16:05 Curragh

Sunday 1 July 2018

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:1517:50

Lyndsey & Eleanor Comer Trust Handicap (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 16:06 | Winning time: 1m 39.36s

(8)

Massif Central³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: C P Hoban| T: M Halford| OR: 99| D

5/1

Belatedly off the mark in a maiden two starts back and ran with credit in a handicap last time out. May come on for that run and not ruled out having been dropped 1lb in the handicap.

Form: 04421-3

(6)

Silverkode⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Gary Carroll| T: J G Murphy| OR: 97| C

5/1

Three-time course winner who returned with an encouraging effort at Gowran last week. Likely to strip fitter for that run and he would appear to be on a workable handicap mark.

Form: 11299-3

(11)

Master Speaker³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: T M Sherry⁽⁷⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 93| C

9/1

Won back-to-back races at Dundalk at the start of the year but handicapper has made his life difficult since. Produced a better effort last time out but others may prove to be better handicapped.

Form: 114472

(10)

Titus³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: G C O'Neill⁽⁷⁾| T: D Carroll| OR: 92| D

5/1

Won a Leopardstown maiden for Dermot Weld on debut and improved from debut for this yard to win at Wetherby in May. Has run with credit in two starts since and it's possible this drop in trip could yield improvement.

Form: 55-0133

(4)

Tony The Gent¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 89| BF| CD

7/1

Won this race last year from a 4lb higher mark but he's largely struggled since and has developed a habit of missing the break. Beaten favourite when displaying that trait at Leopardstown last time and has a bit to prove at present.

Form: 03-0625

(5)

Convergence²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Niamh Crehan⁽¹⁰⁾| T: J M Oxx| OR: 85

40/1

Returned from nearly three years off the track at Gowran last time and shaped like he needed the run. Very well-handicapped on old form but there's a fair chance he might need a couple more runs before he starts to fire.

Form: 17135/6

(9)

Captain Cat^b¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 8-12| J: Rory J King⁽¹⁰⁾| T: R O'Brien| OR: 84| D

20/1

On a 20-race losing run arriving here and very disappointing at Limerick last time out. Well backed on second start for this yard, suggesting he may be showing his old form at home but his propensity to start slowly is off-putting.

Form: 720497

(3)

Turbine^t⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Killian Leonard⁽³⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 84| BF

8/1

Not won since winning a handicap at Newcastle for Mark Johnston. Beaten favourite on each of his last two starts but running well in defeat and likely to be back in the winners' enclosure soon.

Form: 60-6322

(2)

Atlas^b⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Shane Foley| T: D Hogan| OR: 80| D

13/2

Won twice last year but yet to find his form this season and yard have stronger claims with Turbine.

Form: 715-460

(7)

Band of Outlaws³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Wayne Lordan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 88

7/1

Hit and miss performer but there's a strong suspicion we haven't seen the best of him yet. Gets a useful age allowance from his rivals in this but there's a slight concern he may want softer ground.

Form: 51-4326

Non-Runners

(1)

Panstarr⁵⁰

Weight: 10-0| Age: 4

T: J S Bolger J: K J Manning

Forecasts

Massif Central (5/1), Silverkode (5/1), Titus (5/1), Panstarr (6/1), Atlas (13/2), Band of Outlaws (7/1), Tony The Gent (7/1), Turbine (8/1), Master Speaker (9/1), Captain Cat (20/1), Convergence (40/1)

Tony The Gent won this race last year from a higher mark but his tendency to miss the break is off-putting and the ultra consistent TITUS is preferred. The English raider has been in good form of late and he gets the services of a useful 7lb claimer in the saddle. Massif Central may prove to be the main danger after a promising run last time and the handicapper has shown him some leniency dropping him 1lb for that.