Racecards
16:00 Down Royal (IRE)
Specsavers 2 For 1 Ulster Derby
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 1m 4f 190y
- Going: Firm
- Surface: Turf
- €70,000 added
- Form 18050-4
- Age 8
- Weight 9-12
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer T J O'Mara
- Jockey M A Cleere
soon mid-division, travelling well in 6th 4f out, 4th from 3f out, dropped to 7th and no impression from over 1f out
- Form 1/504-31
- Age 4
- Weight 9-11
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey Joseph O'Brien
prominent, ridden from halfway, 3rd over 1f out, soon no impression and kept on same pace
- Form 410-925
- Age 5
- Weight 9-9
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer J G Murphy
- Jockey P J Smullen
towards rear, progress 2f out, wide and 5th over 1f out, challenged under pressure and on terms well inside final furlong, bumped, narrowly headed near line
- Form 90-3076
- Age 6
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer K Prendergast
- Jockey Chris Hayes
rear of mid-division, progress from 2f out, ridden into 2nd over 1f out, led inside final furlong, soon joined and bumped, regained slim lead near line
- Form 5459/0-4
- Age 8
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey W J Supple
soon led, strongly pressed and headed inside final furlong, soon dropped to 3rd and kept on same pace
- Form 850688
- Age 6
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer Ms J Morgan
- Jockey W J Lee
towards early, not much room 2f out, soon no impression and kept on same pace
- Form 900-105
- Age 6
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer Ms C Hutchinson
- Jockey N G McCullagh
prominent, no extra under pressure from 2f out
- Form 03760-6
- Age 9
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 83
slowly into stride, towards rear, no impression and kept on same pace from 3f out
- Form 61-66
- Age 5
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer E Griffin
- Jockey Fran Berry
keen hold early, soon tracked leaders, dropped to 6th and tending to hang from over 1f out, soon no extra
- Form 471111
- Age 3
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 91
close up, short of room briefly early, 4th under pressure over 1f out, soon no impression and kept on same pace
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Three-year-olds have landed five of the previous 11 runnings of this which has been won by some useful types. Aidan O'Brien scored a year ago with Changingoftheguard so Grand Admiral, a very easy winner when stepped up to middle-distances for the first time at Dundalk, is an obvious danger to all. Eagle's Pass is 3lbs higher than when last scoring on the flat a year ago but he's been in reasonable form over timber and can never be discounted. The only member of the younger generation this time around is Ghetto Gospel and Ger Lyons' son of Celtic Swing has improved so quickly on fast ground that he will make a bold bid defy a 12lbs rise in the weights for beating Bridge Mountain at Navan. FANTOCHE won this in 2008 from 6lbs lower but has mainly been confined to chasing subsequently. He showed he is no back number on the level with a good run behind Lynott at Navan last week and gets the vote to continue Jessica Harrington's good run of form.
Formwatch
Eagle's Pass (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Held up, 8th halfway, 9th approaching straight, 7th and progress 1 1/2f out, stayed on, 4th of 11, 1 1/2l behind Tovaria (8-9) at Roscommon 1m 4f hcap gf.
Grand Admiral (USA) 7-2 (9-2) Tracked leader in 2nd, led early straight, soon ridden clear, stayed on strongly, won at Dundalk 1m 3f 4yo stk pol in May beating Carefree Smile (9-1) by 7l, 9 ran.
Northgate (IRE) 9-1 (9-9) Mid-division, driven along after halfway, 6th under pressure 1 1/2f out, kept on final furlong, 5th of 19, 3l behind Across The Rhine (9-13) at Leopardstown 1m hcap gf in May.
Celtic Dane (IRE) 10-1 (9-1) Mid-division, 7th halfway, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out, 6th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Charminamix (9-1) at Leopardstown 1m 1f hcap gf in May.
Fantoche (BRZ) 16-1 (9-7) Mid-division, headway approaching straight, 5th 3f out, went 2nd 2f out, 3rd and no impression inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 4th of 13, 3/4l behind Aladdins Cave (8-6) at Navan 1m 5f app hcp 50-85 gf.
Funatfuntasia 11-1 (8-13) Slowly away and held up in rear, some progress approaching straight, kept on same pace from 1 1/2f out, 8th of 11, 3l behind Tovaria (8-9) at Roscommon 1m 4f hcap gf.
South Wing (IRE) 12-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders in 4th, ridden straight, kept on under pressure from 1 1/2f out, 5th of 11, 2l behind Tovaria (8-9) at Roscommon 1m 4f hcap gf.
Tin Town Boy (IRE) 16-1 (8-6) Slowly into stride and held up towards rear, 10th into straight, headway on inner under 2f out, 7th 1f out, not clear run inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 2l behind Tovaria (8-9) at Roscommon 1m 4f hcap gf.
Baracas (FR) 7-4fav (9-6) Tracked leaders in 4th, 3rd and pushed along 4f out, weakened entering straight, 6th of 9, 12l behind Grand Admiral (9-2) at Dundalk 1m 3f 4yo stk pol in May.
Ghetto Gospel (IRE) 7-4fav (9-8) Tracked leader in 2nd, led 2f out, ridden to assert over 1f out, easily, won at Navan 1m 2f 3yo hcp 50-80 fm in May beating Bridge Mountain (9-5) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.