18:15 Curragh

Friday 10 July 2020

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

Sky Bet Handicap (45-65) (Div 2)

Off time: 18:18 | Winning time: 2m 43.84s

(2)

Nam¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: D J Mullins| T: T Mullins| OR: 64

5/1

Handicap winner last term. Caught the eye when making good headway to take fourth in 1m Naas handicap on seasonal return. Off the same mark in this and may be more to come at this trip. Claims.

Form: 61050-4

(19)

Universal Focus^b²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Gary Carroll| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 64| D

20/1

Meagre record of 3-38. Entitled to have needed the effort but poor when 9L eighth at Fairyhouse (1m4f, good) in June. Eased since but others have more pressing claims.

Form: 31300-8

(1)

Place Des Vosges¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Gavin Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: M Fahey| OR: 60

3/1

Remains a maiden in both Ireland and the UK. Progressing with this yard however and put up solid performance when second in extended 1m5f handicap at Fairyhouse last month. Likely to be thereabouts once again.

Form: 79/90-52

(10)

A Few Bob Short^t²⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: J M Sheridan⁽⁷⁾| T: S K Ryder| OR: 59| D

12/1

Much progressive at the end of last term, winning at Thurles (1m4f) before being disqualified from winning position at Galway (1m4f) in October. Not seen since but does go well fresh. Leading claims.

Form: 3/18511-

(13)

Guido Reni^t⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Robbie Colgan| T: K Thornton| OR: 59| BF

6/1

Useful handicap hurdler who is still looking to get off the mark in this sphere. Placed in both starts this term, including Naas (1m2f) latest, and likely to be in the frame once more. Each-way appeal.

Form: 5066/33

(7)

Tomahawk Kid^h1²⁷⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Katelyn Young⁽¹⁰⁾| T: L Young| OR: 58

33/1

On a barren losing streak and not much to shout about for this yard, including 16L defeat in 1m4f Thurles handicap when last seen in October. Best watched on seasonal return.

Form: 588050-

(21)

Future Gold⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Colin Keane| T: T Mullins| OR: 54

7/1

Yet to hit the frame in eight career starts but did fare better when 4L fifth in 1m2f Fairyhouse handicap five days ago. Eased 1lb since and weighted to go well this time.

Form: 000-075

(9)

Cactus Tree¹²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: D N Curran⁽¹⁰⁾| T: M C Grassick| OR: 52

50/1

12-race maiden who hasn't been entirely discredited, but was poor when last seen finishing 11th at Dundalk (1m) in March. Drastically up in trip for this race. Others preferred.

Form: 79380-0

(12)

Der Mc¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Shane Foley| T: P A Fahy| OR: 50

20/1

Long standing maiden on the Flat, with latest effort coming when 15L 11th at Dundalk (1m4f) in November. Fell over hurdles since and has very tough task on comeback effort.

Form: 799000-

(16)

Bright Flame¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: W T Byrne⁽⁷⁾| T: W J Martin| OR: 48

20/1

Very lightly raced for his age, but outran 50/1 odds on handicap debut when 6L fifth at Navan (1m5f) in late June. Will need more to hit the frame but not entirely without hope.

Form: 000-5

(14)

Lizard Point⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: C P Hoban| T: P J Flynn| OR: 48

28/1

Without a victory in 31 starts on turf and not really threatening to end that. Well held behind Noble Intention at Naas (1m2f) previously and likely to he held by that rival once again.

Form: 3070-07

(8)

Arcland³⁰⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Chris Hayes| T: H Rogers| OR: 47

20/1

Has shown some promise in this company, including when third at Killarney on penultimate start, but bombed out with 19L defeat at Navan (1m2f) last time. Needs a bounce back on seasonal return.

Form: 706630-

(6)

Pegasus Bridge^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Nicole Smyth⁽¹⁰⁾| T: L Lennon| OR: 47

25/1

Belatedly off the mark at Dundalk in February. Struggled greatly since however and spell over hurdles last time yielded nothing. Readily opposed compared to rivals.

Form: 9-01060

(4)

Caronda¹¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Ronan Whelan| T: T Doyle| OR: 45

25/1

Without a win in 20 career starts but arguable ran career best when narrow fourth in 1m4f Dundalk handicap last time. Off the same mark in this and looks well placed to belatedly get off the mark.

Form: 37-7294

(5)

Leahman¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁵⁾| T: T O'Brien| OR: 45

3/1

Yet to really show much in the handicapping sphere. Never threatened when 6L seventh in 1m5f Navan handicap last month and likely to be vulnerable to improvers in this.

Form: 0/0998-7

(3)

Vivalicious²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: P F McEnery| OR: 50

50/1

First reserve. Still a maiden after eight career starts and was never nearer when 5L sixth in 1m1f Gowran handicap last month. Plenty more required in this.

Form: 0/6690-6

Non-Runners

(17)

King Christophe²¹

Weight: 9-10| Age: 8

T: Peter Fahey J: O J Orr

(20)

Drummer⁷

Weight: 9-3| Age: 5

T: D Hogan J: James J Doyle

(18)

Noble Intention⁷

Weight: 9-3| Age: 6

T: A J Martin J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

(15)

Molly Kaye¹⁵

Weight: 10-0| Age: 7

T: S M Duffy J: Reserve 2

(11)

Eyeoweyou⁹

Weight: 9-0| Age: 4

T: K Thornton J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Place Des Vosges (3/1), Leahman (3/1), Nam (5/1), Guido Reni (6/1), Noble Intention (6/1), Future Gold (7/1), Drummer (8/1), A Few Bob Short (12/1), Arcland (20/1), Universal Focus (20/1), Der Mc (20/1), Bright Flame (20/1), Caronda (25/1), Pegasus Bridge (25/1), King Christophe (25/1), Lizard Point (28/1), Tomahawk Kid (33/1), Molly Kaye (33/1), Eyeoweyou (33/1), Vivalicious (50/1), Cactus Tree (50/1)

An average division of this handicap, A FEW BOB SHORT brings the best winning form to the fore and looks set to go well on his seasonal return. It should have been two wins from his last two starts bar his disqualification last time, but he has shown he is capable off his current mark and goes well fresh. Previous form lines clash again but this time Drummer is weighted to go better than Noble Intention, while the likes of Nam and Future Gold showed glimpses of finding their best form last time, and the step up to 1m4f could bring out the best in them.