17:07 Curragh

Saturday 25 March 2023

All13:4014:1514:5015:2515:5716:3217:0717:37

Westgrove Hotel Handicap

Off time: 17:07 | Winning time: 1m 53.06s

(4)

Razdan^t¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Adam Caffrey⁽⁷⁾| T: C D Timmons| OR: 72

15/2

8/1, creditable second of 15 in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (16f, good to soft) 19 days ago. Significantly down in trip. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 30574-6

(7)

Starting Monday¹⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Billy Lee| T: G Scott| OR: 72| BF| CD

7/2

C&D winner. Eleven runs since last win in 2021. 4/1, eleventh of 17 in handicap at Galway (8.3f, heavy). Off 145 days. Expected to be bang there.

Form: 030720-

(1)

Tourgar Raude¹¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Wayne Lordan| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 70

22/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Good eighth of 14 in maiden (12/1) at Dundalk (12f), unable to sustain effort. Off 115 days. Significantly back down in trip.

Form: 73/058-

(6)

Chavajod²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Shane Kelly| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 69

28/1

One win from 21 Flat runs. Thirteen runs since last win in 2021. 10/3, respectable sixth of 14 in claimer at Dundalk (8f) 29 days ago.

Form: 2007-96

(5)

Morning Approach¹⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Nathan Crosse| T: W McCreery| OR: 67| D

28/1

20/1, below form thirteenth of 23 in handicap at this C&D (good to soft). Off 6 months.

Form: 552000-

(22)

Muhalhel^t⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Shane Markey⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A McCann| OR: 64

28/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2021. Ninth of 14 in claimer (12/1) at Dundalk (7f) 80 days ago. Can make presence felt.

Form: 46788-9

(18)

Chilean^p,t⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: O McSweeney⁽⁵⁾| T: L Comer| OR: 63| D

18/1

Seventeen runs since last win in 2018. Ninth of 10 in minor event at Dundalk (10.7f, 13/2) 57 days ago. Back down in trip. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 43008-9

(8)

Khafaaq¹²²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Andrew Slattery| T: A Slattery| OR: 63| D

25/1

Thirteen runs since last win in 2021. Eighth of 12 in handicap at Dundalk (10.7f, 25/1). Off 122 days. Back down in trip. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 092978-

(19)

Storm Eric^t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: C J MacRedmond⁽⁵⁾| T: Jamie Flynn| OR: 63| BF

12/1

Creditable second of 14 in handicap (3/1) at Dundalk (7f) 15 days ago, never nearer. Solid claims.

Form: 09-0322

(20)

Rampage¹⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: James Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: T G McCourt| OR: 61

33/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Eighth of 11 in handicap (6/1) at Newcastle (8f). Off 151 days. First run for yard after leaving Daniel & Claire Kubler. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 80928-

(12)

Tall Story^p¹⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Leigh Roche| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 58

14/1

Remains a maiden after 20 Flat runs. 18/1, respectable fifth of 29 in handicap at this course (7f, heavy). Off 150 days.

Form: 606805-

(17)

Cliffs Of Freedom¹⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Gary Halpin| T: C Byrnes| OR: 57

10/3

11/1, first run since leaving Robyn Brisland when below form twelfth of 29 in handicap at this course (7f, heavy). Off 150 days.

Form: 5530/50-

(3)

Lofoten¹⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Colin Keane| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 57

15/2

Lightly-raced maiden. Thirteenth of 15 in handicap (33/1) at Gowran (11.8f, heavy). Off 158 days. Significantly back down in trip.

Form: 4/8950-

(10)

Purple Gown¹⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Rory Cleary| T: J S Bolger| OR: 55

28/1

Remains a maiden after 18 Flat runs. Below form eighth of 16 in handicap at Galway (7f, heavy, 12/1). Off 145 days. Must improve.

Form: 000848-

(21)

Search For Thestar^b1⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: J Cleary⁽⁷⁾| T: L Comer| OR: 55

25/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Respectable sixth of 11 in handicap (11/1) at Dundalk (8f) 43 days ago. Makes turf debut. Blinkers on 1st time. Enters calculations.

Form: 40-56

(15)

Magic Charm¹²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-8| J: Wayne Hassett⁽¹⁰⁾| T: M Hassett| OR: 50| D

14/1

First run since leaving Miss Natalia Lupini when twelfth of 13 in handicap (20/1) at Dundalk (10.7f). Off 127 days. Back down in trip. Others more persuasive.

Form: 418000-

(2)

Wayne R Walker¹⁹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: N G McCullagh| T: D Kinsella| OR: 49

16/1

Tongue strap on for 1st time, thirteenth of 14 in handicap at Punchestown (9f, good to soft, 11/2). Off 6 months. Not taken lightly.

Form: 963250-

(16)

Dark Note¹³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: C Horgan⁽⁷⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 74

50/1

18/1 and visored for 1st time, tenth of 13 in handicap at Dundalk (8f), folding. Off 136 days. RESERVE.

Form: 810200-

(13)

Superior Force⁹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: K Stott| T: A Murray| OR: 74| D

16/1

50/1, tenth of 14 in handicap at Dundalk (12f). Off 94 days. Significantly back down in trip. RESERVE.

Form: 475340-

Non-Runners

(9)

Try Hard¹

Weight: 9-4| Age: 5

T: L Comer J: Chris Hayes

(14)

Srowland Jack⁹

Weight: 8-7| Age: 6

T: A Sexton J: S D Bowen

(11)

Eloquent Arthur¹⁵⁴

Weight: 10-7| Age: 5

T: D Hogan J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Cliffs Of Freedom (10/3), Starting Monday (7/2), Razdan (15/2), Lofoten (15/2), Eloquent Arthur (10/1), Storm Eric (12/1), Magic Charm (14/1), Tall Story (14/1), Superior Force (16/1), Wayne R Walker (16/1), Chilean (18/1), Try Hard (20/1), Tourgar Raude (22/1), Search For Thestar (25/1), Khafaaq (25/1), Purple Gown (28/1), Muhalhel (28/1), Morning Approach (28/1), Chavajod (28/1), Rampage (33/1), Dark Note (50/1), Srowland Jack (50/1)

Assuming that he is fully tuned-up following a 5-month break, STARTING MONDAY could be the answer to this open-looking handicap. He was a good second off 1 lb higher mark at Killarney in October and a reproduction of that effort would give him every chance. Wayne R Walker is also appealing and he is next on the list ahead of Storm Eric, who has been knocking on the door of late, while Muhalhel is also worth a second look.