16:45 Curragh

Monday 6 August 2018

All14:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:20

Curragh Training Grounds Handicap

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 1m 11.20s

(10)

Omran¹⁰⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 90

7/1

Ran well in lone start this term and for this yard when a running on fifth of 13 beaten just over 3L in a 5½f contest at Navan. Had lengthy absence since and that the concern against race fit rivals.

Form: 60807-5

(9)

St Brelades Bay^p¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 87| CD

11/2

Won at Gowran over 7f two starts back but equally as effective over today's 6f trip. Would need a career best off this mark however and two runs since re-evaluation suggest he is still high enough.

Form: 434177

(11)

Geological¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: S M Mooney⁽¹⁰⁾| T: D English| OR: 84| D

10/1

Eight-time winner effective from 6f-1m who loves fast ground. Well held earlier this month in a handicap here over the extended 6f when beaten over 10L. Likely to struggle with this trip sharp enough.

Form: 495130

(7)

Excelling Spirit⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Billy Lee| T: W McCreery| OR: 87| D

6/1

Built on two promising seconds when easing to success at 1/2F in a Cork maiden latest. Steps into handicaps as something of an unknown quantity but would suggest the best of her is yet to come.

Form: 221

(6)

Blairmayne¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Killian Leonard⁽³⁾| T: N Lupini| OR: 80| D

7/1

Lightly raced this term but won first time out and ran a decent race last time when 2½L fourth in a valuable 6½f handicap here. Eased 3lb for that so could easily be involved in the finish.

Form: 833-184

(5)

Krispen⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Ronan Whelan| T: T Doyle| OR: 80| D

11/2

Raced exclusively at 7f this term winning a moderate race at Sligo before a decent third at Galway last week. Drops back to 6f now but more needed although the trip may suit.

Form: 441-413

(8)

Dandyman Port^b⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Ben Coen⁽⁷⁾| T: D Donovan| OR: 75

25/1

Lone win came on debut in France over two years ago. Threatened a couple of times this term before disappointing last twice. Gets 1lb back now but will need to return to form if he's to compete.

Form: 623447

(3)

Shore Step³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: Shane Foley| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 73| BF| CD

11/2

Won back to back races here including once over C&D before finding considerable higher mark tougher when sixth at Navan but didn't get the lead there which he likes. Back here and with chance to front-run again better is expected.

Form: 34-0116

(1)

Ducky Mallon^t⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 8-6| J: N G McCullagh| T: D Kinsella| OR: 68| CD

6/1

Behind handicap snip Truffles who bolted up before following up under a penalty last time out. Doesn't appear quite the force of old but is now 10lb below his last winning mark and on recent evidence he is getting closer to a sixth career win.

Form: 70-0085

(2)

Doonard Prince^b⁸⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 8-4| J: Wayne Lordan| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 66| CD

16/1

Dual C&D winner who has always appreciated cut in the ground. Couple of decent runs this term but less so latest and drying conditions against him.

Form: 13-2930

Non-Runners

(4)

Enter The Red⁶⁴

Weight: 8-11| Age: 9

T: A A Howard J: Chris Hayes

Forecasts

St Brelades Bay (11/2), Shore Step (11/2), Krispen (11/2), Ducky Mallon (6/1), Excelling Spirit (6/1), Blairmayne (7/1), Omran (7/1), Enter The Red (8/1), Geological (10/1), Doonard Prince (16/1), Dandyman Port (25/1)

The lone three-year-old EXCELLING SPIRIT is clearly a filly with potential and having won cosily last time out she could prove to be well treated on her handicap debut. Shore Step was disappointing last time out but things didn't go his way there so he could bounce back and he previously won back-to-back races here. Blairmayne wasn't beaten far here last time out in a stronger race so he too merits respect.