14:50 Curragh

Sunday 30 June 2024

All13:1013:4014:1514:5015:2516:0516:4017:1517:50

Dubai Duty Free Rockingham Handicap (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 58.35s

(8)

Korker^p²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 105| D

10/1

Prone to missing the break but he did run right up to best when fourth in big field handicap at York (5f) in May. Cheekpieces on for 1st time, below form 8¾ lengths third of 8 to Believing in listed race (14/1) at Haydock (5f, good to firm) 22 days ago.

Form: 21-7493

(12)

Thunderbear^p²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Colin Keane| T: J Davison| OR: 105| D

18/1

Group 3 winner on heavy ground last term who bounced right back to very best when winning 7-runner handicap at Navan (5f, good, 5/1) 22 days ago by 1¼ lengths from Arnhem, kept up to work. Respected again.

Form: 7-08581

(2)

Twilight Jet^v1⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: John Velazquez| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 104| D

22/1

Smart performer who ran up to best under an attacking ride when neck second of 8 to Aesop's Fables in listed race at Naas (5f, good to firm, 14/1) 42 days ago. Visor on 1st time and claims with a repeat.

Form: 6180-92

(16)

Big Gossey³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Gary Carroll| T: C O'Brien| OR: 98| CD

11/1

5-time course winner. 80/1, 7¾ lengths ninth of 12 to Mitbaahy in Greenlands Stakes at this course (6f, good) 36 days ago. Return to handicap company rates an obvious plus from his reduced mark.

Form: 4-05469

(1)

Amazon Lady^v⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: W J Lee| T: W McCreery| OR: 93| D

22/1

11/1 and visored for 1st time, career best when winning 14-runner handicap at Navan (5f, good) 43 days ago by ½ length from Harry's Hill, always holding on. Not underestimated if headgear has desired effect once more.

Form: 252-791

(5)

Arnhem¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: G M Ryan| T: M G Quinn| OR: 92| C

40/1

Course winner. 9¼ lengths seventh of 9 to Clarendon House in listed race at Cork (5f, good, 28/1) 16 days ago, no extra from 2f out. Return to handicap company in his favour now.

Form: 5-40027

(10)

Little Queenie³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Robert Whearty⁽⁵⁾| T: P W Flynn| OR: 91| CD

10/1

C&D winner. 11/1, very good second of 17 in handicap at this course (6f, good) 37 days ago. That effort came on the back of 7 months off and this likeable type is expected to give another good account.

Form: 21051-2

(6)

Jm Jungle²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 89| D

9/1

Back-to-back handicap winner last summer. 13/2, eleventh of 15 in handicap at Hamilton (5f, good to firm) 28 days ago, racing closer to pace than ideal. Slowly edging back down to last winning mark.

Form: 8-5D470

(14)

Sturlasson²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: K P Cotter| OR: 92| D

3/1

Impressive when making all in a Navan maiden (5f) in May and stepped up again when runner-up in 3-y-o "Dash" on his latest start at Epsom (5f) 4 weeks ago. That form has a solid look and he's very much of interest again partnered by Oisin Murphy.

Form: 668-012

(4)

Harry's Hill^t⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: M W Hassett⁽⁵⁾| T: M Hassett| OR: 84| CD

12/1

Showed a willing attitude when landing this prize 12 months ago and teed himself up nicely for a repeat bid when excellent ½-length second of 14 to Amazon Lady in handicap at Navan (5f, good) 43 days ago. Enters calculations.

Form: 020-762

(7)

Lethal Nymph¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: J Fanning| T: P T Midgley| OR: 84

5/1

Sixteen runs since last win in 2022. 9/1, good second of 16 in handicap at Thirsk (5f, good) 14 days ago, finding only a thriving sort too strong. Lurking on a handy mark and one to bear in mind.

Form: 050282

(15)

Shandy^h1⁵¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Wayne Lordan| T: J A Stack| OR: 88| D

28/1

Winner at Cork (5f, heavy) in March. 17¾ lengths last of 13 to Cherry Blossom in listed race at Cork (5.5f, good, 15/2) 51 days ago. Hood on 1st time and bounce back called for making handicap debut.

Form: 3-160

(3)

Kendall Roy^t²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Chris Hayes| T: Miss K McGivern| OR: 87| CD

7/1

Made it 4 wins from his last 5 starts in 11-runner handicap at this C&D (good to firm) 25 days ago, comfortably. Has become a really likeable type and fancied to be in the shake up again.

Form: 81-1121

(9)

Greek Flower⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: J A Powell⁽³⁾| T: J Feane| OR: 78| C| D

22/1

Course winner who shaped well after 8 months off when second of 8 in handicap (12/1) at Down Royal (5f, good) 9 days ago, finishing with running left. This rates a tougher assignment but she's clearly returned in good heart.

Form: 62119-2

(11)

Bold Optimist^p⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Keithen Kennedy⁽⁷⁾| T: Daniel McLoughlin| OR: 75| D

33/1

Latest win at Cork (5f) in June. Not seen to best effect when ninth of 12 in handicap (5/1) at Down Royal (5f, good) 9 days ago. However, more needed in any case in this much stronger company.

Form: 13-5019

(13)

Reinforce³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: W Joyce⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss K Brown| OR: 55

200/1

Remains a maiden after 21 Flat runs. Below form seventh of 18 in handicap at Fairyhouse (6.1f, good to soft, 12/1) 31 days ago. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 606427

Non-Runners

(17)

So Majestic⁸

Weight: 9-4| Age: 4

T: Miss K McGivern J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

Forecasts

Sturlasson (3/1), Lethal Nymph (5/1), Kendall Roy (7/1), Jm Jungle (9/1), Korker (10/1), Little Queenie (10/1), Big Gossey (11/1), Harry's Hill (12/1), Thunderbear (18/1), So Majestic (20/1), Amazon Lady (22/1), Greek Flower (22/1), Twilight Jet (22/1), Shandy (28/1), Bold Optimist (33/1), Arnhem (40/1), Reinforce (200/1)

Unsurprisingly claims can be made for a host including STURLASSON, who ran a cracker when chasing home another upwardly mobile sort in the 3-y-o "Dash" at Epsom at the start of the month and, again partnered by Oisin Murphy, he very much appeals as the type who could raise his game further still. The thriving Kendall Roy, potentially well-handicapped Lethal Nymph and last year's winner Harry's Hill are others to consider. Little Queenie is another worth a second look.