16:45 Curragh

Saturday 25 May 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

FBD Hotels & Resorts Handicap

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 2m 8.87s

(12)

Downdraft^t²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 101| D

11/2

Has won four of his 11 starts and didn't need to improve to get his head in front again at Dundalk last time out. Left on the same mark by the handicapper and drop in trip should be no issue; leading contender.

Form: 66571-1

(13)

Ming^t¹¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: S M Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 99| BF| D

12/1

Won three times last season but disappointed on return to handicap company at Dundalk last time out. Useful claimer takes off 5lb and ground will suit but others look better handicapped.

Form: 11655-3

(18)

Massif Central¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 98

10/1

Two wins from 20 starts but yet to win in 15 outings on turf. Disappointed on seasonal return last time and looks up against from this sort of mark for now.

Form: 43471-0

(15)

Tennessee Wildcat¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-9| J: D W O'Connor⁽³⁾| T: G M Lyons| OR: 95

33/1

A Listed winner back in 2015 but has only won twice since. Badly out of form towards the end of last season and showed nothing on return last time; bit to prove at present.

Form: 31000-0

(10)

Hamley²³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Ben Coen⁽⁵⁾| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 94| CD

14/1

Dual course winner who made it back-to-back wins over C&D in September before a respectable effort at Newmarket. Has needed the run on previous seasonal returns though.

Form: 223114-

(5)

Insignia Of Rank^b1¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Gary Carroll| T: J G Murphy| OR: 94

10/1

Won back to back races on soft ground last year but out of form in three starts this time around and still unproven on the forecast going here. Wears first-time blinkers.

Form: 154-007

(14)

Karawaan³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 93| BF| D

7/1

Won one of his eight start for Sir Michael Stoute and won on debut for this yard in a 20 runner handicap at Naas on seasonal return. Not in the same form last time but may be able to bounce back here.

Form: 6/329-10

(17)

Moteo²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Andrew Slattery⁽⁷⁾| T: J M Oxx| OR: 93

16/1

Won a maiden on debut but hasn't really built on that since and handicap mark looks stiff on what she's achieved to date. Distant second in a Listed race last time and others preferred at present.

Form: 138-2

(2)

Echo Park¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 91

12/1

Won twice last year but both those wins came over further and she's been beaten out of sight in two starts this time around; questions to answer here.

Form: 2121-64

(9)

Lethal Power¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: L Dettori| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 89| D

9/2

Won three times as a three-year-old and produced an excellent third of 27 here over C&D earlier this month. May come on for that and leniently left on the same mark by the handicapper here; could go well with Dettori booked.

Form: 12619-3

(3)

Sam Missile¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Gavin Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J McKenna| OR: 88

25/1

Won over 2m at Ascot last year but hasn't shown enough since being dropped in trip and trained by this yard to think he can feature in this event; still above his last winning handicap mark.

Form: 008-805

(4)

Sheisdiesel^b²²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Declan McDonogh| T: N Meade| OR: 84

14/1

Has won six times on AW but yet to win in eight starts on turf. Fast ground should help and has been in excellent form of late, only finding one too good in a five-timer bid earlier this month at Dundalk; not ruled out.

Form: 011112

(11)

Ciao^b⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Chris Hayes| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 81

16/1

Both wins have come on AW and hasn't looked quite as effective on turf to date. May want a bit of relief from the handicapper but not entirely ruled out with this drop in trip likely to suit.

Form: 141928

(1)

Nimitz¹⁹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Wayne Lordan| T: C O'Brien| OR: 81| BF| D

25/1

Has four wins to his name but just one win from 12 starts on turf. At his best on fast ground but signs the handicapper has hold of him on recent evidence; not without an each-way shout.

Form: 221243-

(7)

Divine Approach³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Leigh Roche| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 78| D

14/1

Belatedly got her head in front at Navan in September. May have needed the comeback run at Clonmel last month but others would appear to be on better handicap marks.

Form: 86641-4

(8)

See Of Rome⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: N G McCullagh| T: D English| OR: 78| D

12/1

Generally a consistent type who got his head back in front at Naas last year and only beaten a head at Cork last month. Left on the same mark and could come on for that run; interesting contender.

Form: 123-463

(6)

Spruce Meadows^p²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-4| J: Gary Halpin| T: J Feane| OR: 76

14/1

Hasn't won for nearly two years and well beaten at Limerick on his return. Just one win from 22 turf starts is offputting and others make more appeal here.

Form: 476-807

(16)

Ashqar^t⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: Rory Cleary| T: G T Lynch| OR: 76

66/1

Still a maiden after 13 starts. Out of the handicap here and hard to fancy in a race this competitive.

Form: 7560-60

Non-Runners

(19)

Magnetic North⁴⁸

Weight: 8-11| Age: 4

T: S Lavery J: Robbie Colgan

Forecasts

Lethal Power (9/2), Downdraft (11/2), Karawaan (7/1), Insignia Of Rank (10/1), Massif Central (10/1), Ming (12/1), Echo Park (12/1), See Of Rome (12/1), Sheisdiesel (14/1), Divine Approach (14/1), Spruce Meadows (14/1), Hamley (14/1), Magnetic North (14/1), Moteo (16/1), Ciao (16/1), Sam Missile (25/1), Nimitz (25/1), Tennessee Wildcat (33/1), Ashqar (66/1)

DOWNDRAFT looks like a colt going the right way and the handicapper left him on the same mark for an easy Dundalk success last time out. He's the stable's first-string and is the tentative selection here. The booking of Frankie Dettori looks eye-catching on board Lethal Power and he was an excellent third in a competitive handicap here last time out. Sea Of Rome is consistent and may be able to finish in the money for Damien English.