15:45 Curragh

Sunday 28 June 2020

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:1516:4517:1517:45

Paddy Power Rockingham Handicap (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 15:47 | Winning time: 58.59s

(15)

Urban Beat⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Ben Coen⁽³⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 100| C| D

4/1

Listed winner last term and running well since. Solid defeat when fourth of eight behind smart sort at Navan (5f) on seasonal bow and should come on for that. Claims off top weight.

Form: 43533-4

(14)

Primo Uomo^t⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: J M Sheridan⁽⁷⁾| T: G O'Leary| OR: 93| CD

6/1

Hasn't won in over two years now but is generally reliable. Improved on seasonal bow when 3L second in 5f handicap at Tipperary this month. 7lb claimer should help. Place claims.

Form: 0296-82

(11)

Cityman^b¹⁶

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

20/1

Usually excels at 5f and last win came over this distance in Navan handicap last September. Not as good since and will need to improve on 7L 10th over 6f here on reappearance. Others make more appeal.

Form: 77168-0

(1)

Mid Winster^h1³⁰⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Paddy Harnett⁽⁷⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 89| CD

50/1

Two-time winner in lightly-raced career, landing Fairyhouse handicap (6f) last summer. Down the field in 5f York handicap when last seen and may find this trip too sharp on seasonal bow.

Form: 4/57180-

(5)

Jungle Jane⁹^{(ex 7)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: W J Lee| T: W McCreery| OR: 81| D

9/2

Mostly performed on the AW with some credit but stepped up form markedly when easy winner over 5f Tipperary handicap (yielding) nine days ago. Had some rivals behind her that day and looks handicapped to go well once more.

Form: 1/0565-1

(6)

Alfredo Arcano^h,t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: O J Orr| T: D Marnane| OR: 86| CD

33/1

Cracking performer on the AW at Dundalk, with last win coming there in December. Not as good in three starts since, including 6L defeat over 6f here last time. Has more on his plate today.

Form: 541-808

(4)

Maid Of Spirit^t¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Chris Hayes| T: K J Condon| OR: 82| C| D

6/1

Modest performer when trained in Britain by Clive Cox but took form to a new level when narrow winner of 6f handicap at this track on Irish Guineas weekend. Up 5lb but could have more to come still.

Form: 53160-1

(3)

Fridtjof Nansen^b¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: K P Cotter| OR: 81| C

12/1

Landed large-field handicap at this track in August but yet to win since. Returned with great credit though when narrow third behind Maid Of Spirit here (6f, good to firm) and now weighted to go better than that rival. Not without hope.

Form: 29500-3

(8)

Strong Johnson¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Colin Keane| T: K P Cotter| OR: 81| CD

5/2

Won his maiden over this trip during juvenile years and backed that up with strong victory over C&D two weeks ago. Hiked up 9lb for that success so may be in the grip of the handicapper.

Form: 21324-1

(7)

Aloysius Lilius^p⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: S Foley| T: G O'Leary| OR: 80| D

25/1

Was in consistent form over the winter, winning twice and placing twice, and wasn't disgraced on return to action when 6L sixth at Tipperary (5f, yielding) this month. This needs a career best though and may not reverse form with opposing rivals.

Form: 21-1336

(12)

Stanhope³⁰¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: Rory Cleary| T: J C McConnell| OR: 80| D

33/1

Only won twice in busy career to date and failed to land a telling blow on last two starts, including 18L defeat in 5f Cork handicap. Since switched yards but plenty to find on current miserable form.

Form: 064100-

(9)

Miacomet¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: T P Madden| T: J Davison| OR: 75| C| D

33/1

6f handicap winner at this venue last term and tends to give her running, but returned with poor 11th behind Maid Of Spirit here (6f) this month. Needs significant improvement on that.

Form: 13168-0

(2)

Lightning Charlie^e/s²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 8-6| J: M P Sheehy⁽⁷⁾| T: J Feane| OR: 73

40/1

In an out form in four starts since switching to this yard - winning twice - but offered a now show on turf last time out when 10th of 17 at Naas (6f). Faces toughest task of career to date and will need more.

Form: 43-1810

(13)

Not Now Zeb⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: A C Persse⁽⁷⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 78| D

50/1

Only one win to date so far and yet to really go on from that. Beaten 12L by Jungle Jane on reappearance at Tipperary (5f, yielding) and unlikely to reverse that form around. Best watched.

Form: 51566-0

Non-Runners

(10)

Alligator Alley²⁰

Weight: 9-12| Age: 3

T: J P O'Brien J: Declan McDonogh

Forecasts

Strong Johnson (5/2), Alligator Alley (3/1), Urban Beat (4/1), Jungle Jane (9/2), Maid Of Spirit (6/1), Primo Uomo (6/1), Fridtjof Nansen (12/1), Cityman (20/1), Aloysius Lilius (25/1), Stanhope (33/1), Miacomet (33/1), Alfredo Arcano (33/1), Lightning Charlie (40/1), Mid Winster (50/1), Not Now Zeb (50/1)

A typically strong yet difficult renewal of the Rockingham Handicap, plenty of form lines emerge together. Jungle Jane was an authoritative winner of a strong Tipperary handicap on her seasonal bow, in which Primo Uomo was in behind, and has the profile to go well once once again. The same can be said for Maid Of Spirit, but she looks less well-off compared to Fridtjof Nansen who was narrowly beaten by her that day. However, preference is for ALLIGATOR ALLEY, who still has the scope to be a top sprinter and drops into handicap company for this. He should be able to defy his lofty mark based on his previously impressive Group race form as a juvenile.