Ronan & Tom Gibbons Memorial Apprentice Claiming Race

Third at Limerick most recently, Femme Beauty is effective at today's trip on soft and good ground and looks well placed dropping in grade — first-time headgear adds interest. The concern is a run of form without a win, but the profile is solid enough to make her a leading threat.

A slow-away last-place debut at Leopardstown is the only form to go on, and now equipped with cheekpieces, Rose Sienna needs a very different showing to get involved here. Winless and with a speed rating well below the principals, she faces a tough assignment.

Fitted with first-time blinkers and dropping back in trip from the 12f test that found him out at Limerick last time, Delusional showed better form prior and is effective at 8–11f on good and AW. Yet to score in recent starts, he is a danger if the headgear sharpens him on a more suitable distance.

Third on handicap debut at Gowran Park last time out, Zitkala Sa is effective at today's trip on yielding ground and wears a tongue-tie for the first time. Top-rated here and open to improvement from that encouraging debut run, the one reservation is that she remains without a win in recent starts.

Fourth at Gowran Park last time, finishing well late from off the pace, Balance Of Trade is proven at today's trip and acts on heavy and yielding ground. Inconsistency is the caveat — winless in recent starts — and a wide draw in first-time cheekpieces adds uncertainty.