17:20 Curragh

Monday 6 August 2018

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

Curragh 'Where Champions Are Made' Handicap

Off time: 17:22 | Winning time: 1m 12.03s

(13)

Captain Cullen⁶⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁷⁾| T: Joseph Murray| OR: 69| CD

20/1

Search for a 10th career win likely to go on after laboured efforts in all three starts this season. Drops back in trip to try and reignite spark.

Form: 401-000

(17)

Wadood^p1,t¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: P B Beggy| T: D Broad| OR: 68

50/1

Only beaten one rival home in three starts this term and was beaten 24L last time out after a break. Tries another trip and additional headgear here but tough to fancy him.

Form: 140-600

(6)

Flowerhill Nova^h,t⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Ben Coen⁽⁷⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 67| D

33/1

Only beaten home three rivals in his five races this year and was tailed off last time out. Struggling to find any positives.

Form: 6-08890

(7)

T For Tango⁵⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: W J Lee| T: R O'Brien| OR: 70

16/1

Beaten 10L plus in three handicaps all here but all over different distances this year. Changes stables now with mark falling rapidly. Needs much more.

Form: 698-008

(16)

Diable d'Or^t¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: D P Linehan⁽⁵⁾| T: A Mulholland| OR: 63

25/1

Drop back in trip today could be to his benefit having finished tamely in recent 7f contests. Ran well until the tank emptied at Down Royal last time so has each-way shout in a very ordinary handicap.

Form: 274097

(21)

Split The Atom¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Rory Cleary| T: D English| OR: 63| D

7/1

Finished strongly over 6f at Fairyhouse last time out when fourth of 16 and gets 2lb back today. Perennial slow starter so will need the gaps to open but with such a huge field he should get the strong gallop he needs.

Form: 4000-04

(3)

Amaretto Stone¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: C O'Donoghue| T: J H Scott| OR: 61

50/1

Showed slight hints of ability in four maidens to date and now enters handicaps for the first time at a pretty lowly level. How she handles the hurly burly of such a field is anyone's guess.

Form: 569/7

(1)

January Morn²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: W T Byrne⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A Mullins| OR: 61

40/1

Entitled to need the race on return last month when returning from a 400 day absence. Likely strip fitter here so should fare better but inexperienced jockey's hand will be forced by the draw.

Form: 9/4600-0

(11)

Gopsies Daughter^p²³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: K J Leonard⁽³⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 60| C

12/1

Twice a winner over 5f at Navan this year and while hasn't proved as effective at 6f she did run a close second over 7f so seems she will stay. Handicap on the rise but one of few who arrive in form so must be considered.

Form: 210051

(20)

Tush¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Chris Hayes| T: W T Farrell| OR: 60| BF

7/1

Ran well two starts back when a close third at Naas before travelling well before seeming to not stay 7f last time out. This return to 6f should suit and looks capable of a big run.

Form: 78-9030

(27)

Mr Shelby^p¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: T P Madden⁽⁵⁾| T: S Donohoe| OR: 59| D

16/1

Won at Ayr this term and ran well on a couple of occasions since including close fourth at Down Royal latest over 5f. One of many who you can make a case for off the same mark and if he gets the run of the race he will contend.

Form: 710274

(5)

Polly Douglas¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Dylan Hogan⁽⁷⁾| T: K P Cotter| OR: 59| D

10/1

Handicap on the slide and gets another 2lb back today despite running well last time when third at Naas. Over a year now since last win but weighted to be competitive here.

Form: 444753

(24)

Ancient Astronaut³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Robbie Colgan| T: K Thornton| OR: 58| D

20/1

Equally adept from 5f to 7f and ran decent races last twice without seriously contending. Handicap continues to slide and sooner or later he will be in the thick of things but others make more appeal.

Form: 005957

(10)

Feisty Katerina^b1,t¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: G M Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: B W Duke| OR: 62

33/1

Yet to make the first two in 12 races and not raced over less than 7f since her debut. Blinkers added to sharpen her up for this test of speed but little to be optimistic about overall.

Form: 939860

(30)

Lily's Prince¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: O J Orr⁽³⁾| T: G Donnelly| OR: 58| D

16/1

Has gone 24 races since last success which was on the AW at Dundalk. Run some decent races this term which has slowed his handicap from falling and hard to see him regaining the winning thread in a race like this.

Form: 033765

(23)

A Likely Story^v¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Colin Keane| T: T G McCourt| OR: 57

8/1

Not beaten far in any of his last five races over both 6f and 7f with this trip probably preferred. Champion jockey does notably well for this yard so his booking interesting and looks one sure to go well.

Form: 935324

(19)

Binary Code¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Shane Kelly⁽³⁾| T: P O'Flynn| OR: 57

40/1

Well beaten and no impression in a couple of below-par performances since April. Now a 14-race maiden and difficult to see any light at the end of the tunnel just yet.

Form: 3279-50

(12)

Landline^p²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: K J Manning| T: T Cleary| OR: 57| BF| D

10/1

Landed a 6f Naas double before latest fourth behind re-opposing Gopsies Daughter at Navan. Obviously in good order currently so should run a sound race but handicapper would hope to have his measure now.

