Racecards
16:00 Navan (IRE)
Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Race
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 1m
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- €20,000 added
- Winner: €13,000
- 2nd: €3,799
- 3rd: €1,799
- 4th: €600
- Form 31-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-9
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey Joseph O'Brien
led, pushed along and challenged 2f out, soon ridden and disputed, narrowly headed over 1f out, kept on final furlong, no extra close home
- Form 3-1
- Age 3
- Weight 9-9
- Trainer J M Oxx
- Jockey D P McDonogh
tracked leader in 2nd, challenged 2f out, soon pushed along and disputed, ridden to narrow lead under 1f out, kept on well under pressure, edged ahead close home
- Form 31-3
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 95
chased leaders in 3rd, pushed along to challenge 2f out, soon ridden and disputed, narrowly headed under 1f out, kept on, no extra close home
Nandiga (USA)
272- Form 1450-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer P J Prendergast
- Jockey C D Hayes
held up in rear, pushed along 3f out, no impression over 2f out, kept on one pace
Verdict
Mick Halford won this a year ago and WON DIAMOND is the form pick this time around. A winner at Dundalk in December, he returned to action with an unlucky run in a strong handicap at the Curragh where he failed to obtain a clear run at a crucial stage. There'll be no such problems here and Group entries suggest he's expected to do much better. Forester is in the July Cup so he's obviously expected to have plenty of speed and though unraced since landing a Leopardstown maiden last April that's rarely a problem for one of Aidan O'Brien's charges. Stepwise is in a Group 3 later this month which isn't a surprise after his very impressive maiden success over this course and distance though that was on soft ground. Nandiga made a winning debut at the Curragh a year ago and has been confined to much better class subsequently and wasn't disgraced behind Sky Lantern in the Moyglare.
Formwatch
Forester (IRE) 4-6fav (9-5) Made all, stretched clear under 2f out, pushed out and kept on well final furlong, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 6f 2yo mdn gd in Apr '12 beating Desert Of Dreams (9-5) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
Stepwise (IRE) 8-13fav (9-5) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, improved to challenge 2f out, soon led, ridden and kept on well from over 1f out, won at Navan 1m mdn stks in May beating Hue And Cry (9-5) by 4l, 16 ran.
Won Diamond 11-2 (9-13) Waited with towards rear, ridden over 2f out, went 7th on outer 1f out, kept on well without threatening final furlong, 3rd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Roca Tumu (9-7) at Curragh 1m 3yo hcp gf in May.
Nandiga (USA) 50-1 (9-0) Keen early, held up in touch, ridden halfway, weakened from 2f out, eased inside final furlong, 11th of 13, 19l behind Sky Lantern (9-0) at Curragh 7f 2yo fll Grp 1 (1) in Sep.