The talented Piz Badile can bounce back to winning ways in the Listed Diamond Stakes at Dundalk this evening.
Donnacha’s O’Brien’s charge has been lightly raced since finishing runner-up in the Irish Derby last year but showed earlier in this campaign that he still has plenty of ability.
After a disappointing outing in France in July 2022 he only reappeared at the start of May this year and ran a nice race in testing ground to finish third in Group Two company.
The Ulysses colt looks better suited by a sound surface and there was a lot to like about his performance in top level company in the Tattersalls Gold Cup later that month.
He travelled well turning for home then but couldn’t go with the front two late on in the Group One event won by Luxembourg.
It’s a slight concern that he hasn’t run again since but he won first time out last year and appears to be a horse that goes well fresh.
With a rating of 110 he is top rated in tonight’s 10-furlong contest and has shown the ability to be hard to beat in a contest of this standard.
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On the book, Bold Discovery would appear to be his main danger and he comes here off a more recent run, so is a bit more battle hardened.
The Jessica Harrington-trained colt ran a solid race when sixth in Group Two company on Irish Champions Weekend and is a listed winner this season.
Those runs have come at a mile though and this trip would be a slight concern.
There are quite a few in the race that are unproven over the distance and Piz Badile is fancied to prove a cut above.
The seven-furlong fillies’ maiden is a very interesting race.
Grand Job sets a good standard off a mark of 86 and is probably the one to beat.
She has been runner-up in two of her three starts, the other coming in Group Two company, and looked to bump into a very smart rival in Rising Sign at Punchestown last time.
There are three barrier trial winners in the field and Starry Dew in particular impressed with the way she shaped here towards the start of the month.
The market could be a big guide in the race but Grand Job has the form in the book and would be a deserving winner.
SELECTIONS
4.35 Un Bacio Ancora (Lope De Rueda)
5.10 Tai Sing Yeh (Rocky Dreams)
5.45 Grand Job (Dbl) (Starry Dew)
6.15 Rockbury Lad (Yester)
6.45 Piz Badile (Nap) (Bold Discovery)
7.15 Slieve Binnian (Eclat De Lumiere)
7.45 Celtic Revival (Union Flag)
8.15 Fairytale Princess (Numidia)
