14:30 Curragh

Sunday 20 August 2023

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0516:3517:0517:35

Plusvital Speed Gene Nursery Handicap

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 1m 14.28s

(4)

Jakajaro¹⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 10-2| J: Luke McAteer| T: D Marnane| OR: 89| BF| CD

10/3

Much improved when making a winning handicap debut over C&D. Second of 4 in nursery from revised mark at Galway (7f, soft, 10/11) 15 days ago and he's one to be very interested in again.

Form: 60312

(3)

Prince X J²⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-11| J: Colin Keane| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 84| D

10/1

Improved another chunk when winning at Fairyhouse in June. 11½ lengths eighth of 9 to Jakajaro in nursery at this C&D (soft, 10/1) 29 days ago. Stable having good spell but bounce back called for.

Form: 97108

(10)

Carnegie Hall²³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 80

7/2

Improved form when second of 8 in nursery (11/4) at Cork (5f, good) 23 days ago, just failing. Merits consideration with 6f sure to suit.

Form: 442

(1)

West Of Wichita²³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-4| J: Nathan Crosse| T: Kevin Coleman| OR: 77| BF

16/5

Respectable third of 16 in maiden (9/4) at Cork (6f, good) 23 days ago. Makes handicap debut. Shortlist material on pick of her form.

Form: 403223

(8)

St Laurence's Gate^p1⁵⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Rory Cleary| T: J M Barrett| OR: 75

66/1

Last of 14 in maiden (6/1) at Down Royal (7f, good) 58 days ago. Cheekpieces on first time switched to a nursery back in distance.

Form: 380

(6)

Excel In Space⁹⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: Gary Carroll| T: M Mulvany| OR: 74

40/1

Backward step when last of 12 in maiden (22/1) at Navan (5.8f, soft), folding tamely. Off 99 days. Makes handicap debut.

Form: 330

(7)

Guest Star³⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Ronan Whelan| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 73

18/1

Failed to repeat previous form when ninth of 14 in maiden at Fairyhouse (6f, good, 50/1) 39 days ago. Makes handicap debut and he's in excellent hands.

Form: 099

(2)

Staysound Susie⁵³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Ben Coen| T: A Slattery| OR: 73

12/1

Thrice-raced maiden. 16/1, ninth of 16 in maiden at Naas (5f, good to firm) 53 days ago. Makes handicap debut and mark looks tough.

Form: 459

(5)

Sanshiro²⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 8-13| J: Chris Hayes| T: D Bunyan & G O'Leary| OR: 72

11/2

Lightly-raced maiden. 10/1 and blinkered for first time, good 4¾ lengths second of 9 to Jakajaro in nursery at this C&D (soft) 29 days ago.

Form: 5042

(9)

Duplantis³¹

Age: 2| Weight: 8-7| J: L F Roche| T: G M Lyons| OR: 66

14/1

Eleventh of 18 in maiden at Leopardstown (7f, good to soft, 33/1) 31 days ago. Makes handicap debut back over 6f.

Form: 580

(12)

Velvet Skies¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 8-7| J: W Joyce⁽⁷⁾| T: M Mulvany| OR: 62

33/1

28/1, fifth of 7 in maiden at Galway (7f, soft) 14 days ago. Makes handicap debut.

Form: 4005

Non-Runners

(11)

Count Von Browne¹⁴

Weight: 8-7| Age: 2

T: K P Cotter J: Non Runner

Forecasts

West Of Wichita (16/5), Jakajaro (10/3), Carnegie Hall (7/2), Sanshiro (11/2), Prince X J (10/1), Staysound Susie (12/1), Duplantis (14/1), Guest Star (18/1), Velvet Skies (33/1), Count Von Browne (33/1), Excel In Space (40/1), St Laurence's Gate (66/1)

CARNEGIE HALL came up just a neck shy on nursery debut 3 weeks ago and with improvement forthcoming over 6f, he makes as much appeal as any of these. Jakajaro is going the right way and another bold bid seems assured, with West of Wichita completing the shortlist.