17:25 Curragh

Saturday 23 May 2026

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:2517:55

Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Habitat Handicap (Premier Handicap)

4YO plus | 6f | Good (Good to Yielding in places) | 22 Runners | Turf

(19)

The Highway Rat^b²¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Sam Coen⁽⁵⁾| T: A Oliver| OR: 99

25/1

Useful handicapper who had an in-and-out 2025, winning at Navan and making the frame multiple times before finishing down the field in a Group 3 at Dundalk in October. Steps back up to 6f on return, but has a mixed record fresh and is yet to win from a mark this high.

Form: 347346-

(20)

Erosandpsyche^v²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-13| J: Gary Carroll| T: Daniel Murphy| OR: 98

80/1

Placed twice at listed level last season, but well below form on both outings this year. Switches from cheekpieces to a visor back up in trip but has a bit to prove at present.

Form: 8720-90

(8)

Tango Flare^p,t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-13| J: Rory Mulligan⁽⁵⁾| T: P T Foley| OR: 98| CD

14/1

Won over C&D last September before finishing second in listed company at Naas the following month. Shaped as if needing the run when ninth of 12 at Naas 26 days ago after 7 months off. Cheekpieces are back on and a good-value claimer booked, but looks vulnerable to younger, less-exposed rivals.

Form: 90712-9

(13)

Unique Journey^p⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Colin Keane| T: Daniel Murphy| OR: 98| CD

15/2

Dual C&D winner last October who was second to Dmaniac here in March before finding listed company beyond him at Cork in April. Back at his favoured venue now, and Colin Keane is 2 from 2 on him.

Form: 9711-24

(2)

Tina's Indian³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Joseph Harnett⁽⁷⁾| T: M Fahey| OR: 96| CD

20/1

Useful gelding who ended 2025 with a 7f win here in November and shaped as if better for the run when 6¼ lengths fourth of 5 to City of Memphis in a minor event at Gowran on his return from 6 months off last time. This drop back to 6f should hold no fears, but a career best is probably needed.

Form: 78331-4

(14)

Bodhi Bear²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: J A Stack| OR: 95| C| D

16/1

Produced a career best when winning a 14-runner handicap here over 5f on heavy on reappearance in March and ran about as well as could be expected when mid-field in listed company at Naas last month. Back in handicap company and up to 6f now, but has a career-high mark to defy.

Form: 4090-18

(10)

City House^t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Ronan Whelan| T: A McGuinness| OR: 95| D

33/1

Dual winner in Bahrain in 2025 for George Scott. Has been more miss than hit for current connections this year but ran one of his better races when a length fourth of 13 to Supido in a 1m event at Chester last time. Back at 6f now, though, and not sure to back that up.

Form: 742054

(16)

Fort Vega²⁹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Rory Cleary| T: S Lavery| OR: 94

14/1

Showed useful form last year, winning at Cork in June before finishing second over C&D the following month. Caught further back than ideal when 6¾ lengths fifth of 15 to Princess Child at Galway when last seen in August. Unexposed as sprinter but has a habit of improving for his seasonal return.

Form: 322125-

(6)

Sir Les Patterson²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Jack Kearney⁽³⁾| T: Stephen Thorne| OR: 94| D

7/1

Found his progress on the all-weather halted when bidding for a hat-trick on Finals Day at Newcastle in April and back on turf at Newmarket 21 days ago. That was a good race but he's yet to win on this surface.

Form: 041-104

(21)

Aviatrice¹⁹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Luke McAteer| T: D Marnane| OR: 88| D

11/2

Impressive winner of a Dundalk handicap in October before following up in a 14-runner listed race there over 1m the following month (runner-up won since). Has gone well fresh in the past and another bold showing is expected back on turf/sprinting for a yard in good form.

Form: 473211-

(5)

Bishopton^p1⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Wayne Lordan| T: N Lupini| OR: 87

16/1

Has stepped up of late, winning 3 of his last 6 starts, including 8-runner event at Dundalk on return in March, beating Venetian by a ½ length. Perfectly positioned that day, though, and has yet to win on a straight course. More improvement needed.

Form: 11672-1

(17)

Headmaster^t²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: E Lynam| OR: 86

22/1

Back on the up in a first-time tongue strap when winning a 13-runner 7f handicap at Newbury in 2025 on his final start for William Haggas. Shaped with promise on debut for this yard when mid-field at Naas on return and looks likely to build on that. Less exposed than most of these.

