18:40 Leopardstown

Thursday 13 June 2019

All17:3518:1018:4019:1019:4020:1020:40

'Coolio' Handicap

Off time: 18:41 | Winning time: 1m 43.62s

(11)

Sherkali¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Ben Coen⁽⁵⁾| T: D K Weld| OR: 87| BF| D

7/1

Sent off the 5/2F in a competitive handicap at the Curragh on Irish 2000 Guineas Day last time. Didn't run according to market vibes, which should be forgiven considering his record beforehand. That was a race in which quite a few now reoppose.

Form: 3-126

(8)

Sky Seven⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: R Coakley| T: M Halford| OR: 86| D

12/1

Not out of the first two placings in four starts on the AW at Dundalk. Slightly disappointing when ninth on turf debut in a competitive affair at Naas (1m; good to yielding). Given a 45-day break since then and worth another chance off 3lb lower.

Form: 21-219

(5)

Western Dawn⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 85

20/1

Ran a decent race in defeat when fourth at this track last week. That was a fairly good contest and he has actually been dropped 3lb by the handicapper since then. Must figure in some capacity on handicap debut/first attempt at 1m. Lightly raced.

Form: 0-14

(1)

Cnoc An Oir^h1³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 82

8/1

Hasn't gone on since promising debut victory. Starts off in handicaps off a stiff enough mark but is very unexposed. Not one to write off just yet and she is an each-way player if improving for the switch to tis sphere.

Form: 1-44

(2)

Jupiter Road^t¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: S M Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 82

9/2

Made a solid start to life in handicaps without winning. In front of a couple who reoppose in this contest when third at the Curragh (1m; good to firm) last time. Should finish in the money once again off an unchanged mark.

Form: 13R233

(6)

Boston Bruin²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 81

5/1

Produced two solid efforts this year. The most recent of those was when he finished third at Naas (7f; good to firm). In front of the reopposing Parkers Hill that day and likely to confirm the form. Should go well on second handicap start.

Form: 433-13

(12)

Excelcius^b1¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 81

10/1

Progressive last season, when successful in a Dundalk (7f; standard) maiden on final run of the year. Four-length in front of Sherkali on reappearance at the Curragh (1m; good to firm) on handicap debut. Interesting if able to strip fitter.

Form: 6231-5

(9)

Parkers Hill^p1²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: N G McCullagh| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 79| C

25/1

Looked a promising sort when turning over an odds-on favourite at this track last season, but has proved to be a shade disappointing since then. Has a squeak if able to build on most recent effort when sixth at Naas (7f; good to firm).

Form: 41-06

(3)

Balefire^p²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 78| D

9/2

Made it fourth time lucky when scoring in a maiden at Cork (1m; good) last time. Has progressed with each run this year and is open to plenty of improvement now starting out in handicaps. Shortlist material.

Form: 4-621

(10)

Gatsby Cap^p¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: A J Slattery⁽⁷⁾| T: J A Stack| OR: 71| D

8/1

Has improved plenty for the switch to handicaps. Mark has rose 11lb since first success at this level on his third handicap start. Just got up by a head at Gowran Park (1m; good) recently. Needs to do more off a 6lb higher mark.

Form: 613221

(7)

Royal Canford^b²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁷⁾| T: W McCreery| OR: 68

16/1

Inconsistent nine-race maiden who finished last of 13 at Sligo (1m2f; good) last time. Had posted a couple of good efforts before that disappointment but latest run poses more questions. Hard to fancy.

Form: 696-430

Non-Runners

(4)

Summerset²⁴³

Weight: 8-4| Age: 3

T: J M Oxx J: K J Leonard

Forecasts

Balefire (9/2), Jupiter Road (9/2), Boston Bruin (5/1), Sherkali (7/1), Cnoc An Oir (8/1), Gatsby Cap (8/1), Excelcius (10/1), Sky Seven (12/1), Summerset (14/1), Royal Canford (16/1), Western Dawn (20/1), Parkers Hill (25/1)

A typically competitive Leopardstown handicap in which BALEFIRE is the unknown quantity in this field on handicap debut for Mick Halford. He showed a good attitude when winning at the fourth time of asking recently and starts life in this sphere off a very fair mark. The stables other representative, Sky Seven, is worth another chance now he has been eased a bit in the weights after making a disappointing debut on turf., while similar comments apply to Sherkali who failed to justify market favouritism in a very warm handicap assignment last time, but held a solid profile prior to that below-par effort.