13:45 Curragh

Saturday 29 June 2019

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:2018:00

Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire Handicap

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 1m 11.88s

(14)

Medicine Jack²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Gary Carroll| T: G M Lyons| OR: 90| CD

16/1

Struggling for form this campaign and all his best efforts have come with more cut in the ground than what he is going to get here. Well handicapped if he handles conditions but second string on jockey bookings.

Form: 21-0805

(12)

Buffer Zone³⁰¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 86| D

4/1

Won twice for Roger Charlton but his form tailed off towards the end of last year, often slow to break. Interesting runner on debut for his new yard but entitled to need the run given his absence from the track.

Form: 51/1347-

(8)

Blairmayne³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: S Foley| T: N Lupini| OR: 80| CD

8/1

C&D winner last time out and only nudged up 1lb for that success. Placed four times here last season and gets his favoured ground. Leading player.

Form: 3245-51

(6)

Cityman^b⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Ben Coen⁽⁵⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 87| D

13/2

Won a Dundalk maiden back in February and got his head back in front over the minimum trip at Tipperary last time when staying on best. 7lb higher handicap mark demands more but less exposed than most and gets a useful 5lb claimer in the saddle.

Form: 318221

(5)

Aleef^t³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: W J Lee| T: K J Condon| OR: 78| BF| D

14/1

Won at Hamilton over this trip last year for David O'Meara on soft ground. Generally in good form this time around and unsuited by the drop back to the minimum trip here last time. Back on his last winning mark and can go well again.

Form: 20-0213

(16)

Time Stands Still⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: W T Byrne⁽⁷⁾| T: W J Martin| OR: 78| BF

20/1

All her wins have come over further than this and tends to be at her best with some cut in the ground. Probably has a race in her off this sort of handicap mark but may find it all happening too quickly here.

Form: 401327

(15)

Arcanears¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 77| CD

7/1

C&D winner of a maiden just over a year ago but hasn't won in nine starts since. Runner-up behind Blairmayne here two starts back and 2lb lower now. Could go well back at this trip.

Form: 26-2028

(10)

Castletownshend⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Declan McDonogh| T: T M Walsh| OR: 76

12/1

Still a maiden after nine starts but went close behind Twenty Minutes at Naas last time. Left on the same mark but quicker ground not certain to suit.

Form: 56-3982

(4)

Sors^b,v1¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: A J Slattery⁽⁵⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 74| CD

16/1

Three-time course winner including one win at this trip. Inconsistent this season and better with cut in the ground so opposable in a race of this depth. Wears a first-time visor.

Form: 838525

(3)

Ducky Mallon^t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: Rory Cleary| T: D Kinsella| OR: 73| CD

16/1

C&D winner who won on return at Fairyhouse earlier this month. Has won from a mark this high but the bounce factor is a concern dropped back in trip here and others make more appeal.

Form: 03443-1

(9)

Chestnut Express^p1,t¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: N G McCullagh| T: D Bunyan & G O'Leary| OR: 79| D

33/1

Just a maiden win to her name so far and well held in four starts this campaign. Her best efforts have come on slower ground and needs to re-find her best form to have any chance; wears first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 21-9706

(11)

Twenty Minutes^p,t⁷

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

12/1

Finally off the mark at Naas three starts back in first-time cheekpieces. A little disappointing in two starts since and can be slowly away. Step back up in trip in his favour at least.

Form: 000142

(7)

Polly Douglas^b⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁷⁾| T: K P Cotter| OR: 71| D

16/1

Only found one too good on her return over C&D and took a step forward from that when winning at Down Royal next time out. Disappointing when short in the betting market last time out though and her very best runs have come at 5f.

Form: 100-216

(2)

Hammersmith^b²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Wayne Lordan| T: J Nash| OR: 77| CD

12/1

Sole win from 10 career starts came here at 6½f on handicap debut. Running well in defeat so far this campaign and back below his winning handicap mark; each-way claims.

Form: 420-344

(1)

Tide Of Time⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: K J Leonard| T: E Lynam| OR: 70| D

14/1

Has won three of his 12 starts and got his head back in front at Down Royal last time. This is plenty tougher though and well beaten in two previous starts at this venue.

Form: 115-001

(13)

Master Matt¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: C P Hoban| T: M J Smith| OR: 73| D

12/1

Shaped with promise as a juvenile and off the mark on his debut for this yard last time out at Sligo. Fast ground will suit but opposable in a race of this depth from out of the handicap.

Form: 5232-01

Forecasts

Buffer Zone (4/1), Cityman (13/2), Arcanears (7/1), Blairmayne (8/1), Twenty Minutes (12/1), Castletownshend (12/1), Master Matt (12/1), Hammersmith (12/1), Tide Of Time (14/1), Aleef (14/1), Polly Douglas (16/1), Sors (16/1), Ducky Mallon (16/1), Medicine Jack (16/1), Time Stands Still (20/1), Chestnut Express (33/1)

The handicapper has given BLAIRMAYNE a chance after his course and distance success last time out and the six-year-old has run many of his better races at this venue. Hammersmith has been running well in defeat so far this year and may have more to come while Arcanears will appreciate a drop back to this trip.