17:40 Curragh

Friday 12 June 2020

All16:0516:4017:1017:4018:1018:4019:1519:45

Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Handicap

Off time: 17:42 | Winning time: 1m 24.46s

(11)

Latin Five²³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 10-0| J: S M Crosse⁽³⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 91| C

50/1

Won a 6f nursery here in the summer, and improved when third in a stronger event at Naas in October. Unexposed beyond that trip, and can't be ruled out despite a welter burden.

Form: 431803-

(16)

Siamese²⁵⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-0| J: Ben Coen⁽³⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 91| D

12/1

Kitten's Joy filly who improved from a promising debut when landing a 7f maiden at Dundalk in September by 3¼L from next-time-out winner Music To My Ears. Looks a smart prospect, and much respected despite a huge weight.

Form: 41-

(10)

United Front¹⁰⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-13| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 90

10/3

Improved on fairly useful form he'd shown last summer when winning a maiden at Dundalk in February by 4L from Chanell Eclipse. Had plenty in hand there, and strong claims if translating that back to turf now.

Form: 449-1

(14)

Arranmore²⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 87

12/1

Matched earlier form when winning a 6f maiden at Cork in August, but below that level twice subsequently at this track. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 22108-

(9)

Hong Kong^b⁸¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 87| BF

16/1

Blinkered when winning a heavy-ground 6f maiden at Naas last year, but headgear has not seen him maintain that form since, and disappointing on his return at that track in March. Questions to answer after that.

Form: 78217-0

(5)

Howling Wolf¹⁰⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Luke McAteer⁽⁷⁾| T: A Mullins| OR: 87| D

16/1

Won a 7f Leopardstown last July, but out of his depth in black-type events there and at Dundalk since. This is more realistic, but others have more to recommend them.

Form: 317-7

(7)

Never Before⁹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: M P Sheehy⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 87| D

33/1

Won off a 4lb lower mark at Lingfield (6f) in February, but below form at Dundalk since, and he seems high enough on the weights based on his overall form.

Form: 252-124

(15)

Champers Elysees²³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 86| BF| C

14/1

Won a 6f auction contest here in September, and improved again when second of 7 to For The Trees in a nursery at Naas on final start. Needs to progress again, but can't be ruled out.

Form: 32612-

(1)

The King Of Kells⁸¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Gary Carroll| T: M Mulvany| OR: 86| C

14/1

Won two nurseries here last season, and found further improvement when third of 14 to stablemate In From The Cold in the Madrid Handicap at Naas in March. That form is solid, and it would be folly to ignore him, especially if it rains.

Form: 2011-33

(2)

Elusive King^t1⁸¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: W J Lee| T: K J Condon| OR: 85

13/2

Narrow winner of a Naas maiden in November, and progressed a little further when fourth of 14 to In From The Cold in the Madrid Handicap at Naas in March. Claims if taking to a first-time tongue tie.

Form: 51-4

(4)

Layfayette²³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Chris Hayes| T: N Meade| OR: 84

10/1

Won a Navan maiden on his second start last year, and progressed to finish a good second of 13 to Lustown Baba in a minor event at Naas last time. Should have more to offer, and respected on return.

Form: 012-

(12)

Leadership Race^t²³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 84| D

18/1

Well held on turf last year, but improved to win a pair of nurseries on AW at Dundalk. Type to progress further, but concerns about the switch of surface here.

Form: 707011-

(17)

Ocean Monarch¹⁷⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 84

11/1

All three runs have come at Dundalk, and he won a maiden there on his penultimate start. Fairly treated starting out in handicaps, but must show he can handle turf.

Form: 513-

(8)

Music To My Ears^t²¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 83| D

25/1

Well held on turf debut, but has improved on Polytrack since, winning a 7f maiden at Dundalk in November. Bred to do better this year, but another who needs to show he's not surface-dependent.

Form: 021-

(3)

Bright Idea²⁸²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: E Greatrex| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 82

18/1

Best effort last year when second in a C&D maiden, and ran into the smart Royal Dornoch on his final start. Should have more to offer, and would welcome rain more than some of his rivals.

Form: 623-

(13)

Hieroglyphic¹⁷⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 77| D

40/1

Similar form in a trio of 7f maidens at Dundalk, winning there in December after two runners-up efforts. Looked willing there, and can improve, but this represents a different test on turf debut.

Form: 221-

(6)

Joven²¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: J M Sheridan⁽⁷⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 74

11/1

Improved when runner-up in a 7f maiden at Leopardstown in September, but he ran to just a similar level in two subsequent starts, and others look more progressive.

Form: 3265-

Forecasts

United Front (10/3), Elusive King (13/2), Layfayette (10/1), Ocean Monarch (11/1), Joven (11/1), Arranmore (12/1), Siamese (12/1), Champers Elysees (14/1), The King Of Kells (14/1), Howling Wolf (16/1), Hong Kong (16/1), Bright Idea (18/1), Leadership Race (18/1), Music To My Ears (25/1), Never Before (33/1), Hieroglyphic (40/1), Latin Five (50/1)

At first glance, SIAMESE looks to have been lumbered with a lot of weight, but she is not conceding lumps to anything other than Joven, and she looked a Group-class filly when winning at Dundalk last time. She has promised to be at least as good on turf, and makes just about most appeal in a very classy handicap. The King Of Kells and Elusive King both ran well in the Madrid Handicap at Naas, and while the enforced break is no help to them, that appeals as strong form, and both would relish any easing of the ground.