Make it Moonlit
Everything that could go wrong went wrong for the daughter of Exceed and Excel at Ascot. She was lumbered with the very worst draw in one and came up the stands’ side in splendid isolation.
There was never any possibility of Dermot Weld’s filly delivering and she did remarkably well in the circumstances to be beaten just over eight lengths.
The six who finished in front of her, including sixth placed Purple Glow – who renews rivalry now – all raced on the far side.
Prior to Ascot, Moonlit Garden was very impressive when winning her maiden by three lengths on this track and very much looks the one to beat, in a competitive little contest.
Aidan O’Brien’s Scottish Reel is the nap choice in the ladbrokes.com Maiden over ten furlongs.
He was beaten in a mile and five on his debut by John Oxx’s Kaladena at Navan and, over a mile and a half, was swamped late by another Oxx inmate, the newcomer Zarebiya at Leopardstown.
Scottish Reel, now dropped significantly in trip, is fancied to get off the mark in a race where the emphasis is more on quantity than quality.
Dermot Weld’s Easy Mate is worth a minor each-way wager in the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Derby. Lightly-raced, she made a promising reappearance at Listowel when chasing home subsequent winner, Spinning Wings.
