18:00 Curragh

Sunday 15 September 2019

All13:2013:5514:2515:0015:3516:1016:5017:2518:00

Irish Stallion Farms EBF 'Northfields' Handicap (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 18:03 | Winning time: 2m 9.15s

(5)

Insignia Of Rank⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Gary Carroll| T: J G Murphy| OR: 99| CD

16/1

Won for the fourth time on turf when landing the Listed Celebration Stakes over 1m here in June. Has lost his way a little since then, however, and hopes rest on being returned to his favoured track now.

Form: 190048

(11)

Massif Central^p1³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 97

16/1

Almost always gives his running for all he's hard to place, and a little out of his depth when fifth of 6 to Latrobe in Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown last time. Return to handicap company will suit, and claims if cheekpieces have desired effect.

Form: 032425

(10)

Numerian¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 99| BF

4/1

Ran well at a big price when fifth in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot, and has remained in form, finishing well to be third in the Irish Cambridgeshire here last month. Well worth a try at this new trip based on how he went there.

Form: 213563

(16)

Saltonstall^p,t¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Gavin Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 93| C

8/1

Took advantage of falling mark when winning valuable Colm Quinn BMW Mile at Galway, and excused a lesser effort turned out quickly there next time. Respectable sixth in Irish Cambridgeshire here last time, and perhaps in handicapper's grasp now.

Form: 004186

(15)

Antilles^b⁶⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 97

14/1

Runner-up on return at Chelmsford, but not progressed in manner expected, and well held in King George V Handicap at Ascot (1½m) before a fair seventh of 9 to Magnetic North at Leopardstown. Still looks too high in the weights.

Form: 1-20407

(13)

One Cool Poet^b,t¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Billy Lee| T: M J Smith| OR: 90

12/1

Landed a remarkable hat-trick at this year's Galway Festival in the space of five days, winning his final start with any amount in hand. Handicapper has had his say since, though, and well beaten off revised mark at Leopardstown yesterday.

Form: 321110

(8)

Bold Approach¹¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 95

16/1

Second in the Group 3 Tyros Stakes last July after winning on Leopardstown debut. Well held in Gallinule Stakes here in May on only subsequent outing, and an unknown quantity now handicapping after a break. Market useful.

Form: 12-6

(9)

Hamley⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Ben Coen⁽⁵⁾| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 89| CD

8/1

Best effort this year when fourth to Agent Zigzag in a C&D handicap in June. Ran well next time, and lower in the weights after disappointing behind Saltonstall at Galway. Given a break since, and could bounce back.

Form: 14-0440

(1)

Nickajack Cave³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 92| D

7/1

Won at Navan prior to an excellent ¾L second to Agent Zigzag in a C&D handicap in June. Ran as well as could be expected in Group 3 company here next time, and a big player back in handicaps with the prospect of further progress.

Form: 12125

(4)

Cuban Hope⁶⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Rory Cleary| T: J S Bolger| OR: 90| D

14/1

Breathing problem here on penultimate start, but bounced back to land fourth win of the season at Fairyhouse in July. Off two months since that, but the form is solid, and he's respected given his continued progress.

Form: 171201

(7)

Great Grey³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: M A Gallagher| T: L Comer| OR: 80

14/1

Twice runner-up in handicaps this season, most recently over 1¼m at Leopardstown. Has a chance based on that form, with handicapper kind in leaving his mark unchanged.

Form: 30-7252

(2)

Sky Seven²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Shane Foley| T: M Halford| OR: 86| BF

11/1

Ran well when third to Agent Zigzag over C&D in June, splitting Nickajack Cave and Hamley, and back to form after a rare poor effort when third of 10 to National Guard in minor event at Killarney last time. Not dismissed.

Form: 192353

(3)

Tudor City^h1,t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 8-7| J: Sean Davis⁽³⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 80| D

4/1

Won the Galway Hurdle on his penultimate start, and better than the result when eighth of 14 to Forest of Dean back on the Flat at York last time. Can race freely, and hood added to usual tongue tie now. Claims if new headgear does the required job.

Form: 9423-58

(12)

Wee Jim^b1¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: L Comer| OR: 84

66/1

Won two novice races as a juvenile but highly tried and well beaten in four outings for new yard this year. Ran badly in the Irish Cambridgeshire here last time, and now tried in blinkers.

Form: 15-5900

(14)

Aera²³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: N G McCullagh| T: A Mullins| OR: 77| D

25/1

Winner of three of her last four starts in Germany including over 1m1f at Baden-Baden (good) in October. Not beaten far on debut for this yard at Gowran, but looked a hard ride when below form here last time.

Form: 1311-38

(6)

Acari^h³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: Killian Leonard| T: G B Caldwell| OR: 68| C

28/1

Beaten just a neck on rain-softened ground at Tipperary (1m1f) in April, and back to form when winning an apprentice handicap over 1m here last time. Asked a much stiffer task from well out of the weights here, however, and passed over as a result.

Form: 78-2001

Non-Runners

(17)

War Diary⁴⁴

Weight: 8-11| Age: 4

T: J J Murphy J: Robbie Colgan

Forecasts

Numerian (4/1), Tudor City (4/1), War Diary (13/2), Nickajack Cave (7/1), Saltonstall (8/1), Hamley (8/1), Sky Seven (11/1), One Cool Poet (12/1), Antilles (14/1), Cuban Hope (14/1), Great Grey (14/1), Bold Approach (16/1), Insignia Of Rank (16/1), Massif Central (16/1), Aera (25/1), Acari (28/1), Wee Jim (66/1)

NICKAJACK CAVE had a bit too much on his plate in Group 3 company last time, but he was progressing well prior to that, and can get back to winning ways now returned to handicaps. Dangers abound, with Numerian feared most now stepping up to 1¼m after a staying on third over shorter here last time. Jim Bolger's pair, Bold Approach and Cuban Hope are also respected, and the market will help punters choose between them.