19:50 Curragh

Friday 16 August 2019

All16:4017:1017:4518:1518:4519:1519:5020:20

Derek O'Sullivan Memorial Apprentice Handicap (45-70)

Off time: 19:54 | Winning time: 1m 43.70s

(2)

Whatharm⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Ben Coen| T: P J Flynn| OR: 66| D

8/1

Back to form when successful at Gowran Park on latest start, but a 10lb rise for that and likely slower ground conditions mean that more is required here.

Form: 600-061

(11)

Mona Bell^t¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: J P Shinnick⁽⁷⁾| T: J G Murphy| OR: 65

14/1

Will strip fitter for a recent run at Galway, her first since last October, but it wasn't exactly a run that screamed "winner next time" and she's best watched here.

Form: 35633-0

(8)

Dare To Flare^b¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Andrew Slattery| T: A Slattery| OR: 67

16/1

7f winner at Fairyhouse in July but didn't improve for a step up to a mile at Galway last time, and the likely slower conditions mean that he probably needs to find more.

Form: 443-519

(25)

Lumsden^b1,t¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: A J Farragher⁽⁴⁾| T: A Oliver| OR: 67

16/1

Has to be stamina doubts about him given his Sligo win in May came over 6f, and he races mainly at shorter. Ground a question mark too, and others make more appeal.

Form: 515090

(21)

Raffaello¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Nathan Crosse| T: W McCreery| OR: 67| D

14/1

Improving 3yo that's won two of his last three starts and this trip poses no problem, but does need to bounce back from a below par effort at Galway last time. Not without a chance if doing so.

Form: 900110

(10)

Acari^h⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Killian Leonard| T: G B Caldwell| OR: 61

12/1

Beaten just a neck on rain-softened ground at Tipperary (9f) in April but two disappointing efforts after that and consistency is not his strong point. May be better for having had a short break.

Form: 278-200

(14)

Gougane Barra^h,t⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: L W Browne⁽⁷⁾| T: M Halford| OR: 61| D

20/1

Yet to go close in five turf starts and seems happier on the artifical surface at Dundalk. Recent form nothing to shout about anyway, and others readily preferred.

Form: 163400

(23)

Small Town Boy^t1⁶⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Siobhan Rutledge⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 66

25/1

Only had the five starts so open to improvement, good effort at Limerick (7f) on soft ground back in April and if he could build on that, would have chances here. Step up to a mile should suit.

Form: 65-248

(13)

Kudbegood^p,t⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: D N Curran⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 60| BF

16/1

Has hit the frame on five of his last six starts but is finding winning hard, and he now needs to bounce back from a below par effort at Cork last time too (was made favourite). Likely conditions fine though, and could be thereabouts again.

Form: 933329

(26)

Munfallet⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Ross Coakley| T: D P Coakley| OR: 59

10/1

Not had many starts for the yard, better known as a sprinter when trained in England but seemed to stay a mile fine when just denied at Dundalk last November. However, conditions here likely to stretch his stamina to the limit.

Form: 472-904

(24)

Munaajaat^t¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: S M Crosse| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 63| BF

12/1

In good hands but has shown very little so far and was a disappointing favourite at Galway last time out. Suspicion is there's better to come, so watch market for a clue.

Form: 507-080

(20)

Pursuit Of Magic^h²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: T P Madden| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 62

16/1

Couple of decent efforts this spring (one on soft ground, so any rain no issue) marked her out as one to follow but she was a little disappointing when last seen at Ballinrobe. Early days though, so could easily bounce back.

Form: 4-8479

(19)

Avalanche^t²³

Age: 10| Weight: 9-4| J: W T Byrne⁽⁴⁾| T: T J O'Mara| OR: 56| D

20/1

Veteran isn't doing a lot wrong at present but an overall strike rate of just three wins in 49 starts shows the issue. Nevertheless, more likely to run his race than most, and has place chances again.

Form: 56-9454

(6)

Musalsal^b1⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: O J Orr| T: D K Weld| OR: 61

6/1

Well bred colt that's only had four starts but in truth has shown very little and was very disappointing when tried over 10f at Sligo last time. Slower conditions could prove a problem too.

