19:00 Dundalk

Friday 27 October 2023

All17:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Pat Smullen Mercury Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 19:01 | Winning time: 58.25s

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Selected odds by:

(10)

Arnhem²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: G M Ryan| T: M G Quinn| OR: 94| C

50/1

Useful gelding. Course winner. Latest win at the Curragh in August. Seemed to excel himself when length third of 6 to Harry's Bar in conditions race over C&D 21 days ago but stiff task on the balance of his form.

Form: 301303

(7)

Big Gossey¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: R Whearty| T: C O'Brien| OR: 106| BF| CD

18/1

Smart gelding. C&D winner. Latest win at the Curragh in September. 5/2, below form 4¼ lengths third of 7 to My Eyes Adore You in listed race at Naas (5.9f, soft) 13 days ago.

Form: 631243

(4)

Bouttemont^p,t²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: D McMonagle| T: Yann Barberot| OR: 109| D

5/2

Smart horse. Winner at Chantilly in June. 37/1, met trouble when 3¾ lengths twelfth of 18 to Highfield Princess in Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp at Longchamp (5f, good to firm) 26 days ago. Can make presence felt.

Form: 331490

(6)

Harry's Bar^p,t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: C J MacRedmond| T: A McGuinness| OR: 102| CD

16/1

Smart gelding. Four-time C&D winner, the latest in a conditions race 21 days ago by neck from The Highway Rat. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 555301

(5)

The Highway Rat²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: W J Lee| T: A Oliver| OR: 102| BF| CD

10/3

Smart 4-time C&D winner, including this race in 2021. Blew the start when beaten a neck by Harry's Bar over C&D 21 days ago. Major player if breaking on terms.

Form: 5-21532

(9)

Twilight Jet^b³³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: L F Roche| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 103| D

12/1

Useful colt. 16/1, 14½ lengths eighth of 9 to Go Athletico in Renaissance Stakes at the Curragh (6f, heavy) 33 days ago, doing too much too soon. Makes polytrack debut.

Form: 00-7618

(1)

Ano Syra⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: B M Coen| T: J Feane| OR: 100| C| D

28/1

Course winner. 80/1, 7½ lengths last of 10 to Moss Tucker in Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh (5f, good to soft) 47 days ago.

Form: 4-32630

(3)

Dun Na Sead⁵⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: O McSweeney| T: Daniel Murphy| OR: 90| CD

25/1

9/4, creditable neck third of 8 to Twilight Jet in listed race at Tipperary (5f, good to soft) 54 days ago. First run for yard after leaving Kieran Patrick Cotter.

Form: 311433

(11)

Lady Tilbury²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: O J Orr| T: D Marnane| OR: 93| D

66/1

Latest win at Tipperary in August. 16/1, 2¼ lengths fifth of 6 to Harry's Bar in conditions event at this C&D 21 days ago. Something to find.

Form: 517175

(12)

Pillow Talk^v⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: C D Hayes| T: K R Burke| OR: 90| D

28/1

Useful filly. Visored for 1st time, creditable third of 17 in handicap at York (5f, good, 6/1) 47 days ago. Makes polytrack debut. British raider from a much respected stable but her draw could have been kinder.

Form: 270343

(8)

Queen Me^p1³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: D P McDonogh| T: K A Ryan| OR: 103

10/1

Just a maiden win to her name but did go close at Group level last year. Beaten just under 3 lengths when sixth of 13 in Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot in June but below form back at listed level last time. Makes AW debut with cheekpieces also on first time.

Form: 23-9608

(2)

Alabama^b,t¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 8-10| J: C T Keane| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 99| CD

9/4

In good form over C&D this autumn, winning a conditions race then second in listed company. Better than result (hampered) in Group 3 Cornwallis at Newmarket 14 days ago and enters the reckoning back on AW.

Form: 224128

Forecasts

Alabama (9/4), Bouttemont (5/2), The Highway Rat (10/3), Queen Me (10/1), Twilight Jet (12/1), Harry's Bar (16/1), Big Gossey (18/1), Dun Na Sead (25/1), Pillow Talk (28/1), Ano Syra (28/1), Arnhem (50/1), Lady Tilbury (66/1)

If THE HIGHWAY RAT gets away from the stalls better than he did when chasing home Harry's Bar over C&D 3 weeks ago he might be up to landing this Group 3 for the second time in 3 years. French raider Bouttemont wasn't seen to best effect in the Abbaye and is second choice ahead of the aforementioned Harry's Bar and Aidan O'Brien's 2-y-o Alabama.