19:45 Curragh

Friday 10 July 2020

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

Sky Bet Ebor Trial Handicap (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 19:45 | Winning time: 3m 10.91s

(9)

Max Dynamite¹¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-10| J: Colin Keane| T: W P Mullins| OR: 103| D

28/1

Formerly a high-class flat stayer but downward spiral recently. Beaten 16L in Group 2 Long Distance Cup on most recent flat start and poor in three chase starts since. Unlikely to rediscover best touch anytime soon.

Form: 8/31038-

(7)

Trossachs¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 102| C

8/1

More than useful handicapper during productive campaign last season. Improved to be beaten only 5L in C&D Group 3 last time and still looks to be off capable mark in return to handicap company. Solid claims.

Form: 1323-45

(3)

Verimli²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Wayne Lordan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 100| BF

15/8

Three-time winner in France for Alain De Rouyer Dupre and classy sort. Entitled to have needed the run when 7L eighth in 1m4f handicap here last month after long absence. Very much of interest and unexposed on these shores.

Form: 1112-8

(1)

Mirann²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Ben Coen⁽³⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 98

7/2

French import. Got off to the perfect start when game winner of 1m1f Gowran Park handicap on Irish/stable debut last month. Hiked up 12lb for that and up to extreme trip but remains to be anything. Of interest.

Form: 215-1

(10)

King's Vow¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 96

25/1

Typically versatile sort who excels at Dundalk. Struggled giving weight away last time however in strong 2m handicap at this venue last month. Eased 1lb for this so not getting any handicap respite.

Form: 7-71190

(12)

Edification⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Shane Foley| T: M Fahey| OR: 92| C

16/1

Game winner of 1m4f handicap here in June but struggled off 7lb higher mark when 8L eighth at Navan (1m2f) last time. Plenty more required at this level.

Form: 4270-18

(8)

Morga¹⁹²

Age: 10| Weight: 8-10| J: Alan Persse⁽⁷⁾| T: D McDonogh| OR: 89| C

80/1

On a barren losing run and not seen on the flat since 24L defeat in Naas handicap (1m6f) in November. No show in two hurdle starts since and has a very tough task on her plate.

Form: 3/57470-

(4)

Lynwood Gold¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: T P Madden| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 86

13/2

Winner over hurdles during the winter and improved on seasonal bow when third behind Dalton Highway in 2m handicap here last month. Up 4lb for that so handicapper isn't taking a chance but respected.

Form: 9/046-63

(6)

Grandmaster Flash¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Mikey Sheehy⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 85

6/1

Generally ran well during the autumn/winter campaign last term but was a tame 13L seventh behind Dalton Highway at the Curragh (2m) latest start. May have needed that but slightly more needed now.

Form: 22122-7

(11)

Machine Learner^b²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-6| J: Leigh Roche| T: P Roche| OR: 84| D

22/1

Exposed handicapper in the UK and couldn't take advantage of fair mark when 9L 10th in 1m4f handicap at this venue last month. Eased 1lb since but bounce back required now.

Form: 72366-0

Non-Runners

(2)

Latrobe²⁸

Weight: 10-1| Age: 5

T: J P O'Brien J: S M Crosse

(5)

Dalton Highway¹²

Weight: 8-13| Age: 7

T: D K Weld J: Gavin Ryan

Forecasts

Verimli (15/8), Mirann (7/2), Dalton Highway (4/1), Grandmaster Flash (6/1), Lynwood Gold (13/2), Trossachs (8/1), Latrobe (8/1), Edification (16/1), Machine Learner (22/1), King's Vow (25/1), Max Dynamite (28/1), Morga (80/1)

It is expected that some of these types will turn up in the real Ebor in August, but TROSSACHS looks well-placed to land this valuable trial before heading to York. The four-year-old was by no means disgraced in Group company last time and with classy sort Latrobe - who will give his typical gutsy performance - condensing the weights in this, looks to have the ideal mark and could still be classy horse in time. The claim of Gavin Ryan means Dalton Highway is effectively racing off a 4lb higher mark, which could still be winnable terms if having more progression left in him, while Verimli remains severely unexposed on these shores and will have come on plenty for his recent effort.