6.55 Leopardstown
Prescient 8/1
Once again, I am back to the Orafinitis debut run as I think it has proved to be an absolutely fantastic race for form. Frank Dunne’s trained three year old runs from this race, and is the one I have been very interested to see out again. Last year, Prescient was making her debut in July and ran what has turned out to be a fantastic 1.75L 3rd to Irish 1,000 Guineas winner in Misty for Me (120) and 0.5L behind Katla, who won a Listed Race yesterday off a mark of 105. Added to this, Prescient finished 1.75L clear of the now 94 rated Why. Also finishing behind Prescient that day were subsequent winners Orafinitis in 5th and Tell the Wind 8th, with the latter finishing 4.75L behind tomorrows selection and who is now rated 90 and winner of 76 and placed off 93. One thing I have noticed recently was she was a rather early foal and may have been more mature than her rivals on debut.
Prescient, a 170,000 gns purchase who is well bred, has only had 3 other starts to date. The first came 15 days later last August where Prescient was well supported that day to go off 2/1 Fav. However, Prescient did not run to the same standard as witnessed on debut finishing a disappointing 5th and nearly 10L behind Katla, who also finished in front on debut. It could be that this run came too soon for Prescient after debut, or else she may have had a problem which is possible considering her very lengthy absence. However, this filly is clearly very well thought of at home.
After a 10 month absence Prescient made her reappearance run at the Curragh over 6f. However, she was quite disappointing and finished 6.5L 6th behind Coprah. After racing prominently, Prescient faded badly in the last 1.5 furlongs and looked well beaten with 2f to go. The form of the race isn’t terrible either, with Vastitas who finished 3.75L in front of todays selection winning by 6L off the same mark of 82. Despite opinion this run should be discounted, if Prescient ran to a similar level today she could very well make the frame tonight.
Prescient made her handicap debut off a mark of 74 and stepped back down to 5f and made her AW debut However, she missed the break and didn’t seem to act overly well on the surface. She finished just over 2L behind the winner and looked as if a step back up in trip would suit. Her small trainer Frank Dunne has been in pretty good form this year. From his 6 runners, he has had 1 winner, and 3 placed efforts, with Prescient’s 2 runs his only occasions outside of the money.
All in all, I think Prescient has a decent chance. The form of the first race is excellent, with the horses around consistently showing top form. Horses have a big scope for improvement between 2 and 3 yrs. She has been dropped to a mark of 71 as a result of her recent AW finish, where she was quite well backed that day. Niall McCullough takes the ride again and I think a little give in the ground may be a good thing(official going is still good to firm but it has been raining heavily over here most of the day), considering her best effort came on good to yielding. I was hoping for a little bigger than 8s if I am honest and as a result I wouldn’t be placing a large bet as there are a lot of question marks in relation to her last 3 runs, but if she runs to the ability shown in her first race she should take this easily