Ivy League is going to be very popular in the market for this race. As a 3-year-old he receives lumps of weight from his 5 rivals and after just 3 starts he is open to any amount of improvement. However, whilst he has potential, he was very green when winning the Blackwater Handicap at Naas last month and this represents a significant step up in class. Aiden O’Brien has won this race 3 times, but not since 2002 and so at cramped odds he is worth opposing.At the early prices, Patrick Sarsfield makes a lot of appeal. With an official rating of 109, he is only 3lbs wrong with Ivy league and is well treated in comparison to the other 4. He made his seasonal return for Joseph O’Brien when he finished 4th in the Devoy Stakes behind Layfayette, who has certainly boosted that form in the interim. He travelled very strongly that day and looked the most likely winner at the 2-furlong pole before he tired in the closing stages. He produced a similar performance last season when he finished 2nd at the Curragh on his return before going on to finish 2nd to Juan Elcano in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot on his next start. Although he hasn’t won since July 2020, he has produced a string of solid efforts in pattern company. The return to 1-mile (for the first time since 2019) shouldn’t cause too many problems for this son of Galileo, who has a naturally high cruising speed in his races. His class and experience could be the key and he is overpriced on what he has achieved at a general 5/1.
