16:45 Leopardstown

Sunday 14 June 2020

All13:5514:3015:0015:3516:1016:4517:1517:45

Leopardstown Handicap

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 2m 11.35s

(5)

Sacramento^t²⁵²

Age: 3| Weight: 10-2| J: S M Crosse⁽³⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 82

10/1

Didn't progress from a promising debut here last August, but ran to a similar level twice thereafter, and likely to have more to offer in handicaps this season, with 1¼m likely to suit given how he shaped on final outing.

Form: 452-

(15)

Marchons Ensemble²⁵⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-1| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 81

13/2

Won a maiden at Bellewstown last term, but made little impact when switched to nurseries (blinkered once), and while he should improve at this trip, he has a bit to prove on balance.

Form: 21360-

(17)

Mythologic⁹³

Age: 3| Weight: 10-1| J: G M Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: Donnacha O'Brien| OR: 81

9/1

Beaten off lower marks in nurseries, but found some improvement to land a 1m handicap at Dundalk on debut for this yard, and is bred to stay further, so may not have reached his limit.

Form: 4664-31

(11)

Holy Roman Empress^h1²³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-0| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 80

5/1

Superbly bred, and improved for step up to 1m when fourth of 14 to Amma Grace in a heavy-ground maiden here in October. Worth a try at this trip despite mixed pedigree, and hooded for handicap debut.

Form: 044-

(21)

Juliet Rose⁸⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: M P Sheehy⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 78

25/1

Improved to land a 10-runner maiden at Dundalk (1m2½f) in March having made her debut only in January. Going the right way, and one of a trio of interesting runners from her stable.

Form: 821

(9)

Springbank²³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: Gary Halpin| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 78

8/1

Ran very well on debut when 2L third of 18 to Wichita at the Curragh in August. Bred to improve for this test, but a little disappointing that he failed to improve in a couple of subsequent runs last year. Has been gelded, which could help.

Form: 396-

(1)

Yulong Voice^p²⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 78

12/1

Won a maiden at Bellewstown in August, but could run just respectably in a couple of nurseries in the autumn, and others have a more progressive look.

Form: 30144-

(12)

China's Storm¹²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Luke McAteer⁽⁷⁾| T: A Mullins| OR: 77

20/1

All four runs at Dundalk, and he didn't need to improve when winning a 1m2½f maiden there on his latest start. Fairly treated, but not certain to step forward now entering handicaps.

Form: 75-21

(7)

Cardinal Rule⁸³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: C P Hoban| T: F J Flood| OR: 76

50/1

Has shown some ability in maidens, but could finish only eighth on his handicap debut at Naas in March. That came over 7f, and he is bred for much further, which offers a glimmer of hope.

Form: 557-8

(13)

Moll^t1¹⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: W J Lee| T: P Twomey| OR: 76

9/4

Gradually progressive for Mark Cahill, winning a 1m maiden at Dundalk in January. Makes debut for shrewd new connections here, wearing a tongue tie for the first time, and is bred to be fully effective at this trip.

Form: 062-1

(10)

Grey Serge²²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: R Coakley| T: J C McConnell| OR: 73

66/1

Fair maiden on the balance of his juvenile form, but below form on his final outing, and arguably needs testing ground to show his best form. Hard to fancy.

Form: 539856-

(8)

The Truant¹²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: T P Madden| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 72

20/1

Modest on balance but suited by step up in trip and produced best effort when neck third of 9 to China's Storm in a 1m2½f maiden at Dundalk last time. Will be as effective on turf, and not taken lightly.

Form: 5950-53

(6)

Perry Owens²³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 71

33/1

Kept on well when placed at Roscommon on debut last summer, but failed to improve on that in three further runs. Bred to do better this year, but has something to prove.

Form: 3669-

(2)

Shake A Leg²⁰⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Ben Coen⁽³⁾| T: A Oliver| OR: 70

28/1

Bit of promise on first start at Dundalk, but not built on that, and looked less than keen when mid-field there on final qualifying run. Easy to have reservations. Reserve 1

Form: 657-

Non-Runners

(19)

Mr Mooj¹³⁵

Weight: 10-0| Age: 3

T: J P O'Brien J: Declan McDonogh

(4)

Numberoneson²¹⁹

Weight: 10-0| Age: 3

T: J P O'Brien J: E Greatrex

(20)

Simply True²³⁹

Weight: 9-11| Age: 3

T: A Oliver J: Ronan Whelan

(16)

Silvertown²⁴³

Weight: 9-4| Age: 3

T: A Oliver J: Chris Hayes

(14)

Varna Gold⁸³

Weight: 9-4| Age: 3

T: P J Gilligan J: Robbie Colgan

(18)

Siradjan¹¹⁴

Weight: 9-2| Age: 3

T: D K Weld J: Reserve 2

(3)

Easca Peasca²⁰⁵

Weight: 9-2| Age: 3

T: J M Oxx J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Moll (9/4), Holy Roman Empress (5/1), Marchons Ensemble (13/2), Springbank (8/1), Mythologic (9/1), Sacramento (10/1), Simply True (10/1), Mr Mooj (10/1), Yulong Voice (12/1), Numberoneson (12/1), Silvertown (16/1), The Truant (20/1), China's Storm (20/1), Juliet Rose (25/1), Varna Gold (25/1), Shake A Leg (28/1), Perry Owens (33/1), Cardinal Rule (50/1), Easca Peasca (50/1), Siradjan (50/1), Grey Serge (66/1)

Most of these are bred to improve for middle distances and are low-mileage in handicaps, making it look a tough puzzle to solve. NUMBERONESON gets the tentative pick as one who has been steadily progressive and has a touch of class. Stablemate Juliet Rose and the impeccably-bred Holy Roman Empress are others to make appeal on paper, while The Truant took a step forward last time, and could go well at a bigger price.