16:00 Curragh

Saturday 1 September 2018

All13:1013:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:35

Tote Irish Cambridgeshire (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 1m 37.15s

(17)

Saltonstall³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: N G McCullagh| T: M Halford| OR: 103| CD

25/1

C&D handicap winner two starts back has struggled with higher marks since at Ascot and Galway. No relent from the handicapper so huge ask off this weight in a race like this.

Form: 9-23100

(6)

Zorion¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 103| D

20/1

1m Leopardstown Listed winner ran well again latest at the same venue when third in a Group Three. Certainly a class act to be running in a handicap and could be capable of involvement despite this welter-burden.

Form: 719153

(14)

Lucius Tiberius²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 105| C

9/1

Donnacha O'Brien's choice of the Ballydoyle pair won back to back 1m2f handicaps here and at Leopardstown before outclassed latest in US Group One. Step back in trip not ideal but should be competitive nevertheless.

Form: 130110

(4)

Firmament^p⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Declan McDonogh| T: D O'Meara| OR: 99| D

6/1

Seemed to have been laid out for last race at York which he has an excellent record in but had to settle for a close third. Arrives here in top form on the back of that and with just 1lb extra today he has to be considered a leading candidate.

Form: 906073

(20)

Greatest Journey⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 95| D

16/1

Four-time AW scorer has run well the last twice at Chelmsford again on the polytrack but his turf form leaves a little to be desired. Hard to see him winning this.

Form: 325/622

(21)

Charcor⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Leigh Roche| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 93| BF

10/1

Gowran Park maiden winner ran well enough subsequently in an open conditions race at Killarney over 1m. Steps into first-time handicap open to improvement but no experience of such a big field.

Form: 312

(19)

Kenya^t⁹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 98

20/1

One time Derby hopeful who won a Leopardstown Group Three as a two-year-old hasn't really performed as expected this year. Used as a pacemaker latest in a Group One so that run ignored and takes a big drop in class so interesting dark horse.

Form: 311-370

(2)

Master Speaker²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Gavin Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 93| C

25/1

Ran on strongly into a close fourth over 7f last time out in a valuable Galway handicap which was his best run since second to Saltonstall here. Won one of 53 on turf so not the sort you rush to back.

Form: 472704

(12)

Terzetto⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Chris Hayes| T: M Halford| OR: 97| CD

10/1

Took her record to two from four when successful over C&D last time out. Raised 4lb here but open to further improvement so has to be considered despite this being a stronger contest.

Form: 2131

(13)

Dream Walker^t²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 8-13| J: Dylan Hogan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Fahey| OR: 90| D

33/1

10 time winner was spotted making some late headway last time out over 7f at Galway although only finished ninth of 16. Handicap probably about right at present but drying ground will be against him.

Form: 50-9759

(10)

Band of Outlaws^p²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Wayne Lordan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 94| CD

12/1

C&D winner this summer again ran well here last time when third having battled for the lead throughout the final furlong. Seems to still be improving and should be involved again here.

Form: 326183

(9)

Honor Oak⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Billy Lee| T: T Hogan| OR: 89| D

25/1

Bolted up at Galway and ran well in both races since despite going up 12lb with a close third at Cork and latest fourth at Killarney. In fine form but handicapper may have her measure.

Form: 472134

(22)

Katiymann^t⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Ben Coen⁽⁷⁾| T: M Halford| OR: 89| D

12/1

Lightly raced this campaign but encouragement in latest fourth under today's excellent apprentice jockey here over 7f when never nearer. Arrives on same mark and will prefer this trip so must be considered.

Form: 21-6474

(5)

Omran^t²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 89

14/1

Twice a 7f winner on the AW for Marco Botti. Two runs for current yard both come in sprints so very different test today. Back to last winning mark now but looked a suspect stayer over 1m at Ascot in the past.

Form: 0807-58

(3)

Elusive Time^p⁹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 8-9| J: Y Nonaka⁽⁷⁾| T: T Kodama| OR: 86| CD

33/1

Winner of this race at 25/1 last year and arrives here only 1lb higher having just run once this term when midfield behind Saltonstall back in May. Possibly had interrupted preparation and not getting any younger.

Form: 41417-8

(15)

Kerineya²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 91| D

20/1

Naas maiden winner was no match for a horse with Group One form next before again asked a tough question latest in a Listed race. Arrives into handicaps as an unexposed filly and could well be better than this mark.

Form: 136

(1)

Medal Of Honour^t²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: S M Crosse⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 90| CD

20/1

C&D winner first time out hasn't really built on that in two races since. Behind stablemate Band Of Outlaws here latest and certainly looks stable second string based on that.

Form: 521-146

(18)

Sirjack Thomas²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Shane Foley| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 89| BF

5/1

Winner of a 7f contest at Sligo back in June looked likely to relish a step up to 1m last time out when second over 7f at Leopardstown. Arrives here off the same mark which looks lenient so rated as a leading contender.

Form: 192-412

(11)

Turbine^p,t²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: Killian Leonard⁽³⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 83

16/1

Never won on turf but finished strongly on the surface last time out when third at Galway in testing conditions. Hard to make this his first turf success but had a host of good runs in handicaps previously.

Form: 245403

(7)

Lethal Power²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Sean Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 86| BF| D

14/1

Dual winner this season had several of these rivals behind latest when second over C&D as favourite. Ground looks likely to be very similar so everything points to another bold bid.

Form: 241412

(16)

Spiorad Saoirse¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Andrew Slattery⁽⁷⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 86| D

16/1

1m winner at Limerick ran well at Galway next behind a potentially well handicapped horse before getting collared late on over 1m2f at Ballinrobe. On the up presently so not ruled out off bottom weight.

Form: 734142

Non-Runners

(8)

Aussie Valentine³²

Weight: 9-1| Age: 7

T: A McGuinness J: C P Hoban

Forecasts

Sirjack Thomas (5/1), Firmament (6/1), Lucius Tiberius (9/1), Charcor (10/1), Terzetto (10/1), Katiymann (12/1), Band of Outlaws (12/1), Lethal Power (14/1), Omran (14/1), Turbine (16/1), Spiorad Saoirse (16/1), Greatest Journey (16/1), Kenya (20/1), Medal Of Honour (20/1), Zorion (20/1), Kerineya (20/1), Aussie Valentine (20/1), Master Speaker (25/1), Honor Oak (25/1), Saltonstall (25/1), Dream Walker (33/1), Elusive Time (33/1)

FIRMANENT loves these big field handicaps as he again showed latest when a close third at York. He has to be delivered late and that is sometimes detrimental to him but the stiff finish here could play right into his hands so he gets the vote in this fiendishly difficult contest. Johnny Murtagh has two live contenders in Sirjack Thomas who was noted running on well over 7f latest and Lethal Power who was also second last time out. Mick Halford runs three here and of them the unexposed improver Terzetto makes the most appeal having won over C&D last time out.