17:00 Curragh

Sunday 17 July 2022

All13:4014:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0017:30

Finlay Volvo Handicap

Off time: 17:02 | Winning time: 1m 0.93s

(1)

Only Spoofing²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: J M Sheridan⁽³⁾| T: Kevin Coleman| OR: 84| D

7/2

Latest win at Musselburgh in June. Below form seventh of 18 in handicap at this C&D (soft, 25/1) 21 days ago. Needs to do more.

Form: 001317

(6)

One Sweet Day¹⁰⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Wayne Lordan| T: W P Browne| OR: 77

11/1

150/1, first run since leaving A. & G. Botti when 7 lengths ninth of 10 to Power Under Me in listed race at Cork (6f, good to soft). Off 105 days. Makes handicap debut. Something to find on form.

Form: 66178-9

(5)

Elanora^b²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Robbie Colgan| T: M C Grassick| OR: 73| D

6/1

20/1, twelfth of 16 in handicap at this course (6f, soft) 21 days ago. Others make more appeal.

Form: 31-2370

(7)

Are We Dreaming^v¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Billy Lee| T: W McCreery| OR: 74| D

3/1

6/5 and visored for 1st time, career best when winning 15-runner maiden at Bellewstown (5f, good to soft) 16 days ago, readily. Going the right way and appears to have been handed a fair opening mark.

Form: 3221

(9)

Dragons Call⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: K J Manning| T: J Feane| OR: 70| D

16/1

Unreliable sort. 18/1, last of 17 in handicap at this course (6f, good) 56 days ago. Others preferred.

Form: 3815-70

(12)

Mass Gathering^b,t¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Wesley Joyce⁽⁷⁾| T: J G Murray| OR: 68| D

6/1

Career best when winning 14-runner handicap at Bellewstown (5f, good to soft, 8/1) 16 days ago, readily. Obvious claims if she arrives in the same mood.

Form: 108631

(4)

Daintree^v⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Jamie Powell⁽⁷⁾| T: J G Coogan| OR: 69| D

12/1

Latest win at Dundalk in January. 22/1, creditable fourth of 11 in handicap at Navan (5f, good to firm) 8 days ago, slowly away. Respected.

Form: 168054

(11)

Tiny Bit^b¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Declan McDonogh| T: K P Cotter| OR: 68| D

10/1

Winner at Down Royal in June. 18/1, creditable fifth of 13 in handicap at Fairyhouse (6f, good to soft) 11 days ago. Worth considering.

Form: 400195

(2)

Realtin Fantasy⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Alan Persse⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Browne| OR: 62| D

33/1

20/1, career best when winning 17-runner maiden at Tipperary (5f, good to firm) 47 days ago, cosily. Had a bit to spare but, given her overall profile, she's not an obvious sort for the follow up.

Form: 0646-51

(8)

Un Bacio Ancora¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Leigh Roche| T: E & P Harty| OR: 64

25/1

18/1, respectable 4¾ lengths fifth of 15 to Are We Dreaming in maiden at Bellewstown (5f, good to soft) 16 days ago. Has work to do.

Form: 6-88305

(3)

Maggie Thunder^b⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Chris Hayes| T: P J F Hassett| OR: 58| D

11/1

Sixteen runs since last win in 2021. 28/1, ninth of 10 in handicap at Dundalk (5f) 5 days ago. Hard to make a solid case for.

Form: 305339

Non-Runners

(10)

Ecclesiastical¹⁶

Weight: 8-7| Age: 5

T: T G McCourt J: Robert Whearty

Forecasts

Are We Dreaming (3/1), Only Spoofing (7/2), Elanora (6/1), Mass Gathering (6/1), Tiny Bit (10/1), One Sweet Day (11/1), Maggie Thunder (11/1), Daintree (12/1), Dragons Call (16/1), Ecclesiastical (20/1), Un Bacio Ancora (25/1), Realtin Fantasy (33/1)

This race lacks depth and the lightly-raced ARE WE DREAMING gets the nod following a cosy first success in a maiden at Bellewstown 16 days ago. Mass Gathering, another last-time-out winner, looks a danger and Tiny Bit shouldn't be dismissed.