Form: 98-70

(3)

We'll Go Again⁶⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Luke McAteer⁽⁴⁾| T: Madeleine Tylicki| OR: 61

9/1

Good debut over 6f at Naas last November, and didn't do badly when fifth on recent handicap debut at Roscommon (10f). Handles plenty of cut, drop back in trip probably a plus, and with likely improvement to come, has a chance here.

Form: 3-085

(9)

Ploughland^p⁵¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Gavin Ryan⁽²⁾| T: J S Bolger| OR: 59

25/1

Seems to have gone backwards form a couple of promising efforts early on in her career and the addition of cheekpieces seemed to do little for her at Naas last time. Hard to make much of a case for in present mood.

Form: 7700-0

(4)

Kinch³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: D W O'Connor| T: J F Levins| OR: 58

16/1

First run for new yard, winner at Ayr on latest start but that was over 6f on quick ground, and he faces totally different conditions here. Clearly in form but all the same, others make more appeal.

Form: 987001

(28)

Der Mc⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Hugh Horgan| T: P A Fahy| OR: 57

20/1

Stayed on well to grab third at Killarney on June (1m) but that effort rather stands out from his others this season, most of which are well below that. Chances if he can refind that form then, but that's something of a big if.

Form: 80-0630

(12)

Loughanlea Lass¹¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: C G O'Dwyer⁽⁷⁾| T: M Fahey| OR: 55

50/1

Some promise to be taken from her debut over 7f at Naas back in March and she goes into handicaps on a reasonable mark today. Step up to a mile should suit and she may leave her previous form behind. Not discounted.

Form: 007

(18)

Snow Hope^b,h⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: S M Mooney⁽⁴⁾| T: A Oliver| OR: 54

33/1

Seems to be regressing after just four starts, never in the hunt at Sligo last time but at least this step back up in trip ought to help her cause. Plenty to prove however, and others make more appeal.

Form: 6-599

(1)

Rememberthetitans^t1⁹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Paddy Harnett⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss S A Finn| OR: 53

22/1

Sent off big prices all three starts and hasn't shown much, but goes into handicaps on a realistic mark and has been gelded since last being seen. Improvement possible then, so worth a quick market check.

Form: 0-97

(7)

Gizi Gazelle⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: S P Bird| T: E O'Connell| OR: 49

20/1

Regressive and looks a bit out of her depth here, never in the hunt at Cork last time, and it may well be more of the same today.

Form: 60-9840

Non-Runners

(5)

Buzz Killington²³

Weight: 9-8| Age: 3

T: N Meade J: Unknown Jockey

(27)

Alpine Peak¹²⁴

Weight: 9-3| Age: 4

T: N Lupini J: Alan Persse

(16)

Taakhy¹³⁹

Weight: 9-1| Age: 4

T: J C McConnell J: Vanessa Maye

(17)

Guiding²⁰

Weight: 8-10| Age: 3

T: S Nolan J: Hugh Horgan

(22)

Guanabara Bay³³

Weight: 8-13| Age: 6

T: G Donnelly J: Reserve 1

(15)

Blackstone Cliff⁴⁵

Weight: 8-5| Age: 3

T: A Murray J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Musalsal (6/1), Guiding (7/1), Whatharm (8/1), We'll Go Again (9/1), Munfallet (10/1), Acari (12/1), Munaajaat (12/1), Raffaello (14/1), Mona Bell (14/1), Blackstone Cliff (14/1), Kudbegood (16/1), Dare To Flare (16/1), Kinch (16/1), Lumsden (16/1), Pursuit Of Magic (16/1), Buzz Killington (16/1), Avalanche (20/1), Der Mc (20/1), Gizi Gazelle (20/1), Gougane Barra (20/1), Guanabara Bay (20/1), Rememberthetitans (22/1), Small Town Boy (25/1), Ploughland (25/1), Taakhy (25/1), Snow Hope (33/1), Alpine Peak (33/1), Loughanlea Lass (50/1)

If the forecast rain does fall, plenty of these will have something to prove on it, and it would be wide open. Kudbegood handles some cut fine, and looks sure to run his race again, so should be there at the finish. Guiding is another that brings some solid form to the table and despite a moderate draw, could take a hand in the finish but there are some potential improvers in here, and BUZZ KILLINGTON, who on breeding will love this step up to a mile, is taken to score in his first handicap. Pursuit Of Magic may get back on track and Loughanlea Lass is worth a look in the market.