16:20 Cork

Sunday 17 June 2018

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5017:20

Cork Derby (Handicap)

Off time: 16:22 | Winning time: 2m 35.91s

(7)

Tandem⁶²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: O J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: D K Weld| OR: 100| D

12/1

Consistent sort who is not getting any younger but has won eight of his 18 Flat races. Well held on both starts over hurdles and on the level this year and faces a stiff task under top weight.

Form: 0/1119-4

(3)

Clongowes²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 97

7/1

Wore cheekpieces for the first time when second of 13 over 2m at The Curragh on latest outing. Drops back in trip and, surprisingly, the headgear is dispensed with.

Form: 243-332

(12)

Le Vagabond²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 92

10/1

Showed his well being when third of 13 over hurdles at Wexford last month. Had previously run well to be second on the Flat at Leopardstown and looks to have each-way claims off 1lb higher.

Form: 63250-2

(6)

Ming Dynasty^t1⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Robbie Colgan| T: D P Dunne| OR: 91| D

25/1

Won six times when trained in France, but drew a blank in three AW starts for Marco Botti in England. Good second on debut for this stable at Limerick and can go well again off the same rating.

Form: 555-752

(1)

Song Of Namibia^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 90

10/1

Out of the frame in both starts this year, but did not run too badly at The Curragh last time. Races off 2lb lower and needs to raise his game a little.

Form: 7216-57

(11)

Spruce Meadows^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Dylan Hogan⁽⁷⁾| T: J Feane| OR: 89

22/1

Consistent sort who has run well on his last three starts. Perhaps needs a little more assistance from the handicapper, but is likely to give another solid account.

Form: 68-4237

(9)

St Lawrence Gap⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Ross Coakley⁽³⁾| T: E Doyle| OR: 88

25/1

Won decisively on his return to action at Limerick after which he went up 6lb to his current mark. Well beaten when tried over 2m on heavy ground last time and the return to shorter on better going should see him in a much better light.

Form: 1193-18

(5)

Apparition¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 86| D

7/1

Served notice that his turn may not be too far away when runner-up at Navan earlier this month. Up 1lb, but is certainly one to consider with his stable continuing in good form.

Form: 124-372

(14)

Sea The Lion³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: Ronan Whelan| T: J P Fahey| OR: 86| D

10/1

Excellent start to his campaign when winning at Leopardstown. Has been raised 3lb, but that is manageable given he should strip a little fitter on this occasion.

Form: 11300-1

(8)

Alcatraz⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Chris Hayes| T: R O'Brien| OR: 83

14/1

Stayed on well when wining in good style over 1m2f at The Curragh recently. Has been hit with a 6lb rise, but he looked in fine fettle there and this extra 2f should suit.

Form: 739261

(13)

Gustavus Vassa^h1²²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Declan McDonogh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 82

7/4

Won a Down Royal maiden for Andrew Oliver, but has not yet clicked for his current handler. A 4lb drop in the ratings may help, as may the fitting of a hood for the first time.

Form: 12308-

(2)

Moonmeister^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: Ben Coen⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 82| CD

11/1

Only two runs this year, one over hurdles and the other on the Flat. Mid-division finish on his latest start at The Curragh and he is only 1lb lower. Has a bit to find, but won this last year and will have been primed for a repeat.

Form: 09006-9

(10)

Geoffrey's Girl^t²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Killian Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: S J Mahon| OR: 80| D

50/1

Two starts this season, the latest in a first-time tongue tie which is retained. Looks to be high enough in the weights so others are preferred.

Form: 1/026-48

(4)

Here For The Craic^p¹⁴⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 8-4| J: Wayne Lordan| T: D Budds| OR: 76| C

33/1

Veteran performer who has been running well on the AW at Dundalk. Has a bit to prove back on turf, but remains capable of mixing it with these rivals off this mark.

Form: 7365-42

Non-Runners

(15)

Lord Erskine³⁸

Weight: 8-12| Age: 5

T: H Rogers J: C P Hoban

Forecasts

Gustavus Vassa (7/4), Clongowes (7/1), Apparition (7/1), Sea The Lion (10/1), Le Vagabond (10/1), Song Of Namibia (10/1), Moonmeister (11/1), Tandem (12/1), Lord Erskine (12/1), Alcatraz (14/1), Spruce Meadows (22/1), St Lawrence Gap (25/1), Ming Dynasty (25/1), Here For The Craic (33/1), Geoffrey's Girl (50/1)

A wide-open contest in which arguments can be put forward for the majority of the runners. Gustavus Vassa is interesting dropped in the weights and fitted with a hood for the first time, but the choice is ALCATRAZ, who won well at The Curragh last time and can cope with a 6lb rise in the weights. A host of dangers are headed by Apparition, Le Vagabond, Ming Dynasty, Spruce Meadows, St Lawrence Gap and Sea The Lion, while Lord Erskine is also high on the list following two good wins over hurdles and Moonmeister will have been trained with a repeat of last year's win in mind.