20:00 Leopardstown

Wednesday 1 July 2020

All16:2516:5517:2517:5518:3019:0019:3020:00

Leopardstown Handicap (50-75)

Off time: 20:02 | Winning time: 1m 30.17s

(4)

Gee Rex⁵^{(ex 6)}

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 75| BF

5/4

Confirmed the promise of two runs this season when getting up in determined fashion at the Curragh on Friday (1m, good); must carry a penalty dropping to 7f now but obviously on good terms with himself.

Form: 830-821

(11)

Able Jack^p¹¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: D N Curran⁽¹⁰⁾| T: G O'Leary| OR: 75| D

22/1

Six-time winner but five of those on the AW; well held both runs in that sphere since joining current trainer in February; Sandown winner over this trip back in 2016 but hard to be enthused here despite big claim.

Form: 11-5377

(16)

Spiorad Saoirse²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Ben Coen⁽³⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 75| D

12/1

Has dropped to a very workable handicap mark but only ninth of 18 at Navan (1m, good to firm) last month on return from 110-day break; more demanded to stand chance now.

Form: 493-279

(12)

Ducky Mallon^t²²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: Chris Hayes| T: D Kinsella| OR: 74| C| D

18/1

Eight-time winner on turf, including in reappearance last season at Fairyhouse (7f, good to yielding) from 4lb lower mark; has won from higher mark and well worth a betting check coming back from his break.

Form: 206706-

(13)

Never Back Down¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: Gavin Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 74| D

12/1

Won four times in Britain for Hugo Palmer including at Listed level in May 2018; mixed back of efforts for this trainer, with best form on AW at Dundalk, resulting h'cap mark being in freefall.

Form: 5069-50

(2)

Lucky Number^p1⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Robbie Colgan| T: O McKiernan| OR: 73

20/1

Won over a mile at Bath last summer for William Haggas off a mark of 64; well held in both starts for this trainer so far including when 6L ninth of 18 behind Gee Rex at the Curragh on Friday. Cheekpieces tried now.

Form: 3128-09

(7)

Qaabil¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: O J Orr| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 72

50/1

Long-standing maiden whose career has been blighted by injuries. Offered very little on stable/seasonal debut when 11L 14th at Gowran (1m1f) last month. Plenty on his plate in this competitive event.

Form: 7624-30

(1)

Blue Wood^t1¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 71

5/1

Four-race maiden, offered something to work with when fourth in Roscommon maiden over this trip recently on first start for Mick Halford; tongue-tied on h'cap bow and needs to improve.

Form: 540-4

(3)

Jered Maddox¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Billy Lee| T: D Marnane| OR: 71| D

25/1

Winner of a weak Ffos Las maiden last summer (7½f, good to firm) but has mostly been going the wrong way in four subsequent starts; including wide-margin defeat on reappearance at Naas (7f, good to yielding) recently. Bit to prove currently.

Form: 51308-0

(14)

Oneiroi¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Leigh Roche| T: D Buckley| OR: 70

20/1

Seemed to improve for drop in trip when landing 5½f maiden at Navan in October on seventh start (yielding to soft); well held on reappearance at the Curragh over 5f last month and needs to prove himself at this trip before becoming of interest.

Form: 06018-8

(8)

Highly Approved¹⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Colin Keane| T: A McGuinness| OR: 66| D

14/1

Winner over a mile at Bellewstown last summer, sole success to date from 20 turf starts; very poor on reappearance here last season but gets on well with Colin Keane so a positive showing may be anticipated this time.

Form: 20-0080

(10)

Ellheidi^b¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Gary Halpin| T: P Roche| OR: 65

28/1

Ex-Karl Burke inmate couldn't get on the board in eight UK runs; outran odds of 80-1 on stable bow in a Gowran Park maiden (1m1½f, good) recently in first-time blinkers (fourth) but will need to improve on that again back in a h'cap.

Form: 7/5739-4

(6)

Starlight Red¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Sean Davis| T: L Breen| OR: 65

80/1

Sea The Star filly hasn't gone on from winning a classified stakes at Chepstow a year ago for Charlie Hills; held in two runs so far for this trainer and remains opposable.

Form: 019-0V7

(9)

Airgead¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs P Dobbs| OR: 62| C

10/1

Winner over a mile here last season on quick ground from 4lb lower mark; well held in two starts this season but doesn't have many miles on the clock.

Form: 0610-95

(5)

Rince Deireanach^p⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁵⁾| T: J J Lambe| OR: 51| C

40/1

Winner here over a mile in 2018 when trained by Jim Bolger; mixed fortunes and remains winless with this handler. Some promise on the AW in the spring but down the field on turf return at Naas (1m, good to yielding) a week ago.

Form: 97-6260

Non-Runners

(15)

Atlas¹⁰

Weight: 9-10| Age: 7

T: D Hogan J: J M Sheridan

Forecasts

Gee Rex (5/4), Blue Wood (5/1), Atlas (15/2), Airgead (10/1), Never Back Down (12/1), Spiorad Saoirse (12/1), Highly Approved (14/1), Ducky Mallon (18/1), Oneiroi (20/1), Lucky Number (20/1), Able Jack (22/1), Jered Maddox (25/1), Ellheidi (28/1), Rince Deireanach (40/1), Qaabil (50/1), Starlight Red (80/1)

Penalised Curragh winner Gee Rex isn't dismissed lightly but there may be something in here to take his measure. Ducky Mallon and Spiorad Saoirse return from breaks and both are capable of winning efforts this summer, while Highly Approved is presumably ready to roll with Colin Keane booked (figures of 212 together last year). ATLAS has gained both career turf wins around here and showed up well over C&D 10 days ago. Joey Sheridan's claim should give him decent prospects if he can stay in touch through the middle part of the race.