18:25 Curragh

Friday 28 June 2019

All15:1515:4516:1516:5017:2517:5518:25

under stARTers orders Handicap

Off time: 18:27 | Winning time: 2m 9.88s

(3)

Brendan Brackan¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: S P Bird⁽¹⁰⁾| T: G M Lyons| OR: 92| C

33/1

Veteran with 10 career wins, one at Group 3 and five at Listed level but on a losing run now going back to 2017. Disappointing when last of five at Gowran last time, and easy enough to swerve again.

Form: 7060-05

(7)

Hamley³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: A J Slattery⁽⁵⁾| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 92| CD

9/1

Dual course winner who made it back-to-back wins over C&D in September before a respectable effort at Newmarket. Needed the run here last month, and comes into the reckoning with that under his belt.

Form: 23114-0

(4)

Tipitena¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: W J Lee| T: W McCreery| OR: 90

16/1

Didn't need to improve to land an extended 1m3f maiden at Roscommon last month, and not disgraced when sixth of 7 to Who's Steph in Munster Oaks at Cork last time. Drop to this trip should suit on that evidence.

Form: 44-716

(6)

Latoyah Of North^t⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Gary Carroll| T: M Mulvany| OR: 85| D

8/1

Won a maiden over this trip at Down Royal last month, and may have faced an impossible task when 5½L second of 8 to Camphor in handicap there next time. Should be competitive from the same mark.

Form: 35512

(9)

Wentwood⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Ben Coen⁽⁵⁾| T: D K Weld| OR: 83| D

8/1

Ran and struggled in a 1m Grade 3 in the US at the end of April following a Cork handicap win over 1¼m. Still has scope to do better, and is one to take seriously back at a realistic level.

Form: 2067-17

(8)

Formula One^h1²⁷⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 82| BF

9/1

Ran well on Newcastle debut here before winning over 1½m at Ffos Las, but backward steps on both subsequent starts for Hugo Plamer last year, and makes debut for new stable here. Needs to settle better, but a hood may help to that end.

Form: 2159-

(14)

Nimitz⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Declan McDonogh| T: C O'Brien| OR: 81| D

20/1

Didn't cut much ice on comeback run here, but got back to winning ways at Leopardstown last time. Avoided the trouble which affected plenty of others for that win, however, and looks vulnerable on balance.

Form: 1243-01

(12)

Agent Zigzag²²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: N G McCullagh| T: J M Oxx| OR: 76

14/1

Returned with a promising run when staying on late over 1m at Navan in March and build on that when runner-up over 1¼m at Cork. Not at best since, although longer trip has been against him, and could bounce back at what seems his optimum distance.

Form: 00-4460

(2)

Nickajack Cave²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 88| D

5/1

Won a 1¼m Cork maiden on debut in April, and took a step forward when landing a minor event at Navan early this month by a neck from Pensylvania Avenue. Will continue to progress, and likely to take the beating here.

Form: 121

(5)

Sky Seven¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 87

13/2

Below form at Naas in April, bit looked better than ever when head second of 11 to Cnoc An Oir in a 1m handicap at Leopardstown last time. Untried beyond a mile, and pedigree casts doubt about suitability of this trip.

Form: 21-2192

(13)

Cuban Hope²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 86| D

6/1

Three wins from six starts this season, and better than bare result when 12L second of 6 to handicap blot Micro Manage over 1½m here last time. Can't be ruled out given his positive profile.

Form: 711712

(15)

Firlinfeu²⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Chris Hayes| T: J Feane| OR: 72

16/1

Belatedly shed his maiden status when winning at Musselburgh (1m4½f) in October for Mark Johnston. Sold very cheaply since, however, and stiff task on his belated return from the widest draw.

Form: 345671-

(10)

Fridtjof Nansen¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: A J Farragher⁽⁷⁾| T: K P Cotter| OR: 70

20/1

Best effort for current connections when third over 6f here last month, but below form twice since, and his stamina for this much longer trip (stays 1m) is far from assured.

Form: 35-0377

(11)

Boston Bruin¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: C P Hoban| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 80

8/1

Half-sister Bocca Baciata won a pair of Group races over 1m1f here, and this colt - a 7f maiden winner in April - shaped as if a stiffer test might suit when fifth to Cnoc An Oir in a 1m handicap at Leopardstown last time. Not easily ruled out.

Form: 433-135

Non-Runners

(1)

Divine Approach¹⁸

Weight: 8-10| Age: 4

T: M O'Callaghan J: L F Roche

Forecasts

Nickajack Cave (5/1), Cuban Hope (6/1), Sky Seven (13/2), Boston Bruin (8/1), Latoyah Of North (8/1), Wentwood (8/1), Hamley (9/1), Formula One (9/1), Agent Zigzag (14/1), Tipitena (16/1), Firlinfeu (16/1), Divine Approach (16/1), Nimitz (20/1), Fridtjof Nansen (20/1), Brendan Brackan (33/1)

NICKAJACK CAVE has won two of his three starts having been unraced last year, and he should continue to improve for a while, so is taken to get the better of Wentwood, who will find this easier than the Grade 3 at Golden Gate Fields he contested last time. Cuban Hope caught a handicap blot last time, but still has a positive profile, and is also considered.

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