Navan, Saturday 22nd April
3:30 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Committed Stakes (Listed Race)
The drop in trip doesn’t look to be an obvious move for The Antarctic and despite the fact he is the choice of Ryan Moore, he may struggle to find the necessary speed to win this in a small field. Aesop’s Fables looks the more likely winner for Aiden O’Brien, but he was often outpaced last season and so we will take them both on with SHARTASH. Johnny Murtagh’s 3-year-old got the better of Blackbeard in the Railway Stakes last season and is best forgiven his 4 th place finish at Longchamp in October when the softer conditions clearly didn’t suit.
The more the ground dries out, the better his chance and he could represent some decent value to overhaul the Ballydoyle pair.
4:05 – Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes (Listed Race)
Aiden O’Brien has won 2 of the last 4 running’s of this race and he looks to hold the key with his pair of runners this time around. Diamondsareforever was an impressive winner on debut at Dundalk in December when she was trained by Willie Browne and the switch to Ballydoyle would suggest that she
is thought capable of a lot more this season. She looks a nice filly for the team, but it is hard to get away from the stables first string in this race, JACKIE OH. She created a great impression when winning on debut at Naas in March, getting the better of her well fancied stablemate Red Riding Hood, with the reopposing Emotivo back in 3rd.
She is a full sister to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile turf winner Line of Duty (Charlie Appleby) and ought to be capable of making her mark in pattern company.
