15:45 Curragh

Saturday 21 July 2018

All14:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:3018:0518:40

Tote Scurry Handicap (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 15:47 | Winning time: 1m 14.70s

(4)

Ardhoomey^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 107| C| D

12/1

Group 2 winner here in 2016 and kicked the season off with Listed win over that same C&D. Has never won over this far but produced a creditable effort in defeat over C&D last time in Listed class and he has each-way claims.

Form: 65-1633

(6)

Ice Age¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 107| CD

6/1

C&D winner of a valuable handicap last year. In the form of his life at present having won two of his last three starts. Hard to imagine he's as well-handicapped as some in here as a result though and he will need another career best.

Form: 036101

(17)

Intisaab^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 103| D

8/1

Group 3 winner in Doha earlier in the year and he's won from high handicap marks than this in the past. Had excuses last time out when his hood for stalls entry was removed too late and not ruled out here.

Form: 141073

(5)

Gunmetal⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: O J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Barron| OR: 98| D

3/1

Has turned his form around since joining this yard and he's bidding for a hat-trick after wins at Thirsk and Newmarket. The latter was particularly impressive and he's interesting despite a 5lb higher mark with a talented apprentice in the saddle.

Form: 6000-11

(11)

Master Speaker^b²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: Ronan Whelan| T: A McGuinness| OR: 93| CD

16/1

Won his first two starts for this yard at Dundalk but hasn't quite been able to match that level since. Drop back to a sprint trip should help but handicapper probably has his measure for now.

Form: 144727

(1)

Full Moon¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 96| BF

8/1

Sole win to date came at Dundalk and while he's been largely campaigned at pattern level since, he's been disappointing. Failed to win at Naas last time when favourite dropped down in class and others preferred.

Form: 625072

(3)

Kindly^v³^{(ex 7)}

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Chris Hayes| T: J F Levins| OR: 81| D

20/1

In good form of late, though got the run of the race when winning a six runner contest at Fairyhouse last time out. 7lb penalty demands more here.

Form: 337181

(12)

St Brelades Bay^p²²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 88| CD

16/1

C&D who got his head back in front at Gowran Park two starts back. Isn't the most consistent sort, as seen in his follow up bid here last time and there's a suspicion others may be a little better handicapped even if he brings his best form.

Form: 1-43417

(8)

True Blue Moon^t³³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Wayne Lordan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 92

25/1

Won his first two career starts, the latter of which was a Listed contest at Naas. Out of sorts this campaign though and has a bit to prove at present.

Form: 666-686

(10)

Geological²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-6| J: Rory Cleary| T: D English| OR: 85| D

20/1

Bounced back to form with a win at Limerick two starts back. Has won from higher marks than this but there's a suspicion he's best over a little further. Likely to make this a true gallop from the front.

Form: 949513

(16)

Hello Brigette^p³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Gary Halpin| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 89| D

14/1

Returned to form in fine fashion over this trip at Leopardstown last month. Only 6lb higher here and she's entirely unexposed so has to be of interest here.

Form: 51-3701

(13)

Shepherd's Purse^v1³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-5| J: Leigh Roche| T: D Loughnane| OR: 84| CD

20/1

Without a win in his last 24 starts and his better efforts have generally come on AW. Has run some fair races in defeat since joining this yard and well-handicapped on old form. Not ruled out if the first-time headgear works the oracle.

Form: 2-92626

(7)

Sors^b⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-4| J: Andrew Slattery⁽⁷⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 83| CD

25/1

C&D winner and three-time course winner but all his form has come with cut in the ground and he's been out of sorts of late. Hard to fancy unless the rain arrives.

Form: 679504

(15)

Atlas^b⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: Sean Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 83

16/1

Won twice last year but has been struggling in easier races than this throughout this campaign and seemingly up against it from out of the handicap here.

Form: 460544

(14)

Fit For Function²²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: N G McCullagh| T: J G Murphy| OR: 83| D

14/1

Inconsistent sort but he's run some fair races this time around including last month when runner-up over C&D. Has never won from a mark this high though and he's out of the handicap.

Form: 00-7162

(9)

Rattling Jewel¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-4| J: Alan Persse⁽¹⁰⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 83| BF| CD

7/1

Three-time course winner with two of those coming over this trip. Has been running some fine races in defeat this campaign but needs this apprentice to be well worth his claim if he's to break his losing run from 7lb out of the handicap.

Form: 000-222

(2)

Blairmayne⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: Killian Leonard⁽³⁾| T: N Lupini| OR: 83| D

33/1

Produced an excellent third behind Ice Age in a valuable handicap here last year. Capitalised from a reduced mark at Naas on return this year but up against it from 8lb out of the weights here.

Form: 0833-18

Forecasts

Gunmetal (3/1), Ice Age (6/1), Rattling Jewel (7/1), Intisaab (8/1), Full Moon (8/1), Ardhoomey (12/1), Hello Brigette (14/1), Fit For Function (14/1), St Brelades Bay (16/1), Master Speaker (16/1), Atlas (16/1), Shepherd's Purse (20/1), Kindly (20/1), Geological (20/1), Sors (25/1), True Blue Moon (25/1), Blairmayne (33/1)

It might be worth taking a chance on SHEPHERD'S PURSE in first-time headgear after some promising races in defeat of late. Ice Age won a valuable handicap over course and distance last year and has claims again but Gunmetal may be the main danger in his hat-trick bid.