14:15 Curragh

Sunday 28 May 2023

All13:4514:1514:4515:1515:5016:2516:5517:25

Barberstown Castle Irish European Breeders Fund Fillies Handicap

Off time: 14:17 | Winning time: 1m 13.63s

(14)

Craft Irish^b²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Jake Coen⁽⁵⁾| T: P J F Murphy| OR: 89| C| D

6/1

Course winner. Blinkered for 1st time, creditable second of 14 in handicap at Naas (5.9f, good, 12/1) 22 days ago, no match for winner.

Form: 1180-92

(8)

Queen Maedbh²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 91| BF| D

9/1

Thrice-raced winner. Seventh of 9 in handicap at this course (7f, soft, 9/4) 27 days ago. Yard in good form and she's open to improvement.

Form: 21-7

(4)

Sophie's Star²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Gary Halpin| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 81

14/1

33/1, first run since leaving Roger Fell when sixth of 14 in handicap at Naas (5.9f, good) 22 days ago. Uphill task.

Form: 5U090-6

(12)

Wave Machine^p1³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 90| CD

7/1

C&D winner. 20/1, below form 6 lengths sixth of 13 to Believing in listed race at Chelmsford City (6f) 31 days ago, nearest finish. Cheekpieces on 1st time.

Form: 1401-96

(2)

Petit Calvados²⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Declan McDonogh| T: Eoghan O'Neill| OR: 80| D

20/1

51/10, fourth of 16 in handicap at Chantilly (6f, good). Off 8 months and she's probably worth taking on.

Form: 216114-

(15)

Queen's Pardon³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Chris Hayes| T: E & P Harty| OR: 76| CD

5/1

C&D winner. 1 win from 2 runs this year. Winner here in March. Very good second of 20 in handicap (7/1) at Navan (5.8f, heavy) 36 days ago, running on.

Form: 0678-12

(11)

Sioux Spirit^v¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: W J Lee| T: K J Condon| OR: 84

20/1

11/1, ninth of 10 in handicap at Cork (5f, good) 11 days ago. Plenty to find on form.

Form: 4317-99

(3)

Transcendental⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Gary Carroll| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 75| D

10/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2022. 20/1, good fifth of 12 in handicap at Leopardstown (7.1f, heavy) 53 days ago.

Form: 006575

(6)

Marsa¹⁵⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Colin Keane| T: E Lynam| OR: 74| D

6/1

Latest win at Dundalk in November. Creditable third of 9 in handicap (11/2) at Dundalk (7f). Off 158 days. 9 lb lower back on turf and she's a big player.

Form: 616113-

(5)

Pilbara Gold^h1,t1²⁰⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Robbie Colgan| T: A Kinirons| OR: 74

40/1

9/2, below form sixth of 11 in maiden at Dundalk (5f). Off 6 months. Hood on 1st time, tongue strap on 1st time.

Form: 033756-

(10)

Iva Batt^p²²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Ronan Whelan| T: A McGuinness| OR: 73| D

8/1

10/3, eleventh of 14 in handicap at Naas (5.9f, good) 22 days ago. Cheekpieces back on. Merits consideration.

Form: 508-420

(7)

Little Queenie^t⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Robert Whearty⁽⁷⁾| T: P W Flynn| OR: 73| D

10/1

10/3, respectable third of 7 in handicap at Dundalk (5f) 65 days ago, faring best of those ridden prominently. Booking of Whearty a plus. Tongue strap back on.

Form: 602-423

(13)

Najat²²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: J A Heffernan| T: D Kinsella| OR: 73| D

100/1

Sixteenth of 19 in handicap at Naas (5f, good, 40/1) 22 days ago. Others preferred.

Form: 28708-0

(1)

Lovejoy²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Nathan Crosse| T: W McCreery| OR: 79| D

11/1

Lightly-raced winner. 28/1 and hooded for 1st time, very good second of 9 in handicap at this course (7f, soft) 27 days ago. Yard in good form. On the upgrade recently.

Form: 17-562

(9)

Tooprofitable^b²⁰³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: L F Roche| T: A Mullins| OR: 76| CD

40/1

C&D winner. 18½ lengths tenth of 11 to Wave Machine in nursery at Naas (5.9f, heavy, 12/1). Off 6 months. First run for yard after leaving M. C. Grassick.

Form: 868510-

Forecasts

Queen's Pardon (5/1), Craft Irish (6/1), Marsa (6/1), Wave Machine (7/1), Iva Batt (8/1), Queen Maedbh (9/1), Transcendental (10/1), Little Queenie (10/1), Lovejoy (11/1), Sophie's Star (14/1), Sioux Spirit (20/1), Petit Calvados (20/1), Pilbara Gold (40/1), Tooprofitable (40/1), Najat (100/1)

MARSA's strike rate on the all-weather is more compelling compared to turf, but she is clearly effective on grass (successful at Gowran last summer) and this 4-y-o will have every chance if she's fully tuned-up following a break. Queen Maedbh ultimately proved disappointing on her handicap debut over 7f here at the beginning of the month but she is well worth another chance given her 2-y-o promise. Iva Batt and Little Queenie are others to consider.