Form: 086114

(18)

Zeb City¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R Aguiar| T: A Murray| OR: 61

33/1

Had a strange three-year-old season with attempts at everything from 5f to 1m2f. Not seen compelling evidence that he's a sprinter so passed over here.

Form: 938400

(29)

Lion Hearted³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Ronan Whelan| T: T Collins| OR: 56

12/1

Had all of his racing over 7f and 1m but didn't appear to stay over 1m last time out. Not competitive in two handicap starts to date so best avoided until he shows something.

Form: 577-00

(14)

Your Pal Tal^t1²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: D W O'Connor⁽⁵⁾| T: J F Levins| OR: 56| CD

20/1

Better on the AW where he has won six times as opposed to his one from 25 on turf. Ran well enough on turf at Ayr latest however and not run a bad race in four starts this year. Not getting any younger but has some sort of chance.

Form: 66-1452

(8)

Hatton Cross^p²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 8-13| J: Wayne Lordan| T: T J O'Mara| OR: 54| D

25/1

In and out campaign with one good run over 6½f at Limerick sandwiched by two quite poor ones. Almost three years since last win now so others make more appeal.

Form: 829-040

(25)

Zeeyalater¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Gary Carroll| T: S Lavery| OR: 53| D

14/1

Had a break after a busy winter on the AW at Dundalk and returned with two sound efforts with a pair of fourths at Fairyhouse. Handicapper gives him another 1lb so chance to again get competitive.

Form: 063544

(28)

Fastidious^b⁶⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 8-11| J: Gary Halpin| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 52

25/1

Unplaced in all six starts this year. Handicap fallen by 11lb during that span but of advancing age and doesn't appear likely to take advantage any time soon.

Form: 668058

(22)

Steelriver^v²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: Sean Kirrane⁽¹⁰⁾| T: J F Levins| OR: 52| D

25/1

Stepped up to 1m latest after doing his best work at the end of sprint races this season but without success. 27 races no wins his turf record so easy enough to pass him over.

Form: 850643

(9)

Downtown Diva¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: S Foley| T: J Davison| OR: 54

25/1

22 race maiden has some decent pieces of form and on the best of them would represent an each-way chance but following her has been a one way trip to the poor house.

Form: 505287

(4)

Handsome Maverick^b1,t⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: N G McCullagh| T: D Kinsella| OR: 47| CD

14/1

Won at big odds here over 6½f last season on soft ground, his lone success. Not had similar conditions this season and not shown anywhere near that level of form. Blinkers now added.

Form: 7017-08

(2)

Dash D'Or^b1⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-5| J: C P Hoban| T: K P Cotter| OR: 46

50/1

Unplaced in six career races and beaten 16L in each of her last two races. Needs first-time blinkers to work a miracle.

Form: 07-0500

(15)

Olly's Folly^v1²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-5| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁷⁾| T: N Cassidy| OR: 46

25/1

18-race maiden ran well to this distance last week on second run back from a layoff. Has form off higher marks than this and capable of making the frame if the first time visor helps.

Form: 8449-06

Approbare^t³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-4| J: A C Persse⁽¹⁰⁾| T: T M Walsh| OR: 45

28/1

22 race maiden has shown next to nothing this term after missing all of 2017. First Reserve.

Form: 60/8098

Non-Runners

(26)

Bellick⁶¹

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: J C McConnell J: S M Crosse

Logarithm⁴⁹

Weight: 8-4| Age: 5

T: Miss A Mooney J: Reserve 2

Noirvento⁴⁹

Weight: 8-4| Age: 3

T: T Collins J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Tush (7/1), Split The Atom (7/1), Bellick (7/1), A Likely Story (8/1), Polly Douglas (10/1), Landline (10/1), Gopsies Daughter (12/1), Lion Hearted (12/1), Handsome Maverick (14/1), Zeeyalater (14/1), Lily's Prince (16/1), T For Tango (16/1), Mr Shelby (16/1), Ancient Astronaut (20/1), Your Pal Tal (20/1), Captain Cullen (20/1), Downtown Diva (25/1), Steelriver (25/1), Hatton Cross (25/1), Fastidious (25/1), Olly's Folly (25/1), Diable d'Or (25/1), Approbare (28/1), Flowerhill Nova (33/1), Feisty Katerina (33/1), Zeb City (33/1), January Morn (40/1), Binary Code (40/1), Dash D'Or (50/1), Wadood (50/1), Amaretto Stone (50/1), Noirvento (50/1), Logarithm (50/1)

As you would expect in a 30 runner sprint handicap this is feverishly difficult with plenty you can make a case for. The vote goes to A LIKELY STORY who has been running consistently well this term and in a race where jockeyship will be of great importance he has the considerable benefit of champion Colin Keane on board. Others near the top of the shortlist are the strong finishing Split The Atom who should enjoy a strong run, stiff 6f, Tush who looks close to a winning mark back to her preferred 6f and the unexposed Bellick who is a rare commodity in this race as one who could improve.