17:55 Curragh

Saturday 24 May 2025

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:2517:55

Finlay Volvo Irish European Breeders Fund (C & G) Maiden

Off time: 17:59 | Winning time: 2m 7.32s

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Selected odds by:

(11)

Bear Creek¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J P O'Brien

250/1

Sottsass half-brother to high-class Gold Trip but yet to show any ability across 3 starts so far. Probably one for handicaps

Form: 000

(10)

Cezarro

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Nathan Crosse| T: John O'Donoghue

100/1

58,000 gns foal, 40,000 gns yearling, Acclamation gelding. Dam, 1½m winner, half-sister to very smart winner up to 1m Escobar out of useful 2-y-o 6f/6.5f winner Saying Grace. Hard to make a case for on paper.

Form:

(4)

Crosshaven

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Colin Keane| T: J J Murphy

14/1

13,000 gns yearling, Cable Bay colt. Closely related to useful 7f-1¼m winner Born Ruler and 1¼m-2m winner Zoran, and half-brother to 2-y-o 1m winner Best Blue. Cheap yearling and yard wouldn't be associated with debut winners.

Form:

(9)

Esherann¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Chris Hayes| T: D K Weld

4/1

Wootton Bassett colt from a useful Aga Khan family and shaped with plenty promise when second of 11 in maiden (5/2) at Leopardstown (7.2f, good) on debut 13 days ago, beaten only by one with prior experience. Leading player now stepped up in trip.

Form: 2

(3)

Our Friend Mouse

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Gary Carroll| T: A Oliver

66/1

Zoustar colt. Half-brother to 2-y-o 7.5f winner La Sapienza and 7f winner Sense of Spirit. Jockey bookings would suggest Steel Cut is the yard's first string.

Form:

(5)

Propose⁵⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien

8/13

Frankel colt. 15/8, showed more than on his sole juvenile outing when second of 9 in maiden at Dundalk (10.7f) 57 days ago. Stable in good form. Should continue to progress.

Form: 7-2

(7)

Rizal¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh| BF

10/1

Lope De Vega colt was strong in the betting and showed plenty to work on when fifth of 12 in maiden at Gowran (8f, good, 7/4) on debut 17 days ago. Clearly learning on the job there and he's a likely improver up in trip.

Form: 5

(6)

Sears Crossing^p1³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington

50/1

Sea The Stars gelding is half-brother to several winners, including smart 6f-1¼m winner Laganore. Perhaps looked more of a long term prospect when sixth of 8 in maiden (8/1) at Tipperary (12.4f, good to soft) on debut 30 days ago. Cheekpieces now go on.

Form: 6

(8)

Steel Cut

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: W J Lee| T: A Oliver

22/1

28,000 gns foal, €23,000 yearling, Shaman gelding. Half-brother to useful 2-y-o 6f winner Pearl Glory and 7f winner Guiteau. Dam once-raced half-sister to smart 6f winner Louis The Pious. One of the more interesting newcomers but makes debut in hot race.

Form:

(2)

Tracker Issue¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: R Coakley| T: J S Bolger

100/1

Verbal Dexterity gelding. 66/1, showed more than debut when third of 5 in maiden at Cork (10.4f, good) 18 days ago. This is tougher still.

Form: 03

(1)

Valorous Power¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien

11/2

Frankel colt. Brother to useful 1½m winner Comic Book. Fourth of 10 in maiden (20/1) at Killarney (8.1f, good) on debut 11 days ago, never nearer. Should have more to offer with step up in trip likely to suit.

Form: 4

Forecasts

Propose (8/13), Esherann (4/1), Valorous Power (11/2), Rizal (10/1), Crosshaven (14/1), Steel Cut (22/1), Sears Crossing (50/1), Our Friend Mouse (66/1), Tracker Issue (100/1), Cezarro (100/1), Bear Creek (250/1)

PROPOSE was more professional than on debut when runner-up at Dundalk last time and is taken to go one better at the chief expense of Dermot Weld's Esherann, who fared best of the newcomers on his first start at Leopardstown earlier in the month. Valorous Power promises to be suited by the step up in trip and just gets the nod over Rizal for third.