Group Two Greenlands Stakes Guide 2022

It took a while for Glen Shiel to find his niche. Campaigned over middle distances for a while, dropping to sprinting trips brought out the best in him.

A brace of group 3 wins in the 2020 season saw him round out a brilliant campaign when winning the champion Sprint Stakes at Ascot.

He’s failed to win since however. He’s run well in defeat a few times and went close to recapturing his crown at Ascot at the end of last season but couldn’t live with Creative Force.

He was well beaten behind Brad The Brief last time out but he’s an experienced hand who still has something to offer at this level.

A highly tried 7 year old who’s won at group 3 level previously, he struggled to win again after his success at the end of the 2020 season and was a well beaten 6th in this race last year.

He bounced back after however and put in a fine performance under a big weight to score a decent handicap pot over 5 furlongs here at the Curragh.

Kept at the minimum trip since he’s struggled for form. Beaten at listed level and most recently at group 3 level, he needs to step up to get involved in this deep contest.

A recruit from Germany who managed to win a brace of group 3 races and a listed in his time over there.

With his form starting to tail off in Germany, he was picked up and moved over to Denis Hogan’s yard for training this season.

However his two outings for new connections have left a bit to be desired. Being well beaten in handicap company over 7 furlongs on debut, he was then outclassed at listed level over 5 furlongs last time out.

He needs to improve massively to get involved here.

The winner of this race last year, Gustavus Weston scored at a big price in last year’s renewal, coping well with the deep underfoot conditions.

His form had been relatively inconsistent beforehand but he had scored at group 3 level back in 2019. He has shown a liking for the Curragh and got his head in front in a group 3 race here last season, also over 6 furlongs.

However It was his only success for the season. He was well beaten on seasonal comeback at listed level over 5 furlongs.

Going back up in trip should help and he looks to win this race again.

A close 2nd in this race last year, Make A Challenge made a splash at listed company back in 2020 and put in a few stellar performances to win a brace of races over 5 and 6 furlongs.

He’s failed to kick on from that however and his only run of real note recently was his close 2nd in this race last year.

He hasn’t been seen since last July and could just need the outing. He also needs to prove he can perform in this quality of race.

Part of the contingent that moved from Tom Dascombe to Hugo Palmer. In his early days he rose from handicap ranks to score and listed level and sealed a group 3 win over at Chantilly, all over 6 furlongs.

Last season saw his form tail off however. He failed to win in any of his appearances. Struggling in lower level group company and handicaps between 6 and 7 furlongs.

He made his debut for new connections over 6 furlongs with a scintillating display to win a conditions race at Haydock. Soft ground is his bag and he looked better than ever last time out.

The only filly in the field who was narrowly beaten by Power Under Me in her first outing of the season.

Mooniesta showed plenty of talent and pace last term when going close in a deep handicap over 5 furlongs before scoring a listed race at Naas.

With black type in the books, she aimed higher and was only beaten a neck by A Case Of You in a group 3 over 6 furlongs last May.

A brilliant display saw her tear apart a group 2 over 5 furlongs here at the Curragh on good ground last July but she hasn’t managed to win since.

She doesn’t carry a penalty here so may fare better than she did in listed company and a return to 6 furlongs should help. Should be right in the mix.

An established top sprinter for Adrian McGuinness, A Case Of You picked up a group 3 victory in early 2021 over 6 furlongs.

He struggled for form for the rest of the season before dropping back to 5 furlongs inspired a revival.
A shade unlucky in the Flying Five Stakes at a big price, he put that behind him to win the 2021 renewal of the Abbaye on deep ground.

This season he’s been bang in form. Winning a low grade affair on comeback, he went close in a group 3 in Meydan before capturing another group 1 prize over 6 furlongs. The one to beat on paper.

A lightly raced 4 year old who made a startling impression when winning handily on debut on soft ground over 6 furlongs in maiden company.

He only ran once in his first season and twice as a 3 year old. Getting close to A Case Of You in a group 3 event in his last showing.

Clearly hard to keep sound, he had a busier season last year and put in a few good showings in group 3 races before winning a listed event over this course and distance.

He returned to racing in fine fettle as a 4 year old and won on return, just getting the better of Mooniest at Cork to score another listed race. Looks well worth a go at this level and is still improving.