15:45 Leopardstown

Saturday 11 July 2020

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

Leopardstown Handicap (45-75) (Div 1)

Off time: 15:49 | Winning time: 2m 40.77s

(14)

Copia Verborum^p1²⁹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: K J Manning| T: J J Lambe| OR: 75

100/1

Gives weight away all round on return from 298-day break. Modest strike-rate of just 1-14, but ran okay when narrowly beaten for fifth place at Galway (1m; soft). Steps back up in trip but hard to know what to expect on seasonal reappearance.

Form: 607006-

(7)

Share The Honour^t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 75| D

9/2

Been in quiet form on the flat since breakthrough win in 2018, but is subsequently just 1lb above last winning mark. Only midfield at Fairyhouse (1m4f; good to firm) recently but it would be interesting if there is support in the market for him.

Form: 6/3895-7

(12)

Maunganui¹⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: R Coakley| T: D Cullen| OR: 72

50/1

Form tailed off after he won at Down Royal (1m4f; soft) and started 2020 in the worst possible way when failing to beat a single rival at Dundalk (1m2f; standard). Subsequently eased down and this is his first run for 176 days. Risky proposition.

Form: 00137-0

(16)

Wooster^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: O J Orr| T: N C Kelly| OR: 72| D

28/1

11lb lower mark on turf than on AW but he was beaten a long way when 17th of 18 at the Curragh (1m4f; good) on seasonal debut. Yet to win in 12 starts on the grass so difficult to make a convincing case for.

Form: 3080/4-0

(17)

Royal Admiral^v²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: S M Mooney⁽⁷⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 71

66/1

Trio of duck eggs beside his name after failing to kick on from an encouraging effort on the AW at Dundalk (1m2f; standard) in November. Still doesn't look obviously well treated and a watching brief is advised for now.

Form: 8530-00

(15)

Ultra Pride²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Robbie Colgan| T: S Lavery| OR: 71

7/2

Doesn't win very often but posted a solid return to action when placed at Fairyhouse (1m4f; good) last month. Yard/jockey form is a concern but recent performances entitle him to at least be thereabouts.

Form: 13256-3

(9)

Wilderness^v¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Ben Coen⁽³⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 71

11/4

Bids for a hat-trick (fourth win in five starts) and is unbeaten this year (2-2). Justified strong market support (11/8f) to win at Roscommon (1m2f; yielding) when last seen. Up 6lb but step up to 1m4f may unlock further improvement.

Form: 7010-11

(6)

Falak^t⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Rory Cleary| T: J C McConnell| OR: 70

33/1

Always towards the tail end of the field when last of 10 at Bellewstown (2m1f; yielding) last week. Drops back to 1m4f and 5lb below last winning mark but plenty to prove given the manner of recent performances.

Form: 0/478-00

(10)

Pak Army^b¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: J M Sheridan⁽⁷⁾| T: J R Barry| OR: 70| D

11/2

Yet to win on turf in eight attempts and while he remains 13lb above his last winning mark, he is much more consistent than some of his rivals. Return to action was another likeable effort when third at Limerick (1m4f; good). On the scene.

Form: 425253

(2)

Mount Jannu¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Colin Keane| T: A J Martin| OR: 69

16/1

Ran to a similar level in all three starts in maidens, and was beaten a fair way on seasonal/stable debut at Limerick (1m4f; good) recently. Should appreciate the slight ease in grade, and while he does need to raise his game he has potential.

Form: 48-7

(3)

Spelga²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 69| D

11/1

Better horse on AW (3-5) than he is on turf (0-9). Ran slightly better than his finishing position suggests when ninth on seasonal reappearance at Fairyhouse (1m4f; good). Place claims if able to build on that.

Form: 41114-9

(8)

Futurum Regem²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: S M Crosse⁽³⁾| T: H P Finegan| OR: 68

16/1

0-8. Hard to say anything overly positive about his handicap debut effort when finishing in midfield at Fairyhouse (1m4f; good). Marked improvement required and he looks quite vulnerable so can be readily opposed.

Form: 068-7

(1)

Lets Get Started¹⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 67

33/1

Disappointed when last seen at the start of the year, but did run well in maidens twice before that. Now enters handicap sphere and should be more competitive in this grade but record of 0-10 would advise caution.

Form: 863-37

(5)

Sweet Affection^v1²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: A J Slattery⁽³⁾| T: D K Weld| OR: 55

20/1

Never involved on handicap debut at this track over 1m2f. Mark remains the same and she now steps up again in trip to 1m4f which she should get. Others have more proven form in the book.

Form: 64-80

(13)

Toughari²⁶³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Chris Hayes| T: T Mullins| OR: 61

25/1

Failed to show any significant promise in a trio of maidens (sent off at big prices on each start). Needs gelding operation and switch to handicap sphere to have a majorly positive effect and isn't one to follow until he shows more encouragement.

Form: 900-

(11)

Sweet Sixteen²⁵⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Wayne Lordan| T: M C Grassick| OR: 60

50/1

Changed hands for just 2,500gns after being tailed off at Kempton (7f; standard to slow) on the AW. Suffered a heavy defeat prior to that also so the change of scenery will need to have had a major revival on her.

Form: 34680-

Non-Runners

(4)

Kingdom Brunel²¹⁶

Weight: 9-7| Age: 5

T: T O'Brien J: S Foley

Forecasts

Wilderness (11/4), Ultra Pride (7/2), Share The Honour (9/2), Pak Army (11/2), Spelga (11/1), Futurum Regem (16/1), Mount Jannu (16/1), Sweet Affection (20/1), Toughari (25/1), Kingdom Brunel (25/1), Wooster (28/1), Falak (33/1), Lets Get Started (33/1), Maunganui (50/1), Sweet Sixteen (50/1), Royal Admiral (66/1), Copia Verborum (100/1)

A low grade affair in which a few can be quite easily ruled out given how much they have to prove. This looks quite a good opportunity for WILDERNESS to secure the hat-trick and notch a fourth career victory. A 6lb rise demands more but he shaped as though the step up to 1m4f would suit when staying on strongly over 1m2f last time. The consistent Pak Army looks vulnerable for win purposes but should go close after making the frame at Limerick last week. The remainder of the field have questions to answer but that does not apply to Ultra Pride but took a step back in the right direction when third at Fairyhouse on his seasonal reappearance.