The once-raced Moony Beams should be very tough to beat in today’s Leopardstown opener – the Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Maiden.
Trained by Ger Lyons, the Farhh colt was sent off a strong favourite for his debut in a maiden over course and distance last month but, caught wide on the home turn, hit top gear late and flashed home to be beaten a neck by the experienced front-runner Celtic Times – the pair stretching clear of the rest.
With that experience under his belt, Moony Beams might prove too strong for Pimlico and Don Julio, trained by Aidan and Donnacha O’Brien respectively and expected to step forward from their debut runs.
Lyons and Colin Keane might also take the fillies maiden with Split Passion, who boasts solid two-year-old form and is expected to improve on her disappointing fourth to less-fancied stablecompanion Holly Golightly on her seasonal debut in a Gowran Park maiden.
Lots of contenders for the Group 3 Ballycorus Stakes have questions to answer. And I’ll side with Kevin Prendergast’s three-year-old Monaasib, bidding to bounce back from a lacklustre eighth behind Mac Swiney in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas.
A son of Bobby’s Kitten, Monaasib ran a cracker against High Definition in the Beresford (Group 2) last September and was a creditable third to subsequent Qipco 2,000 victor Poetic Flare in a trial over this course and distance on his first start of 2021.
Most of Monaasib’s best form has been on easy ground, so the likelihood of a ‘good to firm’ surface today is a concern. But, with a first-time visor, he should have every chance.
Joseph O’Brien appears to hold the key to two of the handicaps on the card, with Giustino – a wide-margin winner in Listowel on Sunday – 14lb well-in for the Leopardstown Handicap.
And, following a career best effort when second to stablecompanion Mariesque at Gowran Park on Monday, Sher Chance is 7lb ahead of the assessor in the Leopardstown Golf Centre Handicap.
Peter O’Hehir's tips for Navan
4.15.Moony Beams (Nap)
4.50.Split Passion
5.20.Sister Lola
5.50.Monaasib
6.20.Sheer Chance
6.50.Maoilin
7.20.Giustino
7.50.Lunar Power
Next Best
4.15.Pimlico
4.50.Golden Lyric
5.20.Golden Valour
5.50.Pearls Galore
6.20.Stop On Red
6.50.Flagged
7.20.Slieve Bearnagh
7.50.Hidden land
Double : Moony Beams and Giustino.
O’Hehir’s Longshot : Duquesa Beach (7.20.)
