21-05-2025
Pierre Royal should be tough to beat
The once-raced, Dermot Weld-trained Pierre Royal should be tough to beat in the INPBA Sponsored Gate June 2nd Maiden in Gowran Park this evening.
This Moyglare-owned Kingman colt made his belated debut over course and distance just two weeks ago, attracting hefty late support and going off a strong 9/4 shot.
Having tracked experienced, 88-rated Ballydoyle colt First Wave, Chris Hayes asked Pierre Royal to mount a challenge early in the straight but, unable to get on terms, was only able to plug on and fill second spot, beaten almost five lengths by his Royal Ascot-bound rival.
But it's significant that the Weld's charge finished four lengths clear of the third, 85-rated Daler.
With that experience under his belt, Pierre Royal is entitled to be more streetwise on this occasion and, from stall one, might be able to dictate things on this speed-favouring track.
He sets a decent standard again Natalia Lupini's 74-rated Bishopton, second twice on the polytrack before finishing fifth to Shiota in a competitive three-year-old handicap in Naas last time.
In the earlier Gowran Park Median Auction Fillies Maiden, Jessica Harrington, who enjoyed a welcome change of luck with Thrifty Of Digby in Roscommon on Monday, has prospects with seasonal debutant Edge Of Seventeen.
Another to consider here is Ciaran Murphy's grey Staywitherjohnny who might reverse her debut form with Lady Lilac (second) from the course and distance maiden won by Dahlia Noir.
But preference is for Inventress, from the in-form Paddy Twomey yard, a Mastercraftsman filly who looked raw on her debut in Cork two weeks ago.
Sent off favourite, she filled the runner-up berth behind Joseph O'Brien's Dawn Spirit and, expected to improve, might be tough to beat here.
O'Brien tends to do very well with fillies he sources in France and Britain. His Lemsairbat looks the one to beat in the @gowranpark1 On Twitter Fillies Race, which offers the biggest prize of the day.
This four-year-old Bated Breath filly, successful at Compiegne and a €34,000 Arqana purchase, shaped with promise on her recent Irish debut in Sligo, finishing a close third to stable-companion Beset in a valuable fillies handicap.
This looks an ideal opportunity for the Carriganog inmate. She gets the vote over Dermot Weld's three-year-old Deressa, winner of a course and distance maiden early last month.
