17:30 Curragh

Sunday 26 May 2019

All13:5014:2014:5015:5016:2517:0017:3018:00

Boodles Handicap

Off time: 17:31 | Winning time: 3m 38.90s

Bongiorno^p1¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Billy Lee| T: W McCreery| OR: 95

7/1

Just one win from nine starts and she's been hit hard by the handicapper for some respectable efforts in Listed company. Steps up in trip again and others preferred at present. Wears first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 1483-83

White Desert³¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Colin Keane| T: Miss A Mooney| OR: 91| BF

12/1

Won on debut and got his head back in front in his second start in handicap company at Wolverhampton. Back in form when runner-up at Ascot when last seen but might need this on his reappearance.

Form: 5/23102-

Persian Lion¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 89

9/2

One win from seven starts but put up a big performance when runner-up at Killarney on his return to action. Could do even better if he learns to settle better and conceivable that he will come on for that run.

Form: 42175-2

Kerosin⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: J M Sheridan⁽¹⁰⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 87

12/1

In good form on AW but yet to score in 15 turf starts and handicap mark looks high as far as his turf form is concerned. 10lb claimer booked.

Form: 352824

Chess Grand Master^p³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: S M Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 85| D

8/1

Won a Sligo bumper and running well at Dundalk this winter. Well beaten at Clonmel on return and may want some relief from the assessor.

Form: 6/11283

Park Row²³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: Ross Coakley| T: D P Coakley| OR: 83

33/1

Eight wins from 37 starts and he's been prolific at Dundalk over the winter. Well suited to fast ground on turf but form seems to have dipped of late and others make more appeal at this point.

Form: 115973

Rockabill²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 84| C

6/1

Won back-to-back races last year, the most recent of which was a 1m4f course success. May have needed the run here on return earlier this month and better expected here.

Form: 72110-0

Tirmizi^h,t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 82

11/1

Got his first success on the board since leaving Dermot Weld's yard at Clonmel in April. Not at his best at Roscommon subsequently but still feasibly handicapped.

Form: 062-813

Venezia^t¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: Declan McDonogh| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 80| D

12/1

Useful dual purpose performer who was a suprise 25/1 winner at Navan on return and ran well in defeat at Killarney next time out. Still well handicapped on old form but can miss the break, as seen on his last two starts.

Form: 84/25-12

Dalton Highway³³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: Andrew Slattery⁽⁷⁾| T: D K Weld| OR: 74

13/2

On a long losing run since 2017 but has been in good form over hurdles of late. Interesting returned to the Flat but would have preferred softer ground.

Form: 3/30520-

Marine One¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: Killian Leonard⁽³⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 72

33/1

Sole win in 14 starts came in a Dundalk maiden in December. This handicap mark doesn't look insurmountable on that evidence but fell over hurdles at Killarney last time and needs to prove he's none the worse for that.

Form: 45071-2

Hurricane Sky²¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 8-5| J: N G McCullagh| T: C O'Brien| OR: 71

33/1

Got a first win since 2015 at Leopardstown last year and still on a fair mark but he was out of form when last seen at the end of last year. Not getting any younger and hasn't got a great record when fresh.

Form: 555287-

Shakespear'sgalley¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: Alan Persse⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 68

11/2

Gained a first career win at Killarney last time. Needs a strong pace to aim at but has a tough ask from out of the handicap.

Form: 0/840-91

Forecasts

Persian Lion (9/2), Shakespear'sgalley (11/2), Rockabill (6/1), Dalton Highway (13/2), Bongiorno (7/1), Chess Grand Master (8/1), Tirmizi (11/1), Kerosin (12/1), Venezia (12/1), White Desert (12/1), Hurricane Sky (33/1), Marine One (33/1), Park Row (33/1)

PERSIAN LION gives the impression we still haven't seen the best of him and he should come on for his recent seaosnal reappearance when a respectable second. It's a similar story for Rockabill who is the first string for Joseph O'Brien. Tirmizi still looks on a workable handicap mark and can go well again.