19:55 Leopardstown

Thursday 8 August 2019

All17:1517:5018:2018:5519:2519:5520:25

Bulmers Handicap (50-70)

Off time: 19:57 | Winning time: 2m 47.05s

(13)

Drakensberg^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: W J Lee| T: A J Martin| OR: 70

11/1

Not shown the same sort of form on turf as he has on the Dundalk AW in the past. Stable operating at a 21% strike-rate currently but he was well-beaten over C&D when last seen and is hard to fancy off top-weight.

Form: 0-91177

(2)

Marine One^b1⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: J M Sheridan⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 69

8/1

Slightly luckless in recent runs. Fell when last running over hurdles, and that non completion has been followed by a couple of quiet efforts in handicaps under this code. Watching brief is advised.

Form: 071-208

(3)

Sbraase⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: O J Orr| T: N C Kelly| OR: 68| D

11/2

Performed creditably in handicaps since making a successful stable debut for this yard in June. Latest effort when third in a fiercely competitive handicap at Galway (1m4f; soft) would give him solid claims in this contest.

Form: 781123

(4)

Dromana¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: A J Slattery⁽⁵⁾| T: J M Oxx| OR: 66| BF

4/1

Hasn't finished out of the frame in any of her last five starts, and despite not being able to justify favouritism last time she did well to finish second considering where she came from. Went close over C&D two starts back and is a major player.

Form: 532132

(12)

Chaparral Dream⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Colin Keane| T: A McGuinness| OR: 65| BF

8/1

This isn't exactly easier, but he did fare well in a highly competitive handicap at the Galway (1m4f; good) festival last week on return to the level. In good form on the Dundalk AW at the beginning of the year.

Form: 411336

(1)

Earl Of Bunnacurry³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Gary Carroll| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 60

7/1

Posted best effort of 2019 when third at Naas (1m2f; good) on Monday. Work to do however to reverse the form with Cuban Surfer who finished four-lengths in front of him then.

Form: 806963

(14)

Ilikehim^p⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: T P Madden⁽³⁾| T: W Durkan| OR: 58

50/1

Signed off last season and returned this season with a pair of heavy defeats. Only made seasonal reappearance four days ago at Galway (1m6f; soft), and so is turned out very quickly again. Difficult to be overly confident about.

Form: 3690-60

(11)

Ragtime Red^t²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: A McCann| OR: 56

33/1

Showed very little on return from a short break when finishing down the field at Navan (1m2f; good to firm) last time. May have needed it but unlikely to improve from the run that much and is hard to recommend.

Form: 3-10340

(10)

Mademoiselle Penny²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: J A Heffernan| T: P J Flynn| OR: 55

14/1

Evidently benefitted for the run when posting a much more encouraging effort at Fairyhouse (1m4f; good) last time. Claims as an each-way prospect if able to take another step forward.

Form: 7248-05

(9)

Ultra Pride²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Robbie Colgan| T: S Lavery| OR: 64

8/1

Not disgraced since starting out in handicaps. Just out of the frame when fourth at Killarney (1m3f; good) recently. Needs to build upon that effort, but only had the five starts. Place claims if able to do so.

Form: 77-554

(6)

Ringo Kid^t¹⁰⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: K J Leonard| T: Mrs O Byrne| OR: 52

25/1

0-20. Inconsistent sort over hurdles and on the flat. Made no impression over hurdles when last seen, and is hard to make a convincing case for in this field. Readily opposed.

Form: 20/5325

(15)

Castle Chase^v1²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Chris Hayes| T: D K Weld| OR: 50

22/1

Hasn't shown an awful lot of improvement for the switch to handicaps. Stepped up markedly in trip to 2m1f last time and couldn't get involved. Connections obviously unsure of what his best trip is as he now drops back in trip to 1m5f.

Form: 6-0906

(8)

Full Moon Magic²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Wayne Lordan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 60

7/1

Stepped up on previous showings in maidens when making handicap debut at Killarney (1m3f; good) to finish third. 4lb higher now but should have a lot more to offer in this sphere, and step up in trip could bring about more improvement. Player.

Form: 7003

Non-Runners

(5)

Cuban Surfer³

Weight: 9-7| Age: 3

T: J S Bolger J: G M Ryan

(7)

All Body And Soul¹⁴

Weight: 9-4| Age: 7

T: T Collins J: Ronan Whelan

Forecasts

Cuban Surfer (10/3), Dromana (4/1), Sbraase (11/2), Earl Of Bunnacurry (7/1), Full Moon Magic (7/1), Chaparral Dream (8/1), Ultra Pride (8/1), Marine One (8/1), All Body And Soul (10/1), Drakensberg (11/1), Mademoiselle Penny (14/1), Castle Chase (22/1), Ringo Kid (25/1), Ragtime Red (33/1), Ilikehim (50/1)

An open-looking stayers maiden which offers another chance to Full Moon Magic to progress from what was a highly encouraging handicap debut. He now steps up markedly in trip on his second start in this sphere, and should be thereabouts. Despite having to come from the back of the field when last seen, Dromana still managed to produce another good effort when runner-up at Down Royal last time and can continue to add to her string of consistent efforts. The horse on the upgrade is CUBAN SURFER though, after she improved for the step back up in trip to 1m2f recently. Stepping up in trip again means there could be further progress to come and she is the one to beat.