18:15 Curragh

Saturday 13 June 2020

All16:0016:3517:1017:4518:1518:4519:1519:45

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

Off time: 18:16 | Winning time: 2m 35.56s

(13)

Verimli³¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Wayne Lordan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 100| D

10/3

Three-time winner in France for Alan De Royer Dupre and ended time there with Listed second at Deauville (1m6f, good; 2-1f) in August last year. No easy starting place for Joseph O'Brien but likely gives a solid account of himself.

Form: 1112-

(16)

Arthurian Fame⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: M P Sheehy⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 98| D

25/1

Most recent success in Lady Riders' event at Leopardstown (1m4f, good to yielding; 10-3f) in May 2019. Ran well without winning maiden hurdles over the winter and will have to improve here though booking of 7lb claimer a help.

Form: 95/1196-

(20)

King's Vow^b,t¹²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 97| D

14/1

Versatile Frankel gelding, improved to win pair of 2m Polytrack handicaps at Dundalk earlier in the year (latest off 97). Needs thorough stamina test but respected and completes trio at top of the weights for Joseph O'Brien here.

Form: 007-711

(19)

Kasperenko^b¹²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: W J Lee| T: K J Condon| OR: 91| D

14/1

Best form has come on the AW in recent times (ran only once in 2019), inc second to King's Vow at Dundalk (2m) in February. Much lower-rated on turf and blinkers return down in trip. Can't be ruled out completely given encouragement with this yard.

Form: 171/0-32

(14)

Jon Ess⁹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: C G O'Dwyer⁽¹⁰⁾| T: C O'Dwyer| OR: 89| BF| D

22/1

Five of six career wins on the Flat have been on AW and was in cracking form at Dundalk in early part of 2020, gaining two wins and close second over 1m2½/1m4f. Rated 3lb lower back on turf and claimer rider takes off 10lb. Dangerous to write off.

Form: 7/19-112

(18)

Mother Vincent²²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 87| C

20/1

Vocalised filly ended last year with a hat-trick of wins at 1m/1m2f including on this track. They all came on soft/heavy going however and she's 6lb higher needing to prove herself on a better surface up in trip.

Form: 030111-

(8)

Edification²³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: G M Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: M Fahey| OR: 86| D

14/1

Fairly consistent last year for this trainer, winning twice over 1m2f/1m4f, and can be forgiven final effort on testing ground at Leopardstown. Tends to need a run however and others are preferred here.

Form: 154270-

(2)

Lariat²⁶⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Colin Keane| T: A McGuinness| OR: 86

11/1

String of runner-up finishes last year over this trip for Andrew Balding and acts on any ground; formed tailed off in the autumn but could be one to pick up again for new connections and booking of Colin Keane suggests big run expected first time.

Form: 222464-

(4)

Machine Learner²⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: L F Roche| T: P Roche| OR: 85| D

33/1

Exposed UK handicapper, ran fine race when close sixth (beaten 2¾L) in similar Leopardstown contest (1m5f, good; 14-1) in September. On a fair mark if bring his A-game on first start for new trainer.

Form: 472366-

(9)

Magnetic North¹⁹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Robbie Colgan| T: S Lavery| OR: 85

33/1

Dual winner early last summer in Navan and Leopardstown handicaps over shorter; proven to go well after an absence and he is back on his previous win-mark if doing so now.

Form: 300978-

(10)

Major Reward¹¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: J M Sheridan⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 85

50/1

Has done his winning on the AW at Dundalk so far but acts on turf and remains unexposed over this trip; only making third start for Denis Hogan and could be capable of a big effort with Joey Sheridan taking off 7lb. Watch betting.

Form: 26140-7

(21)

Latoyah Of North^t²⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: Gary Carroll| T: M Mulvany| OR: 84

22/1

Proved herself a determined handicapper last season after switching from national hunt; well held in Group 3 at Gowran Park when last spotted but trip/ground fine on return. No real wriggle room from this mark but will run her race if fit enough.

Form: 735380-

(11)

Tartlette²¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: N G McCullagh| T: S Crawley| OR: 83

11/1

Didn't achieve much in seven starts in the UK for Hughie Morrison but she readily won both starts at Dundalk (1m2½f) after switching to this yard. She's up 13lb after a layoff and in a fiercely competitive heat returning to turf.

Form: 562411-

(12)

Lynwood Gold⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 82

7/2

Ex-Mark Johnston-inmate well held in three Flat starts after joining this yard (fourth behind Melburnian middle run); off the mark third time of asking in maiden hurdles at Navan in March and returns to the Flat with trainer/jockey in fine fettle.

Form: 539/046-

(3)

Shamad²⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: Sean Davis| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 80| CD

14/1

Ex-Dermot Weld runner suddenly found his mojo last summer and won four times in five starts in Ireland/UK; including over C&D. Tailed off here in Cesarewitch (2m, soft) when last out and career-best effort demanded in this company.

Form: 141110-

(6)

Sheisdiesel¹¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: Chris Hayes| T: N Meade| OR: 80| BF| D

20/1

Reserve; standing dish around Dundalk in recent years (six wins there) and worth recalling she was second in 1m2f handicap in May last year from a 4lb higher mark. Stays this far and not discounted if she gets in.

Form: 254-344

(17)

The Mouse Doctor^t¹³³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-8| J: A J Slattery⁽⁵⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 80| D

18/1

Reserve; placed behind Arthurian Flame at Leopardstown over this trip in May 2019; versatile sort also won at Dundalk in December and over hurdles at Musselburgh in January. Always capable of a big effort.

Form: 308441-

Non-Runners

(15)

Melburnian²³¹

Weight: 8-13| Age: 5

T: A J Martin J: J A Heffernan

(7)

War Diary³¹⁶

Weight: 8-12| Age: 5

T: M Halford J: Ronan Whelan

(5)

Tudor City²⁴⁶

Weight: 8-9| Age: 8

T: A J Martin J: K J Leonard

(1)

Guinevere¹⁴¹

Weight: 8-6| Age: 4

T: R P Cody J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Verimli (10/3), Lynwood Gold (7/2), War Diary (11/2), Melburnian (6/1), Tartlette (11/1), Lariat (11/1), Edification (14/1), Kasperenko (14/1), Shamad (14/1), King's Vow (14/1), The Mouse Doctor (18/1), Sheisdiesel (20/1), Mother Vincent (20/1), Latoyah Of North (22/1), Jon Ess (22/1), Arthurian Fame (25/1), Tudor City (25/1), Guinevere (25/1), Machine Learner (33/1), Magnetic North (33/1), Major Reward (50/1)

Joseph O'Brien has the top three on the racecard and each is interesting. King's Vow will need a proper stamina test down in distance, while any money for smart-looking French import Verimli would be notable. There's a plethora of dangers lurking down the weights and perhaps lightly-raced C&D winner WAR DIARY will make further strides forward having joined the Mick Halford team. He's got plenty scope for better and gets a tentative vote. Melburnian ended last season on the up and commands respect while the likes of Major Reward and Lariat are very much worth watching starting for new connections.