20:05 Leopardstown

Thursday 14 June 2018

All18:0018:3019:0519:3520:0520:3521:05

Fitzers Catering Rated Race

Off time: 20:06 | Winning time: 2m 9.08s

(8)

The Moore Factor³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Colin Keane| T: J J Lambe| OR: 82

9/1

Maiden winner for Dermot Weld over 7f on heavy ground at Gowran Park in 2016 and shaped reasonably on return at the Curragh (1m) for current yard. Stamina for this trip taken on trust despite spell over hurdles.

Form: 323/70-5

(5)

Aussie Valentine^p,t¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: T M Sherry⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 81| C

8/1

Plenty of solid efforts in defeat of late, but losing run stretches back to 2015. Better than bare result when 5½ lengths eighth of 17 to Aared at the Curragh last time, and inexperienced claimer takes over here.

Form: 332248

(1)

Near Kettering³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Y Nonaka⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 77| D

9/1

Redcar maiden winner on good ground over this trip a year ago for Luca Cumani, and not disgraced in handicaps subsequently. Never a factor starting out for new yard at the Curragh last month, but should strip fitter here.

Form: 15946-9

(9)

Claregate Street¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: C P Hoban| T: M Halford| OR: 76| D

6/1

Back to winning form at Dundalk last month, and ran at least as well when 3¾ lengths fourth of 17 to Aared at the Curragh (1¼m) last time, not enjoying clearest run. One to bear in mind again.

Form: 145-514

(4)

Annie Fior^b1⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Dylan Hogan⁽⁷⁾| T: M Winters| OR: 70

12/1

Best effort this year when beaten ¾l by A Likely Story at Dundalk in April, but balance of her form leaves her with a bit to find in this company, unless the fitting of blinkers induces improvement.

Form: 40-7288

(11)

Brokopondo^h⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Wayne Lordan| T: J F Levins| OR: 73| D

40/1

Fairly useful at best, but he hasn't troubled the judge since winning at Dundalk in February last year, and hard to fancy after a poor effort at Cork on latest outing.

Form: 000-660

(7)

Casla²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Ronan Whelan| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 72

8/1

Curragh maiden winner as a 3-y-o for Fozzy Stack, and back to that level of form starting out for new yard when joint fifth of 17 in C&D handicap won by Beach Wedding last month. Still unexposed, and may do better again.

Form: 417-5

(3)

Crafted Jewel¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Robbie Colgan| T: S Lavery| OR: 71

8/1

Cork maiden winner in 2016, and halted a slide in form when 1½ lengths third of 13 to Admodum at Gowran last time. Needs to show she can back that up, however, and this looks tougher.

Form: 5/497-73

(10)

Serefeli²³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Leigh Roche| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 69

25/1

Scored three times last year on AW and turf, but not seen since below form at Dundalk in October, and only his best will do at this level of competition.

Form: 102177-

(2)

Sharjah^b⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: Andrew Slattery⁽⁷⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 74| D

20/1

Not at his best in four starts since winning over 1½m at Dundalk in March, although not disgraced when 7 lengths fifth of 11 to Spiral Galaxy at Navan last time. More needed.

Form: 617735

(6)

Waterboy²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: R Brabazon| OR: 73| C

9/4

From family of outstanding milker Miesque, and has gradually been getting his act together, still rough around the edges when landing 1m handicap here last month. More required, but return to this trip should suit, and unexposed.

Form: 409-031

Forecasts

Waterboy (9/4), Claregate Street (6/1), Aussie Valentine (8/1), Crafted Jewel (8/1), Casla (8/1), Near Kettering (9/1), The Moore Factor (9/1), Annie Fior (12/1), Sharjah (20/1), Serefeli (25/1), Brokopondo (40/1)

Plenty to consider in a competitive race of its type, but WATERBOY was ultimately impressive in a big-field handicap here last time, and the return to ten furlongs should induce further progress from this well-bred gelding. Casla shaped well after a break here last time, and is a threat if building on that, while Claregate Street was better than the bare result on her latest start, and also demands respect.