VERDICT

Despite being sent off at 9/4f, QUEEN MAEDBH finished down the field on her seasonal reappearance at this track earlier in the month. She was the last off the bridle but found little at the business end of the race, suggesting she probably needed the run. Better is expected this time Johnny Murtagh’s Wave Machine was highly tried as a juvenile (contesting the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes) and won well off a mark of 85 on her final start of 2022. She’s not made much of an impression in either of her two starts this campaign and, though this is a step down in class, may still need a bit of help from the handicapper Lovejoy has been put up just a pound for her second last time out, but would probably be more at home on a softer surface

Curragh Comment

QUEEN’S PARDON was denied by under a length last time at Navan and she was a long way clear of the third. She has been put up 8lb for that effort, which may not be enough to prevent her from going one place better. The main threat might be Craft Irish, who showed improved form with the application of first-time blinkers on her latest outing. Others to consider are Marsa and Wave Machine.

WIN: QUEEN’S PARDON

DANGER: Craft Irish