Marble Hill Stakes 2011

2.40 Curragh

T P Waters European Breeders Fund Marble Hill Stakes (Listed) (Class 1)  (2YO only)

Winner €31,201

Pick: Power (win)

Hexagonal: Showed plenty of early pace when fourth in a couple of AW maidens to start but looked well out of his depth when fifth in Naas conditions contest last time and this flying too high.

Power: Showed a strong and professional attitude when coming home two lengths clear of fellow debutant (landed gamble); Looked well able to making impact at high level and win here would underline possible Royal Ascot claims.

Signifier: Best of the rest  behind Magic City on debut and then made no mistake when winning at 2/5 next time (led all the way, very keen); Weakened out of things when third behind Bannock and Magic City last time and needs more here.

Tough As Nails: Winner of the first juvenile race of the season here but lost the race through greenness (form worked out); That nothing compared to his 7 – length destruction of subsequent winner at Tipperary last time out; Makes him the one to beat on form.

An Ghalanata: Ran a promising race first time out when making a good challenge and beating all bar Fire Lily (hung a little in closing stages) & and can improve on that here but not upto reversing form.

Danziger: Consistent maiden but unable to find any answers when behind Fire Lily and An Ghalanata at Naas and when disappointed on fourth start when 8-13 on AW, weakening into third behind Muckle Bahoochie; Unlikely to do any better today.

Fire Lily: Slowly away, green early and also unable to get a clear run until later stages when quickening smartly to beat An Ghalanta and Danziger at Navan on debut; That form makes her leading player.

Gold Lace: In need of the run when four lengths behind Tough As Nails on debut and improved when landing maiden next time (beat Danziger); Has to improve again to show up today but faster ground and doubt.

Muckle Bahoochie: Was behind three of these on debut but clearly needed it and had sore shins afterwards; Much more forward on second start, when readily beating Danziger by 2l;Not entirely disregarded under Murtagh.

VERDICT: Aidan O’Brien has won this 6 times in the last 9 years and that gives his POWER the marginal vote over Fire Lily and Tough As Nails.