18:30 Curragh

Friday 26 May 2023

All16:5017:2518:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Live Music At McDonnells Bar Newbridge Irish European Breeders Fund Maiden

Off time: 18:33 | Winning time: 1m 29.86s

(4)

Dream Escape²⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: T Mullins

18/1

Once-raced gelding. Fair form when seventh of 24 in maiden (28/1) at this course (10f, soft) on debut in September, racing freely in lead until weakening final 1f. Could well do better now as a 4-y-o but no easy task conceding weight all round.

Form: 7-

(3)

Beyond The Steps^t1

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington

7/1

€300,000 foal, €630,000 yearling, Footstepsinthesand colt. Half-brother to 3 winners, including very smart 2-y-o 6f winner and Lucky Vega and winner up to 5.5f Lady Clair. Dam unraced. Makes plenty of appeal on paper for very good yard so very much of interest on debut.

Form:

(2)

Go Til Its Over

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: K J Leonard| T: P Byrne

150/1

Where Or When gelding. Half-brother to 8.6f/9.4f winner Out On Friday. Dam unraced. Rates a likely outsider on racecourse bow.

Form:

(6)

Lope De Rueda¹⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: W J Lee| T: C O'Brien

33/1

Once-raced colt. Sixth of 11 in maiden at Dundalk (7f, 25/1) on debut in January, taking a strong hold in mid-division and ultimately one paced. Did cost plenty as a yearling however, and feasible to think he can do better somewhere down the line.

Form: 6

(5)

Space Age²⁰¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Colin Keane| T: J J Murphy

10/1

Offered plenty to work on both starts as a juvenile, again displaying fair form when sixth in 20-runner Naas maiden (1m) in November. Gelded ahead of return and he promises to do better again, particularly in handicaps.

Form: 36-

(7)

Subzero¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 85

8/11

Twice-raced colt. 2/1 and blinkered for 1st time, second of 13 in maiden at Leopardstown (7.2f, heavy) 19 days ago, clear of rest. Expected to go well again with blinkers discarded.

Form: 4-2

(1)

The Franchise²⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J P O'Brien

5/2

Twice-raced colt. Twelfth of 19 in valuable minor event (12/1) at this C&D (good to soft) in September, brief headway under 2f out but unable to land a blow. However, debut third here previously was a solid display and feasible to think he can get back on track now.

Form: 30-

(8)

Hotaugustnight⁵

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

33/1

Once-raced filly. Tenth of 16 in maiden at Naas (1m, good to firm, 16/1) on debut 5 days ago, very slowly away. Best watched.

Form: 0

Forecasts

Subzero (8/11), The Franchise (5/2), Beyond The Steps (7/1), Space Age (10/1), Dream Escape (18/1), Hotaugustnight (33/1), Lope De Rueda (33/1), Go Til Its Over (150/1)

SUBZERO took a step forward on his sole start as a juvenile when runner-up in first-time blinkers (discarded here) at Leopardstown (7.2f) 19 days ago and a repeat may well be enough to see him get off the mark. The Franchise rates the chief danger but market support behind appealing newcomer Beyond The Steps would put a different slant on things.