18:15 Curragh

Saturday 27 June 2020

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

Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire Handicap (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 18:19 | Winning time: 1m 23.33s

(7)

No Needs Never¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Mikey Sheehy⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 101| D

14/1

Listed winner at Dundalk as a juvenile but hasn't won since and finishing effort isn't always the strongest. Feasibly handicapped but well beaten twice already since the restart of racing.

Form: 5/2-2384

(9)

Psychedelic Funk^b²⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 100| D

12/1

Dual Group 3 winner who added a Listed race to his tally at Leopardstown when last seen in October. At his best with plenty of cut in the ground but on a workable mark and interesting from this sort of mark back in a handicap.

Form: 360641-

(11)

Quizical²⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Robbie Colgan| T: S Lavery| OR: 98| C| D

33/1

Career best when gaining his first career win at Leopardstown in October; course winner but drop back to this trip isn't ideal and opposable from a 5lb higher mark on return here.

Form: 841471-

(10)

Flash Gordon^b⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 96

12/1

Winner on debut in a Naas maiden and has run okay in Group/Listed company since including when second of eight at Naas on return (demoted to third). On a workable mark now returned to handicaps.

Form: 1330-0D

(16)

Current Option^h1¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Ronan Whelan| T: A McGuinness| OR: 94| D

13/2

Useful sprinter who won a valuable pot at Leopardstown in September. Shaped like he needed the run on his return (ran freely and faded late) but first-time hood could help him settle and he's interesting back down at this trip.

Form: 21221-0

(15)

Verhoyen^b⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Rory Cleary| T: M C Grassick| OR: 93| C

28/1

Two-time course winner including C&D and landed a valuable race over an extended 6f here in July. Showed he could be capable from this mark when narrowly denied back here in October and may have needed the run on return at Naas.

Form: 42172-7

(5)

Titanium Sky⁹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Andrew Slattery⁽⁵⁾| T: D K Weld| OR: 91| D

33/1

Maiden winner at Leopardstown and not beaten far in a Listed race at the Galway Festival last year. Showed very little at Naas when last seen in March and doesn't look particularly well handicapped.

Form: 28304-0

(3)

Colfer Me^b¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Billy Lee| T: K J Condon| OR: 90| D

14/1

Losing run is mounting up but he was an excellent second in a competitive course handicap (1m) on return earlier this month on debut for this yard. Fascinating if he comes on for that and handicapper has generously left him on the same mark.

Form: 04080-2

(14)

Tommy Taylor¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: D W O'Connor⁽³⁾| T: J F Levins| OR: 88| D

9/1

Useful performer but hasn't won since landing a Listed event at York in 2017; has hit the frame in three of his four starts for this yard though and lurking on a very dangerous mark; any ease in the ground should help.

Form: 842-262

(17)

Katiymann^p,t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: A J Farragher⁽⁷⁾| T: M Halford| OR: 87| D

33/1

Just one win since 2017 and well beaten on his return here 15 days ago; 5lb above last winning mark and others preferred.

Form: 25276-0

(2)

Big Baby Bull^t⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: J M Sheridan⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 86| D

11/1

Won twice as a juvenile; beaten a long way in two starts last year but produced a very encouraging effort on debut for this yard at Leopardstown on Sunday; should go well if he comes on for that run.

Form: 621/55-4

(18)

Cyrus Dallin¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: James J Doyle| T: D Hogan| OR: 85| D

22/1

At his best on soft ground, as seen when winning twice last year; ran well on his return but probably wants more ease in the going than he will get here and still well above his last winning mark.

Form: 12154-4

(13)

Ice Cold In Alex^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Chris Hayes| T: K J Condon| OR: 85| CD

4/1

Dual course winner (including C&D) who was a model of consistency last year, hitting the frame in most of his starts. Picked up where he left off with a solid fourth of 14 here 15 days ago and likely one of these will come his way at some point.

Form: 32343-4

(4)

Romantic Proposal²⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Wayne Lordan| T: E Lynam| OR: 83| D

6/1

Won a Cork maiden on fifth start and landed a handicap back at that course next time out. May have her work cut out from her revised mark on her return here.

Form: 322411-

(12)

Royal Highness¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 82| D

16/1

Dundalk maiden winner in December and posted two promising efforts in handicaps subsequently. Posted a big run on her return at Gowran and leading claims if she comes on for that.

Form: 2321-32

(6)

Dragons Call¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Sean Davis| T: J Feane| OR: 81| D

66/1

Won a Limerick handicap last year but she's struggled badly from her revised mark since and failed to beat a rival home on her return at Limerick latest.

Form: 91480-7

(8)

Opening Verse^t⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Killian Leonard| T: J J Murphy| OR: 81| D

66/1

Winner on debut and won a competitive maiden next time out but has failed to progress from that and well beaten on handicap debut last time.

Form: 6137-0

(1)

Peshkova^p¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: C P Hoban| T: R P Cody| OR: 69| D

80/1

Handicap winner at Cork last year but she's been well beaten in four starts since and well out of the handicap here; others preferred.

Form: 4150-65

Forecasts

Ice Cold In Alex (4/1), Romantic Proposal (6/1), Current Option (13/2), Tommy Taylor (9/1), Big Baby Bull (11/1), Flash Gordon (12/1), Psychedelic Funk (12/1), No Needs Never (14/1), Colfer Me (14/1), Royal Highness (16/1), Cyrus Dallin (22/1), Verhoyen (28/1), Titanium Sky (33/1), Katiymann (33/1), Quizical (33/1), Opening Verse (66/1), Dragons Call (66/1), Peshkova (80/1)

TOMMY TAYLOR has been in good form this year and it's probably only a matter of time before he gets his head back in front from this sort of handicap mark. Current Option should come on for his comeback run while Royal Highness looks a progressive runner and completes the shortlist.