14:55 Curragh

Saturday 25 August 2018

All13:4514:2014:5515:2515:3016:0016:3517:10

Luke And Nellie Comer Memorial Nursery Handicap

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 1m 12.94s

(4)

Coral Beach²²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 79

2/1

Remains a maiden but placed in six of her seven starts to date. Possibly didn't quite stay 7f last time but finished well previously over 6f. This her first handicap and looks sure to go well despite top-weight.

Form: 324223

(5)

Tosen Shauna⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: Y Nonaka⁽⁷⁾| T: T Kodama| OR: 79

12/1

Thrice-raced filly steps into her first handicap here after excellent thirds at Gowran and Leopardstown over 7f where she was collared late on in each. Drop to 6f should be right up her street and rates a leading player.

Form: 033

(9)

Lord Rapscallion¹⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-6| J: D P Linehan⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 78

7/1

Ran well in two of his four starts to date including staying on third latest over 5f at Tipperary. This trip looks more his ideal at present so chances of a bold bid in first crack at handicapping.

Form: 6273

(3)

Eagle Song^t1⁶⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: S M Crosse⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 77

7/1

Looked set to get off the mark latest when kicking clear at Cork over 7f but stamina emptied and he was collared late on. Drop back to a stiff 6f may prove ideal so not discounted on handicap debut.

Form: 6452

(1)

Sakura¹⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-4| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 76| BF

9/2

5f Navan winner on her second start was made favourite for her first handicap over the same trip at Tipperary but struggled in fourth. Handicapper helps her out here so better expected in first attempt at 6f.

Form: 314

(6)

Only The Brave²⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁵⁾| T: S Lynam| OR: 74

9/1

Never nearer fourth at Fairyhouse over 6f encouraged a step up in trip latest but having led inside the final furlong she faded into fourth. Back to 6f now for her handicap debut and no surprise if she's involved.

Form: 044

(7)

Rangefield Express⁵⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Leigh Roche| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 74

20/1

Showed ability in a trio of maidens over the minimum trip although not finished strongly in any of them so this step up in trip is a question mark on handicap debut.

Form: 324

(8)

Dandy Belle¹⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 8-7| J: Sean Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: R O'Brien| OR: 65

7/1

Unplaced in three starts for Johnny Murtagh but ran really well on handicap debut over 7f at Gowran latest where she got the worst of a protracted battle to finish second. Drops in trip here and off the same mark she has to be considered.

Form: 8552

(2)

Treasure Vale^b¹⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 8-7| J: Chris Hayes| T: A Slattery| OR: 65

18/1

Showed limited ability in three maidens before finishing fifth of six on handicap debut at Tipperary latest. Handicapper eases the burden but plenty to do nonetheless.

Form: 7965

Forecasts

Coral Beach (2/1), Sakura (9/2), Lord Rapscallion (7/1), Dandy Belle (7/1), Eagle Song (7/1), Only The Brave (9/1), Tosen Shauna (12/1), Treasure Vale (18/1), Rangefield Express (20/1)

A really tricky contest this but the vote goes to the highly consistent CORAL BEACH who certainly deserves a moment in the limelight after six placed runs this term. Joint top-weight Tosen Shauma is considered and this drop back to a stiff 6f could be right up her street. Eagle Song is another who should enjoy dropping back from 7f having narrowly failed last time out.