Curragh Summer Festival Handicap

Off time: 17:30 | Winning time: 3m 33.80s

Brazos^b⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Robbie Colgan| T: J J Murphy| OR: 98| D

14/1

Good fourth on seasonal debut at Gowran Park (1m6f, yielding-to-soft) and ran respectably in a Group 3 at Navan (1m6f, yielding) two months ago on only subsequent start. Interesting back in handicap company for in-form yard.

Form: 1310-46

Shakespear'sgalley^t²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 86| CD

13/2

Up 6lb today having won for the third time in five starts latest over C&D. Absolutely thriving since going over staying trips and every chance he can follow up.

Form: 916121

Hot Beat⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Billy Lee| T: T M Walsh| OR: 85

25/1

1m4f winner for David Simcock ran quite respectably when third over 1m7f at Listowel on stable debut latest when outrunning 20/1 odds. Should be more to come now and certainly can't be ruled out here.

Form: 13004/3

Trossachs^t¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 98| C

6/4

Three-year-old won a 1m3½f maiden at Limerick in June before absolutely bolting up here (1m4f) and at Leopardstown (1m5f). Up another 12lb for his first crack at 2m but such is the rate of his progress he will surely go very close if he stays.

Form: 944111

Tirmizi^h,t¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 82

16/1

Likable sort but well held by the more progressive pair Trossachs and Shakespear'sgalley the last twicer and although better off with both reversal looks unlikely.

Form: 813266

Il Paradiso^p²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 89

11/10

1m4f Leopardstown maiden winner in May was unsurprisingly outclassed in the Irish Derby latest but in a first-time handicap and upped to 2m he is an intriguing proposition. Market will be informative here.

Form: 322-17

Non-Runners

Conron⁸¹

Weight: 8-7| Age: 5

T: Mrs J Harrington J: Shane Foley

Forecasts

Il Paradiso (11/10), Trossachs (6/4), Conron (4/1), Shakespear'sgalley (13/2), Brazos (14/1), Tirmizi (16/1), Hot Beat (25/1)

A really good standard handicap this with many of the runners boasting appealing profiles but none more so than four-timer seeking TROSSACHS who hasn't been just winning rather absolutely hacking up in his three wins. Also seeking a fourth win of the year is Shakespear'sgalley and he too is a big player especially as unlike the selection he is a proven 2m stayer. Il Paradiso could be the fly in the ointment for Ballydoyle.