16:10 Curragh

Saturday 1 July 2017

All14:0014:3515:1015:4016:1016:4017:2018:00

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship Summer Fillies Handicap (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 16:11 | Winning time: 1m 23.95s

(3)

Valentana²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁷⁾| T: W McCreery| OR: 91| D

14/1

Ran well over 1m (yielding) here in May, though efforts either side of that have been less encouraging. Drops back in trip but yard have gone a bit quiet lately (1/20) and this looks tough enough conceding weight.

Form: 118-035

(1)

Asking^t¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Anastasia O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 95

8/1

Maiden winner over 1m at Dundalk on the AW in March, filly has been handed some devilishly tough challenges in four turf runs since. Didn't run badly in 1m fillies' handicap at Royal Ascot latest and, with drop in trip perhaps in favour now, not discounted.

Form: 122986

(8)

Tinder²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 94

25/1

Maiden winner over 6f at Navan (good to firm) in August, well held in Leopardstown Guineas Trial on reappearance and easily fended off in 5f handicap here last month. Yard are going through a lean spell.

Form: 0143-99

(7)

Truffles⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Ronan Whelan| T: S Lavery| OR: 85| D

16/1

One win from seven on turf came over this trip at Fairyhouse in September on testing ground when beating Waitaki some 4L in a maiden. Found things tougher since in handicaps including when beaten 6L over this trip on reappearance at Gowran Park in April. Needs to improve.

Form: 32169-6

(11)

Duchess Of France^t²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: P J Smullen| T: A Keatley| OR: 83| CD

5/1

Scored nicely over C&D last month, assessor has issued a 9lb rise for that effort which makes things much tougher. Yard in decent form and jockey booking a major plus-point.

Form: 302-021

(9)

Art Nouvelle^p¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 87| C

40/1

Made a decent start this season when running nice races at Leopardstown and Limerick over this trip. Form has tailed off since running over shorter trips so has plenty to prove as a result. Trainer in good form.

Form: 1-83298

(4)

Music Box^h⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 86| BF| D

7/2

Gowran Park maiden winner (7f, soft to heavy) early last month, run three times since without winning but represents powerful trainer/jockey team and should be in the mix once more.

Form: 221823

(2)

Tobacco Bay²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 85| BF| D

9/2

Impressive maiden winner at Tipperary in April (7½F, soft) and caught the eye finishing second behind Duchess Of France on handicap bow over this C&D last month. Is 6lb better off with that rival now and should improve again.

Form: 7-512

(5)

Groundfrost^h1²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: D M Simmonson⁽⁵⁾| T: J Feane| OR: 84

12/1

Has run well on both Irish starts thus far, including here over a mile on yielding ground. First-time hood and handy 5lb claimer mean she's not out of this.

Form: 31-9425

(6)

Honor Oak²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Chris Hayes| T: T Hogan| OR: 74| BF

12/1

Just the one win from 20 starts on turf and last month's 9L defeat behind Duchess Of France over this C&D leaves her with plenty to work on. Others readily preferred.

Form: 18-2268

(10)

Ventura Blues¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: K J Manning| T: R Hannon| OR: 81

8/1

Twice a winner last year in Britain over 6f, on AW at Kempton and turf at Leicester. Has been consistent in three starts this year at those same venues without notching a win but very interesting leading British yard comes here and jockey booking certain to do no harm.

Form: 411-532

(12)

Betty Loch⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Shane Foley| T: M Halford| OR: 78| BF

16/1

Failed to get off the mark in three maidens, beaten 11L in Gowran Park handicap over this trip just six days ago. Facing a big challenge here seemingly.

Form: 76-28

(13)

Waitaki^b¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Leigh Roche| T: D K Weld| OR: 70

16/1

Placed seven times from a dozen starts on turf, plenty to find with some of these rivals and would appear to be holding only claims for minor money again.

Form: 51-3938

Forecasts

Music Box (7/2), Tobacco Bay (9/2), Duchess Of France (5/1), Asking (8/1), Ventura Blues (8/1), Honor Oak (12/1), Groundfrost (12/1), Valentana (14/1), Waitaki (16/1), Betty Loch (16/1), Truffles (16/1), Tinder (25/1), Art Nouvelle (40/1)

Recent C&D scorer Duchess Of France looks a leading player once more despite a ratings hike, she was impressive when winning here 20 days ago and, with Smullen on top now, can go well again. TOBACCO BOY was second on that occasion in his first handicap start. He has less than 3L to make up and may well improve again, ensuring that a 6lb turnaround at the weights should make this a very fair fight between the re-opposing rivals. Asking has been very highly-tried on turf this season but ought to find this challenge much more in her compass and shouldn't be discounted. Groundfrost could get involved while the British raider Ventura Blues is an intriguing runner.