17:25 Curragh

Saturday 26 June 2021

All14:0014:3015:0515:4516:2016:5017:2517:55

Dubai Duty Free Handicap

Off time: 17:26 | Winning time: 1m 40.59s

(15)

Agitare²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 95

18/1

3 lengths seventh of 9 to Reve De Vol in listed race at this course (10f, soft, 22/1) 24 days ago, hampered. Should continue in form, but others look to have more in hand.

Form: 6-04007

(5)

Nebo^p,t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: J M Sheridan⁽⁵⁾| T: T Hogan| OR: 95| D

66/1

33/1, 18¼ lengths eleventh of 12 to Dream Tale in handicap at Limerick (8f, good) 14 days ago. Cheekpieces back on. Bit to prove at present.

Form: 70689-0

(7)

Bopedro^p³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 92| CD

6/1

C&D winner. Latest win at Cork in April. 10/1, bit below form tenth of 16 in handicap at this C&D (heavy) 34 days ago. Not totally discounted.

Form: 8000-10

(1)

Bucky Larson²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Sam Ewing⁽⁵⁾| T: G M Lyons| OR: 92| D

18/1

12/1, creditable 3 lengths fourth of 12 to He Knows No Fear in handicap at Leopardstown (9f) 23 days ago, faring best of those ridden prominently. One to consider with useful claimer taking over.

Form: 47051-4

(11)

Rebel Tale¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: A J Slattery⁽³⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 91

125/1

Last of 14 in handicap at Gowran (7f, good, 50/1) 19 days ago. Has work to do.

Form: 06490-0

(3)

He Knows No Fear²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Gary Halpin| T: L Comer| OR: 89| D

22/1

Won 12-runner handicap (11/1) at Leopardstown (9f, good) 23 days ago. Follow-up bid should prove much tougher.

Form: 9-07061

(13)

Eagle's Flight^t²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 86| D

10/1

1 win from 3 runs this year. 17/2, career best when winning 19-runner handicap at Leopardstown (8f, good) 23 days ago by ¾ length from Dream Tale. Stable having good spell. Can make presence felt.

Form: 414-731

(10)

Alhaazm⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Chris Hayes| T: K Prendergast| OR: 85| D

16/1

2 wins from 2 runs this year. 2/1, career best when winning 8-runner handicap at Dundalk (7f) 69 days ago. Obvious claims if he's equally effective back on turf.

Form: 8911-11

(4)

Juyush²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: S M Crosse| T: S Lynam| OR: 85| D

33/1

Latest win at Dundalk in December. 6¼ lengths ninth of 12 to He Knows No Fear in handicap (16/1) at Leopardstown (9f, good) 23 days ago. Not discounted returning to a more suitable trip.

Form: 5111-69

(17)

Hale Bopp⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 94| D

11/4

Promising sort. 9/2, career best when winning 15-runner handicap at Cork (8f, good) 50 days ago, keeping on well. That form has been boosted since and there's more to come, so leading claims.

Form: 412-1

(14)

Luke Short²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: T P Madden| T: N Meade| OR: 84| D

16/1

Respectable 4¼ lengths sixth of 12 to He Knows No Fear in handicap at Leopardstown (9f, good, 9/2) 23 days ago. Not discounted, but needs things to go his way.

Form: 510-306

(9)

Blue For You^p1⁶⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: O J Orr| T: D K Weld| OR: 93

22/1

Thrice-raced winner. 16/1, last of 6 in minor event at Cork (10.2f, good to firm) 64 days ago. Down in trip. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Gelded prior to this handicap debut and may yet improve.

Form: 61-6

(6)

Rebel Step^p²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Ben Coen| T: A Slattery| OR: 93| D

14/1

Third of 5 in minor event at Navan (8f, soft, 7/2) 27 days ago. Cheekpieces back on. Claims on his best form.

Form: 8-42203

(8)

Sirjack Thomas³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: C J MacRedmond⁽⁷⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 83| D

25/1

22/1, respectable sixth of 16 in handicap at this C&D (heavy) 34 days ago. Appears to be summed up by mark at present.

Form: 840-306

(2)

Dream Tale¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: L F Roche| T: A Oliver| OR: 81| D

9/1

Career best when winning 12-runner handicap (4/1) at Limerick (8f, good) 14 days ago, digging deep. Should continue to give a good account.

Form: 712921

(12)

Coill Na Sionainne⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: W J Lee| T: W McCreery| OR: 78| D

5/1

2 wins from 5 runs this year. Career best when winning 14-runner handicap at Leopardstown (8f, good to firm, 9/2) 9 days ago, driven out. One to consider.

Form: 0-31201

(16)

Castletownshend⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-6| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: T M Walsh| OR: 70| D

40/1

Bit below form tenth of 18 in handicap (22/1) at Naas (5.9f, soft) 49 days ago. Significantly back up in trip. Others preferred.

Form: 3977-00

Forecasts

Hale Bopp (11/4), Coill Na Sionainne (5/1), Bopedro (6/1), Dream Tale (9/1), Eagle's Flight (10/1), Rebel Step (14/1), Luke Short (16/1), Alhaazm (16/1), Bucky Larson (18/1), Agitare (18/1), He Knows No Fear (22/1), Blue For You (22/1), Sirjack Thomas (25/1), Juyush (33/1), Castletownshend (40/1), Nebo (66/1), Rebel Tale (125/1)

HALE BOPP ran out a convincing winner on handicap debut at Cork and the runner-up has completed a double subsequently, so there's every reason to think he can go in again provided a wide draw doesn't scupper him. Alhaazm also arrives firmly on the up, while Eagle's Flight is another one worthy of respect in a highly-competitive sprint.