18:15 Leopardstown

Thursday 16 July 2020

All16:1516:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:15

Leopardstown Handicap

Off time: 18:16 | Winning time: 2m 11.11s

(5)

Freescape^p¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: D W O'Connor⁽³⁾| T: D Marnane| OR: 95

33/1

Has yet to win a race on turf and not showing as if that will chance this year (despite being fifth in a Group 1). Beaten 13L in Listed contest at the Curragh (1m) last time and significantly gives weight all-round.

Form: 576500

(17)

Strongbowe³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: W J Lee| T: P Twomey| OR: 87

11/4

Siyouni gelding who has shown significant promise in two starts, getting off the mark in good style at Roscommon (7f) last month. Opening mark is lofty enough but could be anything. Shortlisted.

Form: 3-1

(12)

Sky Seven²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: S Foley| T: M Halford| OR: 86

8/1

Yet to win on turf but showing some signs of that changing. Looked in need of step up to this trip when 5L fifth at Gowran (1m1f) in June and goes off the same mark in this. Place appeal.

Form: 44220-5

(1)

Multamis²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 85| D

20/1

Formerly trained in Britain by Owen Burrows. Some signs of promise but ultimately petered out when 8L 11th on stable debut at Gowran (1m1f) last month. Of some interest when further down in the handicap.

Form: 61615-0

(7)

Ideal Pal⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Gary Carroll| T: M Mulvany| OR: 83| D

20/1

In generally good form of late, winning at Gowran before third behind very smart sort in 1m1f handicap here last month. Excuses latest. No shock if he bounces back in this.

Form: 644-130

(10)

Akhlaaq^h,t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Robbie Colgan| T: A J Martin| OR: 82

18/1

Yet to go on since maiden victory in 2016 when trained in Britain. Career blighted by setbacks and didn't fare too badly when 7L sixth at Gowran (1m1f) on first run for 631 days. Might be vulnerable to 'bounce' factor.

Form: 14448/6

(2)

Hamley^b¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Ben Coen⁽³⁾| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 82| D

12/1

Fruitless campaign last term and regressive sort this year. Much more needed on latest 13L defeat at Cork (1m4f) and steps back in trip in bid for revival.

Form: 4076-80

(4)

Innamorare^t1²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Chris Hayes| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 82| C

11/1

Dundalk handicap winner in November and showed some signs of her best form when fifth behind smart rival in 1m1f handicap at this venue last month. Still 4lb above last winning mark which is some concern.

Form: 00147-5

(8)

Centroid¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: O J Orr| T: D K Weld| OR: 81| CD

8/1

C&D maiden winner last term but hasn't gone on since. Possibly in need of the effort when beaten 8L at the Curragh (1m2f) last month and does represent top connections. Not without hope.

Form: 14/0

(6)

Aared^t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: S T McCullagh⁽⁵⁾| T: K Prendergast| OR: 80| C| D

28/1

Last win came back in 2018 and might have been feeling the effects of long lay-off when 9L 13th at the Curragh (1m2f) last month. Needs a bounce back but evidently does have ability.

Form: 150/0-80

(16)

Contrapposto⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Adrian O'Shea⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs A M O'Shea| OR: 79

14/1

Running with credit and hitting the frame in handicap company twice this season. Well out of his depth in Listed company in atrocious conditions at Roscommon (1m4f) last time. This is more his level.

Form: 008-446

(15)

Welcoming²³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: G Bourke⁽⁷⁾| T: L Comer| OR: 79

100/1

Handicap winner on final start for Mark Johnston in Britain, but didn't fare too well when tailed off in Dundalk handicap (1m) on first start for this yard. Others offer more appealing claims.

Form: 237610-

(14)

Mohtarrif^h²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 78| BF

16/1

Sole win came when trained by Marcus Tregoning in Britain but hasn't ran to market expectations for this yard in two starts. More needed on 13L 12th at Gowran (1m1f) last time.

Form: 418-00

(3)

Rocky Blue¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: J M Sheridan⁽⁷⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 76| C

7/2

A fine performer on the Flat and jumps. Last won on the level in 1m Naas handicap in September 2018 before Grade 2 Hurdle victory. Fine comeback when second in 1m5f Sligo handicap this month but has 5lb rise to contend with.

Form: 62221/2

(11)

Sayesse²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: T P Madden| T: N C Kelly| OR: 73

66/1

One of the most exposed in the field and latest win came a Dundalk (1m4f) in March. No show when beaten 35L at the Curragh (1m) on return but this trip should suit better. Still needs more though.

Form: 243710

Non-Runners

(9)

Spruce Meadows¹⁸

Weight: 9-1| Age: 7

T: J Feane J: G M Ryan

(13)

Globe Theatre²⁶⁵

Weight: 8-13| Age: 4

T: J P O'Brien J: E Greatrex

Forecasts

Strongbowe (11/4), Rocky Blue (7/2), Globe Theatre (7/1), Centroid (8/1), Sky Seven (8/1), Innamorare (11/1), Hamley (12/1), Spruce Meadows (12/1), Contrapposto (14/1), Mohtarrif (16/1), Akhlaaq (18/1), Multamis (20/1), Ideal Pal (20/1), Aared (28/1), Freescape (33/1), Sayesse (66/1), Welcoming (100/1)

A tough-looking handicap which could throw up multiple results, preference is for IDEAL PAL to return to winning ways. There were viable excuses when he was bottomed out in near-unraceable conditions at Roscommon last time and while more is needed off his mark, his form ties in with Group-race performers, which sets the standard. Strongbowe is the least exposed and impressed with his maiden victory last time and the handicapper has marked him as one with obvious ability, while to the bottom of the weights, Rocky Blue has good handicap form to his name and his weights rise is cancelled out by a useful 7lb claims and Centroid should strip fitter for this after his modest reappearance.