15:25 Curragh

Saturday 20 July 2019

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:4518:20

Tote Scurry Handicap (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 15:27 | Winning time: 1m 14.37s

(14)

Smash Williams^t²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Gavin Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: J S Bolger| OR: 104| BF| CD

11/2

Two-time C&D winner, including a Group 3 back in 2015. Just one win since in Listed class at the end of last season and only seventh of 16 here last time out at 5f. Step back up in trip should suit at least.

Form: 1-34627

(1)

Ardhoomey^t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: D W O'Connor⁽³⁾| T: G M Lyons| OR: 102| C| D

16/1

Two-time course winner, the most recent a Listed success here last year. Hasn't won at this trip since a 2015 maiden success and below form here last time out. Others preferred.

Form: 32-4430

(11)

Chessman²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: O J Orr| T: R O'Brien| OR: 101

8/1

Hasn't won since his maiden success on debut in 2016. Has shaped with some promise since joining this yard, particularly in a C&D Listed event last time out. Didn't get a clear passage that day and may be able to build on the run here.

Form: P-62253

(7)

Intisaab^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: L Dettori| T: D O'Meara| OR: 101| CD

7/1

Fairly prolific last year winning four races including this contest and shaped like a return to the winners' enclosure may be imminent when a staying on fourth at York last time out. Jockey booking is eye-catching and should go well again.

Form: 004504

(15)

Gustavus Weston⁶²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Gary Carroll| T: J G Murphy| OR: 100| D

16/1

Maiden winner as a juvenile last year and posted a career best in a Group 3 at Naas last time out when runner-up. An 8lb rise looks perfectly fair for that and less exposed than most in the field.

Form: 417-82

(19)

Brick By Brick⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 94| C| D

20/1

Course winner back in 2017 and went on to win a Listed race later that season. Subsequent efforts suggest he hasn't trained on though and he needs a sizable step forward from his Tipperary reappearance.

Form: 3/6607-3

(4)

Buffer Zone²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 94| CD

6/1

C&D winner last time out on debut for this yard. May come on for that run and the front two pulled clear so quite possible an 8lb rise won't stop him getting competitive again.

Form: 1/1347-1

(6)

Texas Rock^p⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Billy Lee| T: M C Grassick| OR: 94| C| D

25/1

Losing run stretches back to a Listed success in 2017 and he failed to beat a rival home at Leopardstown last time out. Has two course wins but his very best efforts have come over further than this.

Form: 366439

(10)

Freescape^b³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: C O'Donoghue| T: D Marnane| OR: 93| D

33/1

Has two wins from 17 starts but they both came on AW and yet to win in 11 turf attempts. Well below form in two runs this year and hard to fancy.

Form: 034987

(2)

Mr Scarlet^t²⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Robbie Colgan| T: S Lavery| OR: 93

50/1

Sole win came in a 5f maiden back in 2016. Struggling for any sort of form throughout his 2018 campaign and he's hard to fancy on return from an absence here, despite some relief from the handicapper.

Form: 683008-

(5)

Eclipse Storm^b1³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: C D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: J A Stack| OR: 96| D

25/1

Won a maiden at Naas on debut. Ran well in Listed company here two starts back but he was a no-show at Royal Ascot last time when failing to beat a rival home. Too soon to be writing him off.

Form: 13-0520

(12)

Gabrial The Saint⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Gary Halpin| T: R A Fahey| OR: 91| D

20/1

Won back-to-back races last year and got himself back in the winners' enclosure at Chester two starts back. Well beaten at Ascot last week but step back up in trip could suit and not ruled out.

Form: 992410

(3)

Medicine Jack^b²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Chris Hayes| T: G M Lyons| OR: 89| CD

25/1

Group 2 winner here as a juvenile and won in Listed class on final start of 2018. Largely struggling for form this time around though, failing to beat a rival home here last time. Dangerously well-handicapped but hard to fancy on recent form.

Form: 1-08050

(18)

On A Session^p²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Andrew Slattery⁽⁵⁾| T: A Fogarty| OR: 93| D

16/1

Caused an upset when winning at Listowel two runs back, his first success since his career in France. Failed to build on that up in class at Royal Ascot last time but drop back in trip and a return to handicap company could see him return to form.

Form: 110-010

(9)

True Blue Moon^t¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 88

20/1

Gained a first win since a Listed success in 2017 when winning a 5f handicap at Bellewstown last time out (dead-heat). Feasibly handicapped if he can build on that run but this is clearly a much tougher test.

Form: 860-501

(13)

Manshood^v²³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Killian Leonard| T: P T Midgley| OR: 85| D

16/1

Inconsistent sort. Impressive when bouncing back at Wetherby earlier in 2019. Only found a smart one too good over C&D last time out and the step back up in trip should hold no fears; interesting contender for a yard that do well with sprinters.

Form: 961962

(16)

Ice Cold In Alex^t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-5| J: N G McCullagh| T: K J Condon| OR: 83| C

13/2

Two-time course winner who won twice last season and wasn't beaten far here last time out. Drop back in trip not certain to suit given how well he stayed on that day and previous best efforts have come at 7f.

Form: 6121-32

(8)

Verhoyen^b³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: Rory Cleary| T: M C Grassick| OR: 82| CD

14/1

Just one win from 25 turf starts but that did come over C&D earlier in the campaign. Not beaten far in three subsequent efforts, despite a much increased handicap mark; could give another good account.

Form: 341342

(20)

Blairmayne²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-4| J: Wayne Lordan| T: N Lupini| OR: 82| CD

20/1

C&D winner two starts back. Didn't build on the run last time out though and this is plenty tougher, particularly from out of the handicap.

Form: 245-510

Non-Runners

(17)

Aurora Eclipse⁴⁸

Weight: 8-4| Age: 4

T: M O'Callaghan J: Leigh Roche

Forecasts

Smash Williams (11/2), Buffer Zone (6/1), Ice Cold In Alex (13/2), Intisaab (7/1), Chessman (8/1), Verhoyen (14/1), Ardhoomey (16/1), Gustavus Weston (16/1), On A Session (16/1), Manshood (16/1), Blairmayne (20/1), True Blue Moon (20/1), Gabrial The Saint (20/1), Brick By Brick (20/1), Aurora Eclipse (20/1), Texas Rock (25/1), Eclipse Storm (25/1), Medicine Jack (25/1), Freescape (33/1), Mr Scarlet (50/1)

A typically competitive renewal of this race but last year's winner INTISAAB is 2lb below the handicap mark he won off in 2018 and he can go well with Dettori in the saddle. There are no shortage of dangers with the likes of Manshood in here who was only narrowly denied over course and distance last time out. Chessman is another with C&D form and he met trouble in running in a Listed event here last time.