17:15 Curragh

Sunday 28 June 2020

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

Equine MediRecord Handicap

Off time: 17:17 | Winning time: 2m 11.97s

(5)

Njord^t¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 88| C

10/1

Highly progressive last summer when landing back-to-back handicaps on last two starts. Not as good with 10L defeat on seasonal return over 1m here and needs more off current high mark. Up in trip.

Form: 42311-0

(3)

Lariat^p1¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Gavin Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 85

11/1

String of useful form early last season for Andrew balding before tailing off towards the latter stages. Folded tamely over 1m4f at this venue on stable debut, but down in trip is a plus and good effort could come sooner rather than later.

Form: 22464-0

(4)

Magnetic North¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Robbie Colgan| T: S Lavery| OR: 84| D

33/1

Losing run dates back nearly a year now and was very poor on seasonal return when eased down 25L 16th in 1m4f handicap at this venue. Down in trip but plenty more is needed.

Form: 00978-0

(17)

Dalileo¹²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Shane Kelly⁽³⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 83| D

8/1

Yet to win since switching to this yard and has been in and out of form. Put up poor performance when 10th of 14 at Dundalk (2m) when last seen in February. Can go well fresh however so has some place claims.

Form: 32715-0

(6)

Roibeard^t¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Wayne Lordan| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 83| D

15/2

Has performed well over C&D in the past before being blighted by injuries. Ran creditably with narrow third at Gowran (1m1f) nine days ago off hefty layoff. Up 2lb but should be in the mix once more.

Form: 5470/1-3

(10)

Aared¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: Scott McCullagh⁽⁵⁾| T: K Prendergast| OR: 82| CD

14/1

Last win came in C&D handicap in 2018 but has looked difficult to train. Returned from mammoth absence with 3L defeat at Gowran (1m1f) this month and could be thereabouts if that hasn't taken much out of him.

Form: 4150/0-8

(9)

Bring Us Paradise²⁹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Rory Cleary| T: L Comer| OR: 82

40/1

Had a profitable campaign in Britain last summer notching up three wins and two placed efforts, including easy 4L success over extended 1m at Epsom when last seen. Since switched yards but entitled to go well.

Form: 6/21131-

(18)

Centroid⁶⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Andrew Slattery⁽⁵⁾| T: D K Weld| OR: 82| BF| D

16/1

Very lightly-raced considering his age. Won debut effort easily before 13L fourth of five in 1m4f Naas race in September 2018. Not seen since and subsequently gelded. Best watched on significant return from layoff.

Form: 14/

(15)

Aussie Valentine^p,t¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-6| J: S M Mooney⁽⁷⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 80| C| D

33/1

Formerly useful handicapper who has been slipping down the ladder lately, but posted two decent efforts this season including 4L defeat at Gowran (1m1f) last time. That form is not good enough to merit consideration here, however.

Form: 720-959

(16)

Sheisdiesel^b¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Colin Keane| T: N Meade| OR: 79

14/1

Landed four on the bounce in early 2019 but yet to taste victory since. Hampered badly when well beaten in 1m4f handicap here this month. Not discounted on best form but needs a mini-revival now.

Form: 54-3440

(7)

Contrapposto¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Adrian O'Shea⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs A M O'Shea| OR: 78

12/1

On a long losing run but seems to outrun his odds on most occasions, including when close-up fourth of 15 in Fairyhouse handicap (1m4f) 13 days ago. Up 1lb for that however and needs to find some consistency.

Form: 44008-4

(19)

Golden Valour¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Ronan Whelan| T: R O'Brien| OR: 78

11/2

Mainstay at Dundalk recently, winning there in March. Not beaten far into sixth at Navan (1m, good to firm) this month and proven at this trip. Place claims.

Form: 2518-16

(8)

Spruce Meadows^p¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: S M Crosse⁽³⁾| T: J Feane| OR: 78| D

25/1

Useful sort in the past who has won off higher marks. Not the same force recently but outran odds when 2L fifth at Gowran (1m1f, good) this month. This is a much tougher ask, though.

Form: 62070-5

(13)

Excelcius¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: J M Sheridan⁽⁷⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 75

25/1

Only won once in relatively light career so far and looked well placed off current mark to run well before bombing out at Gowran (1m1f) this month. Dropped 1lb but rivals likely have the measure of him.

Form: 74433-0

(12)

Will Be King^t¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Chris Hayes| T: G O'Leary| OR: 75| D

11/1

Looked to be found out but has had new lease of life recently, winning penultimate start before impressive 2L victory at Roscommon (1m2f) on stable debut. 9lb suggests handicapper is taking no chances but still open to improvement.

Form: 297811

(2)

Defilade¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Sean Davis| T: J Feane| OR: 74

33/1

Four-race maiden whose best effort came when second on second start. Not as good afterwards, including 7L defeat in 1m1f Gowran maiden last time. Workable opening mark but this looks a tough ask.

Form: 0/27-6

(11)

Yenillik¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Billy Lee| T: W McCreery| OR: 74

15/2

Still a maiden after ten starts but getting the hang of things, including when 4L runner-up at Gowran (1m1f) nine days ago. May come on for that effort and given likeable opening mark. Considered.

Form: 42460-2

(1)

Grace To Grace²⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Mikey Sheehy⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 66

18/1

Had become a source of frustration but belatedly off the mark at the 12th attempt with 4L victory at Galway (1m4f) in October. Up 11lb but on the shortlist if sneaking in.

Form: 548631-

Non-Runners

(14)

Hamley¹¹

Weight: 9-10| Age: 7

T: Peter Fahey J: Ben Coen

(20)

Qaabil¹¹

Weight: 8-12| Age: 4

T: Peter Fahey J: Reserve 1

Forecasts

Golden Valour (11/2), Roibeard (15/2), Yenillik (15/2), Dalileo (8/1), Njord (10/1), Will Be King (11/1), Lariat (11/1), Contrapposto (12/1), Aared (14/1), Sheisdiesel (14/1), Hamley (14/1), Centroid (16/1), Grace To Grace (18/1), Excelcius (25/1), Spruce Meadows (25/1), Qaabil (25/1), Aussie Valentine (33/1), Defilade (33/1), Magnetic North (33/1), Bring Us Paradise (40/1)

A very tough handicap the get the gauges of, preference is for ROIBEARD to come to fruition in a career blighted by injuries. The seven-year-old has proven to be effective at this distance in the past and was narrowly denied on his return. The rise in the handicap isn't enough to be deterred from him putting in another solid effort. The same can be applied to Aared, who fared better than the result suggested on his comeback from a lengthy absence and has the help of a 5lb claimer on board. Will Be King has shown signs of significant progression but the handicapper may have his measure now, while the likes of Dalileo and Lariat cannot be ignored given their yard's hot form this season.