20:30 Leopardstown

Thursday 7 July 2022

All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Belfield (Q.R.) Race

Off time: 20:30 | Winning time: 3m 30.28s

(7)

Okita Soushi^t²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr T Hamilton| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 106

4/5

Lightly-raced winner. 11/2, very good third of 16 in Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot (14.2f, good to firm) 23 days ago, doing much the best of those held up. The one to beat.

Form: 13-23

(1)

Takarengo^p¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr C Mullins⁽⁷⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 82| C

14/1

Fairly useful gelding. Course winner. Below form sixth of 14 in handicap (40/1) at the Curragh (12f, soft) 11 days ago. Back up in trip with lots more needed at these weights.

Form: 0007-66

(6)

True Destiny¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Anna McGuinness⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Lambe| OR: 87

80/1

Fairly useful gelding. Tongue strap/cheekpieces on for 1st time in this code, fifth of 6 in novice hurdle at Hexham (20.1f, good to soft, 5/1) 18 days ago. Hard to warm to.

Form: 821470-

(3)

Benkei^p²⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-5| J: Miss M Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: H Rogers| OR: 54

125/1

Modest gelding. Twenty six runs since last win in 2016. Good ninth of 18 in handicap at this C&D (good, 28/1) 28 days ago. Uphill task.

Form: 00-U089

(8)

Sandhurst⁴²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: M J M O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 107

3/1

Lightly-raced winner but off 14 months since excellent runner-up in the Chester Vase on his final run for Aidan O'Brien. Has the form to play a big part but he needs to hit the ground running.

Form: 31/62-

(2)

Shamad^p³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr J J O'Haire⁽⁷⁾| T: N Slevin| OR: 67

150/1

Fair gelding. Tenth of 13 in handicap hurdle (22/1) at Tramore (16.8f, good to soft) 33 days ago. Has plenty to find on form back in this sphere.

Form: 205009-

(5)

Shoshone Warrior^t²⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr J L Gleeson⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 94| C

7/2

Useful gelding. Eleven runs since last win in 2020. Twenty second of 30 in handicap at the Curragh (16f, soft, 50/1) 9 months ago. This course winner can't be dismissed.

Form: 636360-

Non-Runners

(4)

Shanroe²⁴⁹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 8

T: K Thornton J: Mr J C Barry

Forecasts

Okita Soushi (4/5), Sandhurst (3/1), Shoshone Warrior (7/2), Shanroe (6/1), Takarengo (14/1), True Destiny (80/1), Benkei (125/1), Shamad (150/1)

OKITA SOUSHI posted a very useful effort when third in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot and is confidently expected to resume winning ways here. Sandhurst has his first run for Jessica Harrington after a long absence but this former Chester Vase runner-up still warrants lots of respect, while Shoshone Warrior is another who needs considering after a lay-off.