16:55 Curragh

Saturday 22 July 2023

All13:3014:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

La Celia Wines Sprint Nursery Handicap

Off time: 16:55 | Winning time: 1m 17.25s

(10)

Democracy²⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-12| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 88| CD

11/5

Impressed when making a winning start over C&D. Has struggled up in grade since but will find this more suitable.

Form: 167

(3)

Prince X J³²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-9| J: Colin Keane| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 85| D

10/1

Improved a chunk to get off the mark at Fairyhouse in June. Well held in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot 11 days later and now switches to a nursery.

Form: 9710

(7)

Oligopoly^t1³⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-8| J: Hugh Horgan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 84

7/1

Match debut form when third of 10 in maiden at Gowran (7f, good to soft) 34 days ago. Tongue tied for handicap debut and must enter calculations for yard that has an excellent record in this race.

Form: 23

(6)

Ocean Baroque⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: Billy Lee| T: K P Cotter| OR: 83

9/4

Belatedly confirmed debut promise when winning 11-runner maiden at Navan (5f, good to soft) 7 days ago, driven out. Makes handicap debut and expected to go well.

Form: 2541

(9)

Neo Smart⁶²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Rory Cleary| T: J S Bolger| OR: 76

16/1

Hasn't progressed from an encouraging debut. Others preferred on handicap debut.

Form: 2670

(5)

Jakajaro⁴³

Age: 2| Weight: 8-12| J: Luke McAteer| T: D Marnane| OR: 74

15/2

Just fair form all 3 starts to date but may do better now handicapping.

Form: 603

(1)

Sanshiro^b1⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 8-10| J: Chris Hayes| T: D Bunyan & G O'Leary| OR: 72

10/1

Thrice-raced maiden. 4¾ lengths fourth of 11 to Ocean Baroque in maiden (50/1) at Navan (5f, good to soft) 7 days ago. Blinkers on for handicap debut. Needs to take a step forward.

Form: 504

(4)

Nika Pika^t1⁵¹

Age: 2| Weight: 8-7| J: Leigh Roche| T: P Magee| OR: 69

50/1

Thrice-raced maiden. 50/1, eighth of 11 in maiden at Roscommon (7.2f, good) 51 days ago, merely passing beaten rivals. Tongue tied for handicap debut and hard to warm to.

Form: 508

(2)

Poppadom¹⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 8-7| J: Andrew Slattery| T: A Slattery| OR: 69

14/1

Thrice-raced maiden who showed more than previously when fifth of 14 in maiden at Fairyhouse (6f, good, 125/1) 10 days ago. Type to do better again now switching to handicaps.

Form: 705

Non-Runners

(8)

Lia Fail²⁹

Weight: 8-10| Age: 2

T: M Mulvany J: Gavin Ryan

Forecasts

Democracy (11/5), Ocean Baroque (9/4), Oligopoly (7/1), Jakajaro (15/2), Sanshiro (10/1), Prince X J (10/1), Lia Fail (12/1), Poppadom (14/1), Neo Smart (16/1), Nika Pika (50/1)

Joseph O'Brien has a good record in this race and may be able to add to it with OLIGOPOLY. He again showed plenty when beaten only by a pair of well-bred newcomers at Gowran last month and looks one to keep onside now switching to a nursery, especially with a handy claimer booked. Ocean Baroque and Poppadom are a couple of potential threats.