15:55 Curragh

Saturday 24 September 2022

All13:0513:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

William Hill Joe McGrath Handicap (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 15:58 | Winning time: 1m 1.35s

(4)

Urban Beat^v⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 95| CD

16/1

C&D winner. 28/1, thirteenth of 17 in handicap at this course (6.3f, good to soft) 70 days ago, not ideally placed. Back down in trip. Visor back on. Chance if rediscovering old form.

Form: 38-8080

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(5)

Strong Johnson^t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Colin Keane| T: D Cullen| OR: 93| CD

9/2

3-time C&D winner. Respectable 3 lengths fifth of 10 to Tees Spirit in listed race at Tipperary (5f, good to firm, 8/1) 29 days ago. On a good mark back in a handicap. Has to be taken seriously.

Form: 703-345

(3)

Laugh A Minute¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Ronan Whelan| T: A McGuinness| OR: 92| CD

7/1

C&D winner. Good fourth of 20 in handicap at this course (6f, heavy, 12/1) 13 days ago. Heading back in the right direction recently.

Form: 080034

(6)

Master Matt^b,t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: S M Crosse| T: M J Smith| OR: 92| CD

18/1

25/1, bit below form seventh of 18 in handicap at Leopardstown (7f, soft) 14 days ago, finding test too much. Back down in trip.

Form: 400837

(2)

Thunder Eclipse^p¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: M A Enright| T: J A Stack| OR: 92

22/1

28/1, respectable seventh of 20 in handicap at this course (6f, heavy) 13 days ago. Yard in good form. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 28-5287

(8)

Gordon Bennett¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Gary Carroll| T: R Brabazon| OR: 90| BF| C

4/1

Course winner. Latest win here in August. Creditable fifth of 20 in handicap at this course (6f, heavy, 5/1) 13 days ago. Can give a good account.

Form: 528115

(11)

Only Spoofing²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: J M Sheridan⁽³⁾| T: Kevin Coleman| OR: 90| D

50/1

3 wins from 12 runs this year. Latest win at Musselburgh in July. 5 lengths sixth of 9 to Curraheen Princess in handicap at Navan (5f, good to soft, 14/1) 21 days ago. Not easy to make a case for.

Form: 727146

(1)

Chocquinto¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Andrew Slattery| T: Miss H McLoughlin| OR: 88| CD

66/1

C&D winner. Latest win at Tipperary in May. 200/1, 11¾ lengths eighteenth of 19 to Highfield Princess in Flying Five Stakes at this C&D (heavy) 13 days ago. hard to fancy.

Form: 136970

(15)

Dream Today^p,t¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: C J MacRedmond⁽⁵⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 88

25/1

Didn't need to improve to win 10-runner handicap (7/4) at Laytown (7f) 16 days ago, driven clear. 8lb higher now. Back down in trip. Tongue strap back on, cheekpieces back on.

Form: 404721

(12)

Curraheen Princess²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: James J Doyle| T: N Stokes| OR: 84| CD

11/4

C&D winner. Six wins from 17 Flat runs. 3 wins from 7 runs this year. 11/2, career best when winning 9-runner handicap at Navan (5f, good to soft) 21 days ago. Should go well.

Form: 112221

(16)

Shelly Banks^t⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Leigh Roche| T: E O'Connell| OR: 81| CD

20/1

C&D winner. Latest win at Tipperary in April. Last of 6 in minor event at Tipperary (5f, good to firm, 9/1) 50 days ago, missing break.

Form: 100546

(13)

Pretty Boy Floyd^v¹²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: Mrs S Dawson| OR: 80| CD

20/1

C&D winner. 33/1, sixteenth of 18 in handicap at this course (6f, good). Off 125 days. Visor back on. E

Form: 0-64400

(10)

Iva Batt^p¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Wayne Lordan| T: J G Murphy| OR: 75| D

11/1

Latest win at Naas in May. Below best in 2 runs back from a midsummer break but could be spot on now. Considered.

Form: 091495

(14)

Shabaaby^b⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 8-7| J: Chris Hayes| T: J F Levins| OR: 74| D

25/1

Latest win at Bellewstown in June. 6/1, last of 19 in handicap at this course (6f, good) 42 days ago. Blinkers back on.

Form: 65-2180

(7)

Screen Siren^p²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Mikey Sheehy| T: S Lynam| OR: 73| D

16/1

Latest win at Cork in June. 5½ lengths seventh of 9 to Curraheen Princess in handicap (14/1) at Navan (5f, good to soft) 21 days ago, not knocked about.

Form: 0-61627

(9)

Livingston Range^p1,t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: D E Sheehy⁽³⁾| T: L Breen| OR: 69| D

20/1

Fourteen runs since last win in 2020. 14/1, creditable second of 20 in handicap at Navan (5f, good to soft) 21 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time.

Form: 627552

Forecasts

Curraheen Princess (11/4), Gordon Bennett (4/1), Strong Johnson (9/2), Laugh A Minute (7/1), Iva Batt (11/1), Urban Beat (16/1), Screen Siren (16/1), Master Matt (18/1), Livingston Range (20/1), Shelly Banks (20/1), Pretty Boy Floyd (20/1), Thunder Eclipse (22/1), Dream Today (25/1), Shabaaby (25/1), Only Spoofing (50/1), Chocquinto (66/1)

The handicapper has given a real chance to STRONG JOHNSON as he finds himself 6 lb lower than when runner-up in this race 12 months ago despite posting at least respectable efforts on all 3 outings this year. Curraheen Princess hasn't finished out of the first 2 in her last 6 starts and is a must for the shortlist. Gordon Bennett has a few good efforts to his name in big fields here and also merits consideration along with Iva Batt.