16:40 Curragh

Sunday 30 June 2024

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

Dubai Duty Free Derby Festival Handicap (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 16:41 | Winning time: 1m 36.13s

(5)

Coeur d'Or^t¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Chris Hayes| T: D K Weld| OR: 100| CD

9/2

C&D winner. Good sixth of 29 in Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot (8f, firm, 12/1) 11 days ago, having to pick way through. Yard going well so he's a contender.

Form: 1188-76

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(9)

Blues Emperor³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Rory Mulligan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 95| CD

15/2

C&D winner. 9/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, creditable 2½ lengths fifth of 14 to State Actor in handicap at this C&D (good) 37 days ago. Can make presence felt.

Form: 1628-05

(3)

State Actor³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Colin Keane| T: W T Farrell| OR: 94| CD

9/4

Promising individual. 2 wins from 3 runs this year. 11/2, career best when winning 14-runner handicap at this C&D (good) 37 days ago. Well on top at the finish there so big shout.

Form: 3-211

(6)

Shayzann^t1¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 93| D

40/1

Sixth of 7 in minor event (5/1) at Gowran (9.4f, good) 14 days ago. Tongue strap on 1st time. Makes handicap debut. Has work to do.

Form: 41540-6

(15)

Cheers Again³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: P W Flynn| OR: 90| D

17/2

Latest win at Dundalk in December. Good 1¾ lengths third of 14 to State Actor in handicap at this C&D (good, 6/1) 37 days ago. Not discounted.

Form: 9001-33

(1)

Booyea¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Gavin Ryan| T: T Gibney| OR: 88

12/1

1 win from 1 run this year. 9/2, career best when winning 4-runner minor event at Fairyhouse (7f, good) 16 days ago, slowly away. Not taken lightly in his current mood.

Form: 21609-1

(13)

Casanova³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: Adam Caffrey⁽³⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 87| D

16/1

Thirty runs since last win in 2021. 12/1, creditable 2¼ lengths fourth of 14 to State Actor in handicap at this C&D (good) 37 days ago. Yard in good form. Should go well again.

Form: 909-434

(10)

Physique^h¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Oisin Murphy| T: M Fenton| OR: 85

11/1

11/4, creditable third of 6 in handicap at Limerick (8f, good to firm) 18 days ago. One for the shortlist.

Form: 05-0943

(8)

No More Porter^t²³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Ronan Whelan| T: A McGuinness| OR: 82| CD

16/1

C&D winner. Respectable sixth of 13 in handicap at this C&D (heavy, 9/2). Off 7 months. Stable in good form. Can give a good account.

Form: 843226-

(2)

Verhoyen^b²³

Age: 9| Weight: 8-10| J: D E Sheehy| T: M C Grassick| OR: 82| C

28/1

6-time course winner. Good second of 8 in handicap (15/2) at Fairyhouse (7f, good) 23 days ago, sticking to task. In the mix once more.

Form: 4-70002

(7)

Benavente³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: Wayne Lordan| T: Kevin Coleman| OR: 80| D

22/1

Latest win at Southwell in February. 17/2, very good eighth of 14 in handicap at this course (7f, good) 37 days ago, not ideally placed. Can go well.

Form: 2-41328

(11)

Morse⁸⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: N G McCullagh| T: C Weld| OR: 80| D

25/1

Lightly-raced winner. 1 win from 3 runs this year. 10/1, career best when winning 14-runner handicap at Leopardstown (8f, heavy) 84 days ago, suited by emphasis on stamina. Open to further improvement.

Form: 5/331

(14)

Brains^b,t¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 8-7| J: Wayne Hassett⁽⁵⁾| T: R Donohoe| OR: 79| D

25/1

Latest win at Roscommon in May. Creditable third of 8 in handicap (11/2) at Leopardstown (7.2f, good to soft) 17 days ago. Ought to be in the shake-up.

Form: 082313

(12)

Concluding Call¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Nathan Crosse| T: W McCreery| OR: 78| BF| D

16/1

Lightly-raced winner. 1 win from 3 runs this year. Winner at Navan in May. Respectable sixth of 13 in handicap at Leopardstown (9f, good to soft, 7/2) 17 days ago, needing stronger gallop. In the picture.

Form: 43-416

(4)

May Night^p⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: John Velazquez| T: D Hogan| OR: 78| BF| D

25/1

2 wins from 6 runs this year. Latest win at Cork in May. Respectable 3½ lengths third of 15 to Brains in handicap at Roscommon (7.7f, good to soft, 7/2) 48 days ago. Not ruled out.

Form: 026113

Forecasts

State Actor (9/4), Coeur d'Or (9/2), Blues Emperor (15/2), Cheers Again (17/2), Physique (11/1), Booyea (12/1), No More Porter (16/1), Concluding Call (16/1), Casanova (16/1), Benavente (22/1), May Night (25/1), Morse (25/1), Brains (25/1), Verhoyen (28/1), Shayzann (40/1)

Plenty are in with a shout but STATE ACTION rates just the pick of these weights and with the prospect of better to come he can follow up his C&D success. Coeur d'Or heads the list of dangers on the back of his good Royal Ascot Hunt Cup sixth. although Morse, Verhoyen, No More Porter and Casanova can all have a say too.