19:45 Curragh

Thursday 27 June 2019

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:45

Tote Rockingham Handicap (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 19:53 | Winning time: -

(14)

El Astronaute¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 106| D

7/1

Consistent sort, produced career best when winning 11-runner Listed race at Cork (5f, good to soft; 11-4) 13 days ago by ¾L from Smash Williams. Top weight to contend with but can go well.

Form: 1-26691

(9)

Smash Williams^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 104| C

7/1

Course winner here, doesn't have a lot to find on El Astronaute based on recent runner-up finish in Listed race at Cork (5f, good to soft; 8-1). Should be in the firing line.

Form: 31-3462

(6)

Ardhoomey^t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 103| CD

10/1

Former C&D winner, finished behind the top pair on the card last time at Cork in 5f Listed event. Has to merit some consideration back in a handicap.

Form: 332-443

(3)

Lord Riddiford⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: S M Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 93| BF| D

12/1

In decent form on the AW in Britain, including a win at Chelmsford. Likely has a bit more to find back on turf but will command a second look in the betting.

Form: 93-7014

(1)

Hathiq^t²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Rory Cleary| T: D Hogan| OR: 92| BF| CD

7/1

Won at Tipperary in April and readily followed up over C&D last month; enough to see him sent off favourite for the Epsom Dash. Didn't happen for him there but quick bounce back is likely.

Form: 1/02110

(12)

Nitro Boost²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁷⁾| T: W McCreery| OR: 98| CD

8/1

Improved to win 11-runner handicap at this C&D (soft) 20 days ago and needs respecting after that showing, despite increased mark.

Form: 68-4731

(11)

Orvar³³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Leigh Roche| T: P T Midgley| OR: 91| D

10/1

Won three times last season but seemed to lose his way after a trip to the Dubai carnival in January; only hinted at a return to form lately and might need a little more help from the handicapper.

Form: 447707

(5)

Duke Of Firenze¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 8-11| J: Phil Dennis| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 90| D

12/1

Experienced gelding who has had 67 racecourse appearances. He was denied a hat-trick over this trip in Epsom Dash earlier this month but ran well and has done so since at Doncaster (second). Should go well.

Form: 521172

(16)

Rapid Reaction¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Andrew Slattery⁽⁵⁾| T: J F Grogan| OR: 90| D

16/1

Filly was 2½L behind El Astronaute in Listed Cork race recently over the trip (also behind a few of these rivals). She must improve on her form to take revenge now.

Form: 610-565

(15)

Dark Shot^p²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: K T O'Neill| T: S Dixon| OR: 89| D

9/1

Likeable sprinter with a good attitude, runner-up in the Epsom Dash this month already and should go well again, though hasn't been able to strike of a mark this high in the past.

Form: 00-2522

(4)

True Blue Moon^t²³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Wayne Lordan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 87| D

33/1

Well fended off in a Tipperary handicap (5f, soft) won by Dash D'or already this month and looks opposable on the formbook.

Form: 6/6860-5

(7)

Just Glamorous¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: G Harris| OR: 86| D

16/1

No win in 15 runs since 2017 now and will need more than he showed last time at Windsor given this looks a deeper contest.

Form: 054-202

(2)

Venturous¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Chris Hayes| T: T D Barron| OR: 86| D

12/1

Was chasing a hat-trick when drawn wide and unsuited by race at Chelmsford last time, a contest won by Lord Riddiford. Could well bounce back here and not one to overlook.

Form: 06-2118

(17)

Maarek¹⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 8-4| J: M A Gallagher| T: Miss E McCutcheon| OR: 79| CD

33/1

Veteran now and this previous C&D winner hasn't managed a win anywhere since 2017. Well held over 6f at Windsor recently and others are preferred today.

Form: 9-70675

(13)

Manshood^v¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-4| J: Killian Leonard| T: P T Midgley| OR: 79| D

20/1

Wetherby winner last month, that was in a weak affair and was duly well beaten off in Epsom handicap early this month and again since at York. Looks set to struggle again.

Form: 3-96196

(8)

Dash D'Or¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-4| J: A J Farragher⁽⁷⁾| T: K P Cotter| OR: 77| BF| D

20/1

Winner at Tipperary this month but since found it tougher going at Cork (5f, good to soft) and doesn't seem to be on favourable terms now.

Form: 66-0813

Non-Runners

(10)

Brick By Brick²³

Weight: 9-1| Age: 4

T: Mrs J Harrington J: Shane Foley

Forecasts

El Astronaute (7/1), Smash Williams (7/1), Hathiq (7/1), Nitro Boost (8/1), Dark Shot (9/1), Orvar (10/1), Ardhoomey (10/1), Lord Riddiford (12/1), Venturous (12/1), Duke Of Firenze (12/1), Rapid Reaction (16/1), Just Glamorous (16/1), Brick By Brick (16/1), Manshood (20/1), Dash D'Or (20/1), Maarek (33/1), True Blue Moon (33/1)

There should be plenty pace on here. El Astronaute and Just Glamourous won't be hanging around, with preference for the first-named, though top weight will be a heavy burden late on. HATHIQ didn't match expectations in the Epsom Dash but he wouldn't be the first to fail on that track and is fancied to get back on target now, given his excellent form previous to that run. Duke Of Firenze, Ardhoomey and Smash Williams can all be given a chance.