18:30 Leopardstown

Thursday 13 June 2024

All16:4517:2017:5518:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

1888 Restaurant Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 18:30 | Winning time: 1m 33.49s

(6)

Pier Pressure^b²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: James Ryan| T: G M Lyons| OR: 84| D

7/1

Eleventh of 14 in handicap (8/1) at the Curragh (7f, good) 20 days ago, doing too much too soon. Yard in good form. Solid place claims on pick of form.

Form: 66112-0

(5)

Brains^b,t³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Wayne Hassett| T: R Donohoe| OR: 80

11/2

14/1, improved on recent efforts to win 15-runner handicap at Roscommon (7.7f, good to soft) 31 days ago. Can go well again.

Form: 208231

(9)

Pillar Of Hope¹¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: Daniel King| T: H D McGuigan| OR: 79

20/1

33/1, eighth of 11 in handicap at Dundalk (12f). Off 111 days. Significantly down in trip. Must improve.

Form: 70-0008

(2)

Shoot To Kill¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: C J MacRedmond| T: A McGuinness| OR: 75| D

5/1

6/1, creditable fifth of 14 in handicap at Down Royal (7f, good) 13 days ago. Ought to be thereabouts.

Form: 255965

(3)

Imperial Dream¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Robyn Donaghue-Leahy⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Flynn| OR: 74| D

5/1

16/1, good fourth of 14 in handicap at Down Royal (7f, good) 13 days ago. In the mix once more.

Form: 5130-64

(8)

Eastern Wind^v²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Alyse Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: T G McCourt| OR: 70| CD

5/1

C&D winner. Eleven runs since last win in 2023. Eighth of 12 in handicap at Naas (8f, good to firm, 13/2) 25 days ago. Visor back on. Not taken lightly if shrugging off latest effort.

Form: 6960-88

(1)

Giuseppe Cassioli²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Keithen Kennedy⁽⁴⁾| T: Gerard O'Leary| OR: 70| D

10/3

Twelve runs since last win in 2022. 7/1, good third of 14 in handicap at this course (8f, good) 27 days ago. Weighted to go well.

Form: 84240-3

(4)

Chestnutter¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Robert Whearty| T: N Meade| OR: 67| CD

17/2

C&D winner. Respectable eighth of 14 in handicap at Down Royal (7f, good, 12/1) 13 days ago. Possibilities.

Form: 3600-98

Non-Runners

(7)

Ice Cold In Alex⁸

Weight: 9-6| Age: 10

T: K J Condon J: Wesley Joyce

Forecasts

Giuseppe Cassioli (10/3), Ice Cold In Alex (4/1), Shoot To Kill (5/1), Eastern Wind (5/1), Imperial Dream (5/1), Brains (11/2), Pier Pressure (7/1), Chestnutter (17/2), Pillar Of Hope (20/1)

A case can be made for plenty of these but GIUSEPPE CASSIOLI was a good third here last time and can build on it to resume winning ways. Shoot To Kill heads the list of dangers, although a solid case can also be made for Imperial Dream, Pier Pressure and Brains in a competitive handicap.