17:15 Curragh

Saturday 27 June 2020

All16:1516:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:45

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Handicap

Off time: 17:17 | Winning time: 1m 11.68s

(13)

Dark Vader¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-2| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 92| D

17/2

Won three times on AW at Dundalk this winter but perhaps not quite as effective on turf. Well beaten in two runs since the restart and looks vulnerable to better handicapped sorts.

Form: 121240

(15)

For The Trees⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 10-0| J: Scott McCullagh⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 90| D

16/1

Made it two wins from eight starts at Naas in October but has struggled in two runs from a 7lb higher mark since. Step back up in trip will help but handicapper hasn't shown any sympathy and looks in need of an ease in the weights.

Form: 23319-7

(3)

Latin Five¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-0| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 90| CD

12/1

C&D winner in July but has gone backwards since and he was tailed off on his return here (7f); needs to come on markedly for that; drop in trip will help.

Form: 31803-0

(10)

Cool Vixen⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 88| D

20/1

Won her maiden on debut but well beaten here in two subsequent starts and her return at Tipperary wasn't particularly promising; bit to prove now but too soon to write her off.

Form: 149-0

(4)

In The Present^p1¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: T P Madden| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 87

40/1

Won her maiden at Dundalk over 7f but that form didn't work out and she's failed to beat a rival home in two subsequent starts this year; wears first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 2561-90

(18)

Never Before¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: E Greatrex| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 86

20/1

Maiden winner at Dundalk over 7f and only narrowly denied at Lingfield next time out; well beaten on return here though when fading quickly and drop in trip not certain to suit.

Form: 52-1240

(11)

The King Of Kells¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Gary Carroll| T: M Mulvany| OR: 86| CD

22/1

Won three handicaps here (two here, one C&D) and ran well from his new mark at Naas in March. Probably best to forgive his comeback run here 15 days ago (did too much too soon) and may be able to resume progress.

Form: 011-330

(14)

Elusive King^t¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Billy Lee| T: K J Condon| OR: 85| D

11/4

Heavy ground winner in a 22-runner maiden and not disgraced at Naas on handicap debut in similar conditions. Ran well when fifth of 17 here on return and any ease in conditions would help his cause.

Form: 51-45

(1)

Nullifier²⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 84

16/5

Off the mark at the third attempt in maiden company at Navan in October. Form of that race has worked out okay so has a decent chance from his opening mark here. Should improve for the step up in trip for a yard in form (yard won this last year).

Form: 631-

(17)

Big Gossey¹⁹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: M C Hussey| T: C O'Brien| OR: 82

14/1

Showed promise in maiden company and improved to win on his fourth start when landing an 11-runner race at Dundalk in good style; fair mark for handicap debut.

Form: 7221-

(5)

Flaming Moon²⁵¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Robbie Colgan| T: M J Smith| OR: 79| D

16/1

Promising effort on debut and followed up in a Navan maiden next time out. Beaten a long way on handicap debut last year but dropped 4lb and may do better.

Form: 216-

(19)

Hieroglyphic^t1¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 76

14/1

Promise in a pair of maidens prior to getting her head in front on her third start in a Dundalk maiden. Better than what she showed on her return here 15 days ago and could be on a nice mark; tongue-tie fitted.

Form: 221-0

(7)

Linus Larrabee^b¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Chris Hayes| T: E Lynam| OR: 74

20/1

Has shown promise in three Navan maidens without threatening to win. Should come on for his return at Navan when sixth of 18 but needs to eradicate slow starts since on his last two runs; may improve up at 6f.

Form: 57-6

(2)

Vormir¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Rory Cleary| T: F Birrane| OR: 74| D

80/1

Sole win came in claiming company; well beaten in three subsequent starts from this sort of mark in handicap company and others preferred.

Form: 1283-40

(8)

Lapses Linguae^h⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Wayne Lordan| T: E Mullins| OR: 73

80/1

A maiden after six starts and only beat one rival home on handicap debut when tailed off at Tipperary. Has looked reluctant to leave the stalls in her two previous starts and looks a risky proposition here.

Form: 63230-0

(6)

Taggalo²⁰⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: C P Hoban| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 70

14/1

Minor promise in a trio of maidens but needs to improve if she is to defy this opening mark; debut for new yard.

Form: 467-

(12)

Earls^v⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Andrew Slattery⁽⁵⁾| T: E Lynam| OR: 67

18/1

Yet to hit the frame in five starts but has posted a couple of encouraging efforts in handicap company; 1lb out the handicap here but yard do well with their sprinters and he can't be entirely ruled out.

Form: 6674-5

Non-Runners

(16)

Whoareyouanyway¹⁹⁷

Weight: 9-7| Age: 3

T: G M Lyons J: J P Shinnick

(9)

Elzaamone¹²

Weight: 8-6| Age: 3

T: Niall Egan J: Reserve 1

Forecasts

Elusive King (11/4), Nullifier (16/5), Dark Vader (17/2), Latin Five (12/1), Whoareyouanyway (12/1), Big Gossey (14/1), Taggalo (14/1), Hieroglyphic (14/1), Flaming Moon (16/1), For The Trees (16/1), Earls (18/1), Never Before (20/1), Linus Larrabee (20/1), Cool Vixen (20/1), The King Of Kells (22/1), Elzaamone (25/1), In The Present (40/1), Vormir (80/1), Lapses Linguae (80/1)

A typically competitive large field handicap but a chance is taken on HIEROGLYPHIC who is better than what she showed on her return here last time out and she ought to come on for that run. Nullifier represents last year's winning connections and he could be well handicapped for handicap debut. The King Of Kells goes well here and holds place claims.