19:45 Curragh

Friday 29 June 2018

All17:2518:0018:3519:1019:4520:2020:55

Irish Stallion Farms EBF 'Ragusa' Handicap (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 19:46 | Winning time: 2m 36.34s

(8)

Sea The Lion¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: Ronan Whelan| T: J P Fahey| OR: 93| CD

7/1

C&D winner who has returned this season better than ever with back to back wins over this trip. While clearly a thriving, a 7lb rise for the latest effort may be enough to stop him.

Form: 1300-11

(4)

Le Vagabond¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: W J Lee| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 91

20/1

Useful dual purpose performer who has returned in good form this year and while he wasn't seen to best effect at Cork last time out, he's placed off higher marks than this in the past and shouldn't be ruled out.

Form: 3250-29

(1)

Law Girl²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Colin Keane| T: W P Mullins| OR: 89

9/2

Won a maiden hurdle not long after joining this yard and bounced right back to form with a win at Listowel last time. Drop back in trip not guaranteed to suit though.

Form: 2214/31

(7)

Roconga⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: T P Madden⁽⁵⁾| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 89| D

40/1

Losing run starting to mount up now and handicapper mark leaves no room for error as far as this sphere is concerned. Others preferred.

Form: 3010/1-0

(10)

Gustavus Vassa^h¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Declan McDonogh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 87| BF

7/4

Habitual slow starter but only narrowly denied at Cork last time out. 5lb higher here but it's likely there's more to come for this yard given he's only had three starts for his new connections.

Form: 12308-2

(9)

Abjar²⁹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: C P Hoban| T: M Halford| OR: 86| D

33/1

Won a maiden on his third statr at Wolverhampton and not disgraced in handicap company when last seen. 5lb higher mark leaves him needing more and has an absence to overcome for new connections.

Form: 6212-

(12)

Change Of Velocity^t⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 100

6/1

Arrives here bidding for a hat-trick after winning a valuable race at Down Royal last time out. Every chance we have not seen the best of him yet and three-year-old weight allowance gives him every chance against his elders here.

Form: 45-3611

(2)

Breathe Easy³³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Wayne Lordan| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 83| C

16/1

Won on debut for this yard in 2016 but has failed to win since and the handicapper has been slow to relent. Still well above his last winning mark and others preferred.

Form: 72276-6

(3)

James Cook^t⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 97

9/2

Ran with some credit in the Derby Trial at Epsom on return but found Group company too tough next time and very disappointing when well beaten at Royal Ascot last time. This is easier but needs to improve to win from this handicap mark.

Form: 21-480

(5)

Grand Partner¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 9-1| J: N G McCullagh| T: T Mullins| OR: 82| D

40/1

In good form over hurdles and most recently over fences when runner-up at Punchestown. Needs to improve to win from this sort of Flat mark though and that seems unlikely at his age. Would have preferred some cut in the ground.

Form: 283714-

(11)

Share The Honour^t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Chris Hayes| T: A J Martin| OR: 75

25/1

Returned to form with a better effort when placed here last time out and seemingly in need of the extra 2f he gets here. Not ruled out if building upon that effort.

Form: 140-93

Non-Runners

(6)

Boho³³

Weight: 8-11| Age: 3

T: Mrs J Harrington J: C O'Donoghue

Forecasts

Gustavus Vassa (7/4), James Cook (9/2), Law Girl (9/2), Change Of Velocity (6/1), Sea The Lion (7/1), Boho (10/1), Breathe Easy (16/1), Le Vagabond (20/1), Share The Honour (25/1), Abjar (33/1), Grand Partner (40/1), Roconga (40/1)

CHANGE OF VELOCITY has been in excellent form and he's taken to land the hat-trick with a less exposed profile than many of his rivals. Share The Honour will appreciate the step up in trip after a respectable effort here over 1m2f last time out but Gustavus Vassa could be the main danger with more to come for this yard.