16:45 Curragh

Sunday 19 April 2026

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

1xBet.ie Supports Safe Gambling Handicap

3YO plus | 7f | 17 Runners | Turf

(5)

Real Force³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Paddy Harnett⁽⁵⁾| T: Gerard O'Leary| OR: 85| C| D

18/1

Course winner who hasn't stood much racing in recent years but didn't shape too badly after 4 months off when fourth of 9 in handicap at this course (6f, heavy, 16/1) 5 weeks ago, not ideally placed. May well build on that here.

Form: 319/50-4

(6)

Earls^b,t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: Gary Carroll| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 81| D

33/1

Has a mixed record when fresh and wasn't on a going day on return here (1m) last month.

Form: 18360-0

(7)

Blues Emperor^p¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-13| J: Nathan Crosse| T: William Harvey| OR: 79| C| D

66/1

Struggled to recapture best form in the autumn and down the field all 3 starts for new yard this season.

Form: 776-080

(8)

San Aer^t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: Donagh O'Connor| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 78| CD

10/1

Without a win since 2023 but posted pair of solid in-the-frame efforts upon joining present stable during the autumn. Respectable fourth over hurdles at Thurles followed in November and shaped as if better for the run after 4 months off at Naas 4 weeks ago.

Form: 58742-9

(11)

Smoke Them Out²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Sadhbh Tormey⁽⁷⁾| T: T G McCourt| OR: 78| C

9/1

Looked better than ever when scoring back at this course (again over 6f) on seasonal reappearance. Found out in better company here since and now has another try over 7f.

Form: 9186-16

(14)

Sun Soldier^b²⁰¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Ben Coen| T: A Oliver| OR: 77

9/1

Got off the mark on just second outing at around 1m in 14-runner handicap at Punchestown last September and ran to a similar level upped in grade when placed at Cork a fortnight later. Has the potential to do better at 4 yrs.

Form: 336413-

(3)

Jon Riggens^t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: Enola Pollet⁽¹⁰⁾| T: E Lynam| OR: 76| C

16/1

Course winner but looked very rusty on return here 5 weeks ago. Upped to 7f for the first time.

Form: 38825-0

(2)

Local Lad¹⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Siobhan Rutledge⁽³⁾| T: Gerard O'Leary| OR: 76| BF

12/1

Maiden who again gave the impression he wasn't putting it all in when third of 9 at Dundalk back in November. Worth a market check on return/handicap debut (headgear removed).

Form: 2/43383-

(4)

Lahore Da King^t,p⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Yudish Geerdharry⁽⁷⁾| T: A Mullins| OR: 75| D

13/2

In good form this season and ran best race to open his account on the turf back down in grade in 14-runner handicap at Bellewstown (1m, soft) 8 days ago, possibly helped by way race developed. 8 lb higher here but would be folly to ignore.

Form: 1-42401

(16)

Loingseoir^t¹⁶⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 9-7| J: N G McCullagh| T: M C Grassick| OR: 73| CD

40/1

C&D winner last October but followed that with a poor effort the following month and hasn't been seen since.

Form: 378010-

(9)

Red Charlie²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Andrew Slattery| T: A Slattery| OR: 73| CD

2/1

Proved a different proposition on first outing since leaving Emmet Mullins after 16 months off when bolting up in 23-runner C&D handicap last month, settling things in a matter of strides having cruised into contention. Handicapper taken a swipe with a 15 lb rise but that may not be enough.

Form: 00066/1

(10)

Merisi Diamond^t,p1²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Billy Lee| T: Thomas Coyle| OR: 69| CD

10/1

Progressive 4-time winner in 2024. Essentially struggled in a light 2025 campaign but showed more like the form of his reappearance/yard debut when 6½ lengths third of 23 to Red Charlie over C&D last month. Remains of interest from his reduced mark.

Form: 900-673

(13)

Hexagonal^t¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: J M Sheridan| T: D Hogan| OR: 68

66/1

Made the frame in a couple of maidens last year and might have needed the run in first-time cheekpieces/tongue strap after 5 months off when mid-field in Gowran handicap earlier in the month. Cheekpieces quickly discarded.

Form: 74350-7

(17)

Goal Exceeded^t⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Adam Caffrey| T: A McGuinness| OR: 67| CD

7/1

C&D winner on reappearance last season and enhanced his decent record when fresh when second of 16 at Leopardstown (7f, soft, 11/2) 4 days ago. Fancied to be in the mix.

Form: 86586-2

(12)

L L Koulsty^p1⁶³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Ronan Whelan| T: John O'Donoghue| OR: 80| BF

9/2

Much better for debut when winning 14-runner novice event at Cork (6f, soft) last September. Sent off a short price but probably needed the run upped in trip on return at Newcastle in February. Now goes handicapping in first-time headgear.

Form: 51-3

(1)

Mickey The Steel^p,t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: Wesley Joyce⁽³⁾| T: Joseph Murray| OR: 67| C

10/1

Course winner who arrives on a losing run but he's returned in good heart, making the frame in a competitive handicap for the seventh time in succession when 4¾ lengths second of 23 to Red Charlie over C&D earlier in the month. Impossible to knock his consistency.

Form: 424-332

(15)

Lady Mary Heath²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: J Cleary⁽⁵⁾| T: A A Howard| OR: 64

25/1

Yard has had success with this family and showed improved form when fourth of 26 on handicap debut here (1m) following 8 months recently. Went like a non-stayer upped to 1¼ last month and now returns to 7f.

Form: U000-47

Forecasts

Red Charlie (4/1), Lahore Da King (5/1), Goal Exceeded (11/2), Sun Soldier (11/2), L L Koulsty (13/2), Mickey The Steel (8/1), Local Lad (8/1), Smoke Them Out (12/1), Merisi Diamond (14/1), San Aer (16/1), Lady Mary Heath (20/1), Jon Riggens (25/1), Real Force (25/1), Hexagonal (50/1), Loingseoir (100/1), Earls (100/1), Blues Emperor (150/1)

It was hard not to be impressed by the way RED CHARLIE dismantled another large-field handicap on return/yard debut over C&D just over 3 weeks ago and, although the handicapper has reacted with a 15 lb rise, that may still not be enough to prevent the follow up. Goal Exceeded, Sun Soldier, Merisi Diamond and Mickey The Steel are just a handful of others that could also be in the mix.