19:10 Cork

Friday 16 June 2023

All16:1516:5017:2518:0018:3519:1019:4520:15

Cork Derby (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 19:10 | Winning time: 2m 42.56s

(3)

Safecracker^h,t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 94| BF| D

5/1

4/1, respectable seventh of 15 in handicap at the Curragh (10f, good) 20 days ago, ridden 2f out and keeping on. Step back up in trip rates a plus and expected to be in the mix (runner up in this 12 months ago).

Form: 2122-57

(6)

Old Port²²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Luke McAteer| T: C Byrnes| OR: 92| D

16/1

Six wins from 16 Flat runs. Respectable fourth of 10 in handicap at Chelmsford (10f) in November. Return to further will hold no fears on return and interesting what the market makes of him starting out for new yard.

Form: 176144-

(12)

Golden Twilight^p1¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford & T Collins| OR: 91| D

11/2

11/1, good third of 18 in handicap at the Curragh (14f, good) 19 days ago, well positioned. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 1261-03

(7)

Dalton Highway⁴⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 9-10| J: Chris Hayes| T: D K Weld| OR: 90

66/1

Last of 9 in handicap (40/1) at Gowran (13.7f, heavy) 59 days ago, ridden over 3f out and soon beaten. That was his first start for 18 months and this ought to reveal a good deal more.

Form: 0110/90

(9)

Female Soldier¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Andrew Slattery| T: T Mullins| OR: 89

33/1

Below form fourth of 12 in minor event (10/3) at Listowel (13f, good) 12 days ago. Must improve.

Form: 7450-54

(14)

Kingswear¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Siobhan Rutledge⁽⁵⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 86| D

15/2

18/1, respectable seventh of 18 in handicap at the Curragh (14f, good) 19 days ago, effort 3f out and one paced. Needs to pull out a bit more.

Form: 673267

(2)

Ace Aussie¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Gavin Ryan| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 84| C

80/1

Course winner. Eighth of 12 in minor event at Listowel (13f, good, 100/1) 12 days ago. Makes handicap debut.

Form: 50/934-8

(5)

Star Kissed¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 84| D

5/2

Promising individual. 2 wins from 3 runs this year. 9/4, career best when winning 10-runner handicap at Roscommon (11.7f, good) 15 days ago, readily. Has to be taken seriously.

Form: 22-151

(10)

Morph Speed^t⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Conor Stone-Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 83| CD

11/2

C&D winner (won this race 2 years ago). Good second of 14 in handicap (9/2) at Leopardstown (12.8f, good) 8 days ago. Stable in good form and no surprise to see another good showing.

Form: 707-782

(4)

Boher Road^t1²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Rory Cleary| T: J P Fahey| OR: 79

16/1

Lightly-raced winner on Flat. Hood on for 1st time in this code, unseated rider in juvenile hurdle at Punchestown (15.8f, good to soft, 6/5) 24 days ago. Tongue strap on 1st time.

Form: 6210-

(11)

Pralognan²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A J Martin| OR: 79

16/1

14/1, second of 9 in handicap at Roscommon (10.3f, good to soft) 25 days ago, running on. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 16/22-02

(8)

Rich Belief^b³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: K Thornton| OR: 79

16/1

1 win from 2 runs this year. Re-united with this yard, respectable fourth of 12 in handicap at Killarney (16.8f, good to soft) 31 days ago. Down in trip.

Form: 4130-14

(13)

Last Ammo⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Declan McDonogh| T: R O'Brien| OR: 78

16/1

10/1, creditable fifth of 14 in handicap at Leopardstown (12.8f, good) 8 days ago, needing stronger gallop. Another live each-way player.

Form: 5-08035

Non-Runners

(1)

Spasiba³¹

Weight: 9-11| Age: 4

T: P Twomey J: Billy Lee

Forecasts

Star Kissed (5/2), Safecracker (5/1), Morph Speed (11/2), Golden Twilight (11/2), Kingswear (15/2), Spasiba (8/1), Pralognan (16/1), Boher Road (16/1), Rich Belief (16/1), Last Ammo (16/1), Old Port (16/1), Female Soldier (33/1), Dalton Highway (66/1), Ace Aussie (80/1)

STAR KISSED was quick to resume progress on her second start in handicaps when running out a ready winner at Roscommon 15 days ago and a 5 lb higher mark shouldn't prevent another bold bid with the prospect of more to come. Last year's runner-up Safecracker is a threat from an easing mark, with Spasiba, Morph Speed and Pralognan others also worthy of note.