earlier this month and similarly regressive at Limerick (6f) last time out. Looks to have very limited ability for this company.

Form: 87

(5)

I Am Magnetic

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: L F Roche| T: M O'Callaghan

13/2

30,000 gns as a juvenile. Half-brother to four winners including Bolanderi (1m2f) and Cornflower (1m1f). Dam was a Listed winner over 1m4f. Yard might just be coming into form. Not without hope.

Form:

(1)

Procellarum¹⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: G M Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: Donnacha O'Brien

6/1

Zoffany colt. Glimpses of promise in both starts but didn't really go on when 6L fourth at Leopardstown (7f). Will be suited better by this trip. Some each-way appeal.

Form: 44

(3)

St Mark's Basilica

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien

6/4

1.3million gns purchase as a yearling. Half-brother to 2019 2000 Guineas winner Magna Grecia, Corobree (1m2f) and Invincible Ryker (7f). Dam was a Group 3 winner. Bred to be a top prospect.

Form:

(2)

The Last Knight

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Gary Carroll| T: G M Lyons

14/1

€20,000 yearling. Half-brother to Italian 5f winner Opaline Dusk, dam was a winner over 5f as a juvenile and closely related to useful Monsieur Chevalier. Looks to be second-string for yard. Opposed.

Form:

Non-Runners

(6)

Duke Of Mantua

Weight: 9-5| Age: 2

T: A P O'Brien J: M C Hussey

Forecasts

St Mark's Basilica (6/4), Coill Avon (11/4), Procellarum (6/1), I Am Magnetic (13/2), Duke Of Mantua (13/2), Flexible Approach (7/1), The Last Knight (14/1), Breagagh (28/1), Fine Distraction (100/1), French Company (150/1)

A race which has the possibility to unearth a top juvenile prospect in St Mark's Basilica, who was one of the more expensive yearling purchases last term and given his regal pedigree, it may not be a shock if he was to develop into a top-class performer. However, Aidan O'Brien's horses usually are given an education on debut, so is worth taking on COILL AVON, who has looked improved in two starts to date and has an experience edge over the field for a top yard. Procellarum looked more street-wise last time and the return to 6f should help, while Flexible Approach has a smart US pedigree but will do better over further.