Can Jim Bolger make another big Eyrefield splash with Boundless Ocean?

Saturday: 5.10 Leopardstown
Eyrefield Stakes (Group 3) | 1m1f | 2yo | RTV

Boundless Ocean will make his third start in just nine days as Jim Bolger tries to win this Group 3 for the sixth time since 2014.

Bolger does things the Bolger way and his audacious decision to allow Boundless Ocean to contest the Killavullan Stakes at Leopardstown last Saturday, just two days after he was beaten in a Curragh maiden on his debut, almost paid off spectacularly.

Indeed, you could make a pretty convincing argument that he would have won had he not been snatched up a furlong out. It was a fine effort from such an inexperienced colt and he returns to the track seeking compensation in a race Bolger has won with Parish Boy (2014), Mr Moonlight Magic (2015), Dubai Sand (2016), Guaranteed (2018) and Flying Visit (2020).

Duke De Sessa was held in such high regard by Dermot Weld that he allowed him to take his chance in the National Stakes last month having only won a Curragh maiden.

He could not have been more impressive in that maiden, so few could blame Weld for throwing him in at the deep end. It turned out the race arrived a little early in his education and he trailed in sixth of seven behind Native Trail, but this will be more to his liking and he remains a colt of significant potential.

It took Anchorage five goes to get off the mark but he could not have done so any more emphatically than at Thurles earlier this month, defying a mark of 88 in a mile nursery with the minimum of fuss.

Piz Badile, Caroline Herschel and French Claim are all one from one and could be anything, while Good Heavens was a decisive winner of a course maiden a week ago. He is one of two runners for Joseph O'Brien, who is also represented by Voice Of Angels.

What they say

Paddy Twomey, trainer of French Claim
He's come out of Listowel in good order. He did everything backwards there and still managed to win so we think he's got ability.

William Haggas, trainer of Grenoble
He's only a maiden winner like most of the others in the race but he goes there in good form and the forecast rain should be in his favour.

Donnacha O'Brien, trainer of Piz Badile
He's had a good break since his last run and I think he's improved since then. I think he'll like the trip too. We've always thought he was a nice horse and, although it looks a good race, we hope he'll go close.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Caroline Herschel
She was very good at Killarney and got the job done nicely. This is a big step up for her but she's a nice filly and she seems to be in very good form.

Read more Saturday previews

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3.15 Doncaster: Can O'Brien land a tenth Vertem Futurity with Derby favourite Luxembourg?

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4.05 Cheltenham: Will go-to claiming rider Jordan Gainford strike another blow for the Irish?

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