16:15 Curragh

Saturday 27 May 2023

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Finlay Volvo Handicap

Off time: 16:17 | Winning time: 1m 24.93s

(2)

Tough Talk²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 95| C

9/1

Lightly-raced winner who was too free in first-time blinkers (discarded here) when seventh of 10 in handicap at Naas (5.9f, good) 21 days ago. His mark looks fair based on his debut win.

Form: 12-7

(8)

Carracci^b1⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 93| D

18/1

Thrice-raced winner. 5½ lengths third of 5 to Hans Andersen in Leopardstown 2000 Guineas Trial (5/1) at Leopardstown (7.1f, heavy) 55 days ago. Blinkers on for handicap debut.

Form: 51-3

(1)

Daamberdiplomat²²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 92| C

25/1

Course winner who was well held in Killavullan Stakes at Leopardstown (7f, soft, 50/1) on final outing. Off 7 months. Makes handicap debut. Needs to get back on track.

Form: 716790-

(15)

Red Letter Bray³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: L F Roche| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 91

9/1

Left debut form behind when off the mark in 15-runnner maiden at Naas in March and improved further when following up on handicap debut there a month later. Will go on progressing.

Form: 6-11

(12)

Betterdaysrcoming^t1,v⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Gary Carroll| T: A Oliver| OR: 89| D

16/1

Ran best race when third of 11 in handicap (16/1) at Naas (8f, good to firm) 6 days ago. Tongue strap on for 1st time. Enters calculations.

Form: 2210-03

(14)

Polar Bear^p²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 89

16/1

Latest win at Bellewstown in April and ran at least as well in defeat at Naas (5.9f, good) 21 days ago. Trainer going well. First try at 7f.

Form: 4218-13

(13)

Cash Out^t⁸⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 87

22/1

Lightly-raced winner who posted a good fourth in listed company at Dundalk (8f, 14/1) 85 days ago, running on. Makes handicap/turf debut after a break and should run well again.

Form: 7-214

(7)

Farnborough^b1²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 87| BF

11/4

Lightly-raced maiden. 7/4, creditable second of 14 in maiden at Cork (10.2f, soft) 22 days ago, outbattled. Wears first-time blinkers for handicap debut and opening mark looks a fair one.

Form: 92-22

(10)

King Of Scotia²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: W J Lee| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 87| D

6/1

Winner at Dundalk in December. Respectable fourth of 10 in handicap (4/1) at Naas (5.9f, good) 21 days ago. Should benefit from a return to 7f.

Form: 2271-24

(6)

Not Even Close³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: O Murphy| T: Donnacha O'Brien| OR: 85| D

7/1

Twice-raced winner. Fourth of 6 in minor event at Gowran (7f, heavy, 6/1) 39 days ago. Stable in good form. Makes handicap debut. Remains open to improvement.

Form: 1-4

(5)

Canute^b²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 84

6/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Third of 14 in maiden (10/3) at Cork (10.2f, soft) 22 days ago, clear of rest. Significantly back down in trip for handicap debut which isn't likely to suit.

Form: 4-33

(11)

Semblance Of Order^p²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Chris Hayes| T: A Oliver| OR: 81

20/1

Evens, didn't need to improve to get off the mark in 5-runner maiden at Sligo (5.7f, good to soft) 27 days ago, driven clear. Back up in trip. Cheekpieces back on. Can make presence felt.

Form: 26-6231

(3)

Aussie Girl^h²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: M A Enright| T: J A Stack| OR: 80

16/1

Didn't need to be at best when winning 10-runner maiden (11/10) at Sligo (5.7f, good to soft) 27 days ago, readily. Back up in trip.

Form: 93-441

(4)

Devore^p²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: D E Sheehy⁽³⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 77| CD

25/1

C&D winner. Cheekpieces on for 1st time, creditable third of 9 in handicap at this C&D (soft, 16/1) 26 days ago.

Form: 5615-73

(9)

Blue News³³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: A J Slattery| T: A Slattery| OR: 76

40/1

Fourth of 7 in handicap at Naas (8f, heavy, 14/1) 33 days ago.

Form: 5222-64

Forecasts

Farnborough (11/4), Canute (6/1), King Of Scotia (6/1), Not Even Close (7/1), Tough Talk (9/1), Red Letter Bray (9/1), Betterdaysrcoming (16/1), Aussie Girl (16/1), Polar Bear (16/1), Carracci (18/1), Semblance Of Order (20/1), Cash Out (22/1), Daamberdiplomat (25/1), Devore (25/1), Blue News (40/1)

TOUGH TALK looked a good prospect when coming clear with Little Big Bear (Timeform rated 126 now) on his debut here last spring and, although he's been a bit underwhelming since, he's worth another chance with the headgear discarded (too lit up latest). Red Letter Bray is improving quickly and needs considering, along with his stablemate King of Scotia, who's likely to benefit from this return to 7f.