20:55 Leopardstown

Thursday 18 July 2019

All17:4018:1018:4519:2019:5020:2520:55

Club 30 Handicap

Off time: 20:56 | Winning time: 2m 54.36s

(5)

Drakensberg^t⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A J Martin| OR: 73

10/1

Completed a 1m4f double at Dundalk when winning a handicap contest in March. Struggled upped to an extended 2m2f at Chester (heavy) subsequently and is a notable runner back down in distance for a trainer who took this race 12 months ago.

Form: 50-9117

(6)

Sicario⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: D W O'Connor⁽³⁾| T: M M McNiff| OR: 71

14/1

Dual winner for previous yard and has had just one Flat start since joining this stable with that coming when sixth over 1m2f here last month. Probably best watched having finished held over hurdles last time out.

Form: 21634-6

(3)

With A Start^t1⁸¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: D Hogan| OR: 68

16/1

Placed second in a 1m4f claiming race at Dundalk in early April. Struggled back in handicap company at Navan (1m5f, yielding) later that month and cheekpieces worn for the first time that day are dispensed with. Tongue tie tried for the first time.

Form: 4-24420

(4)

Dromana²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Andrew Slattery⁽⁵⁾| T: J M Oxx| OR: 66

6/4

Broke her maiden when winning by 4¾L in a handicap over an extended 1m3f at Limerick (good) last time out. Raised 7lb for that victory and remains open to improvement.

Form: 29-5321

(1)

World Stage^t¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Declan McDonogh| T: W Durkan| OR: 66

20/1

12 race maiden under all codes and pulled up in a maiden hurdle at Bellewstown (good) on stable debut earlier this month. Probably best watched at present.

Form: 252/9-50

(8)

Tracker Saga²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 71

5/1

Decent fourth in a maiden over an extended 1m1f at Gowran Park (good) early last month. Steps markedly up in distance following a mid-division finish over an extended 7f at Tipperary (good) in first time blinkers (absent here) subsequently.

Form: 482747

(2)

Champagne Terri¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: A Keatley| OR: 69

7/2

Winner of two of her last three starts most recently by 3¾L in a handicap over an extended 1m3f at Windsor (good-to-firm) three weeks ago. One for the shortlist despite a 9lb rise in the weights.

Form: 000151

(7)

Universal Focus^b⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Chris Hayes| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 57

9/2

Finished runner-up on two most recent starts including over 1m4f at Fairyhouse (good) at the weekend. Races off the same mark here and is likely to run his race once more.

Form: 185-722

Forecasts

Dromana (6/4), Champagne Terri (7/2), Universal Focus (9/2), Tracker Saga (5/1), Drakensberg (10/1), Sicario (14/1), With A Start (16/1), World Stage (20/1)

DROMANA impressed in winning at Limerick last time out and she can follow-up that victory with success in the final race on the card. The selection should appreciate the step up in trip and she can get the better of her rivals here with three-year-old Champagne Terri, another to have won last time out taken to claim second spot ahead of the consistent Universal Focus.