20:45 Leopardstown

Thursday 26 July 2018

All17:3018:0018:3519:1019:4020:1020:45

SOREC Morocco Cup Handicap

Off time: 20:45 | Winning time: 3m 23.54s

(7)

Eight Till Late²²

Age: 10| Weight: 9-13| J: O J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: Francis Casey| OR: 68

6/1

Improved on earlier Flat efforts when third of 10 to Minnie Dahill in 2m1f handicap at Bellewstown last time, although that's still fairly modest stuff, and he needs more to win here.

Form: 6-843

(3)

Hudson's Bay¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: T P Madden⁽⁵⁾| T: T J O'Mara| OR: 61

7/1

Dual-purpose handicapper who was back to form after a long break when keeping-on 5¾L fifth of 15 to Ingleby Mackenzie at Killarney last time. Return to this sort of trip should suit, and one to bear in mind.

Form: 06000-5

(9)

Siempre Amigos¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: C Heavey⁽¹⁰⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 60

6/1

Best at staying trips in this sphere, and ran well when 2¾L fourth of 14 to You Can't Catch Me at Limerick (2m1f) in June. Ran well next time, and best to ignore a poor run over hurdles more recently.

Form: 071843

(10)

High Kicker¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Ronan Whelan| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 59| BF| C| D

9/2

Ended a losing run over shorter at Tipperary in June, and creditable third of 9 to Park Row at Fairyhouse last time, finishing clear of the rest. Remains fairly treated on that evidence.

Form: 72-7713

(1)

Talsara^b,t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Killian Leonard⁽³⁾| T: T Foley| OR: 57

20/1

Seemed to improve when fourth of 7 to Slippery Serpent in C&D maiden last time, but likely to be flattered by that effort, and plenty to find on balance.

Form: 8240-74

(2)

Massini's Trap⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 8-13| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J Nash| OR: 54

8/1

Lightly raced on the level in recent times, and failed to fire when 7¾L ninth of 12 to Emperor Waltz at Killarney last time. Can do better, but others more appealing.

Form: 004/70-9

(4)

Xinbama^t²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 8-12| J: Colin Keane| T: D P Dunne| OR: 53

8/1

Struggling for form over hurdles, and fared no better in blinkers back on the Flat when 9¾L sixth of 16 to Tenth Amendment at Bellewstown last time, albeit not best placed as that race went.

Form: 50000-6

(6)

Pivot Bridge⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 8-11| J: Shane Foley| T: A McGuinness| OR: 52| C

10/1

Well beaten over C&D on penultimate start, and while he fared better when 3¾L fifth of 12 to Emperor Waltz at Killarney (2m1f) last time, he is still easy enough to oppose.

Form: 010705

(5)

Spinning Pearl¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Andrew Slattery⁽⁷⁾| T: A McCann| OR: 48

16/1

Won a seller for Eve Johnson Houghton, and belatedly back to that sort of level for current yard when a close fifth at Dundalk last time. Needs to show she can build on that.

Form: 800-385

(8)

Miraculum⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Rory Cleary| T: J S Bolger| OR: 58

4/1

Struggled in three starts in maiden company, and only marginal improvement on handicap debut over 1m5f here last time. Still early days, though, and not one to dismiss lightly in receipt of weight.

Form: 0806

Forecasts

Miraculum (4/1), High Kicker (9/2), Eight Till Late (6/1), Siempre Amigos (6/1), Hudson's Bay (7/1), Xinbama (8/1), Massini's Trap (8/1), Pivot Bridge (10/1), Spinning Pearl (16/1), Talsara (20/1)

HIGH KICKER pulled clear of the rest when third at Fairyhouse last time. She should be as effective back at this trip, and looks capable of gaining another win. Siempre Amigos can be forgiven a poor run over hurdles, and had been running well in this sphere prior to that, so looks the best alternative, although it's clearly too early to write off Miraculum, who is an unexposed three-year-old receiving weight all round.