Form: 10081-7

(11)

Moltophino^p,t²⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Chris Hayes| T: J A Kinsella| OR: 85| CD

9/1

Won this race 12 months ago from 10 lb lower and ran consistently through the summer without adding to his tally before turning in a rare poor effort in first-time blinkers here in September. Returns after 251 days off with cheekpieces back on, but probably needs some respite from the handicapper.

Form: 145450-

(15)

Gerrit's Gem²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Terry Casey⁽⁷⁾| T: J G Coogan| OR: 83| D

25/1

Won at Cork and twice made the frame behind Unique Journey over C&D in 2025. Probably needed the run on return and is weighted to reverse form with his two-time conqueror, but inconsistency remains a concern and it is hard to know which version of him will turn up here.

Form: 01924-0

(12)

Go Athletico^t²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-12| J: Adam Caffrey| T: A McGuinness| OR: 83| CD

11/1

Dual C&D winner who returned to form away from testing ground when 3 lengths third of 12 to Keke in a handicap at Naas 26 days ago. Now 3 lb below his last winning mark, but his profile remains very much all or nothing in nature.

Form: 057-703

(4)

Indigo Dream²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Shane Foley| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 83| BF

12/1

Strong-travelling sort who was a decisive winner of a Dundalk maiden in December and has found further improvement when placed on her last 3 starts, latest when 2½ lengths second of 12 to Keke at Naas. Yard remains in good form and she should go well again.

Form: 531-322

(22)

Barbapapa^t,b¹⁹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: Conor Cusack⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 82| BF| D

16/1

Reliable sort whose latest of 4 wins came in a 6f Dundalk handicap in October. Not seen since the following month and has gone well fresh before, but a minor placing looks his best hope.

Form: 356513-

(1)

Back Down Under⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Leigh Roche| T: P Roche| OR: 81| BF| CD

25/1

Dual course winner, including over C&D on her 2025 return, who was considerately handled and is best not judged too harshly on her latest return here in March. Still looks a shade high in the handicap, however.

Form: 23309-6

(9)

I Bid You Ajou¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Reese Holohan⁽⁷⁾| T: M Fahey| OR: 80| D

7/1

Proved at least as good as ever when a short-head second of 13 to Bint Majestic Roi in a handicap at Naas 14 days ago, just denied by one who raced on the more favoured part of the track. A 3 lb rise puts him back on a mark he has twice failed to win from in the past, though.

Form: 3U7-282

(3)

Sarahmae^p1³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Keithen Kennedy⁽⁵⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 79| C

33/1

Won 3 times in 5f handicaps last year, including here. Yet to fully fire this season but has been given a chance by the assessor as a result and now sits just 1 lb above her last winning mark. Any market support would have to be noted.

Form: 046-806

(7)

Shadow Of The Moon³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Patrick McGettigan⁽⁵⁾| T: J Feane| OR: 79

33/1

Confirmed previous promise when opening her account in a 10-runner maiden at Down Royal (5f) in 2025. Never threatened in a handicap on return from 8 months off, and while she should come on for the run, this is a stronger race and she'll find easier openings.

Form: 021-8

(18)

Genesis^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Wesley Joyce⁽³⁾| T: M Mulvany| OR: 76| BF| CD

10/1

Returned from an 8-month absence to land a 20-runner C&D handicap earlier this month and backed that up when a length fourth of 13 to Bint Majestic Roi at Naas last time. This represents a stark rise in class, though, and he races from 2 lb out of the weights.

Form: 1650-14

Non-Runners

(23)

Dmaniac²⁰

Weight: 9-7| Age: 4

T: M Hassett J: Paddy Harnett

Forecasts

Indigo Dream (7/1), Genesis (8/1), Dmaniac (10/1), Unique Journey (10/1), Aviatrice (12/1), I Bid You Ajou (12/1), Bodhi Bear (12/1), The Highway Rat (14/1), Fort Vega (14/1), Go Athletico (14/1), Bishopton (14/1), Tina's Indian (14/1), City House (14/1), Barbapapa (16/1), Headmaster (16/1), Tango Flare (20/1), Sir Les Patterson (20/1), Back Down Under (25/1), Moltophino (25/1), Gerrit's Gem (25/1), Sarahmae (25/1), Shadow Of The Moon (33/1), Erosandpsyche (50/1)

AVIATRICE won a listed race at Dundalk when last seen and can land the hat-trick now returned to handicap company and back at 6f. Headmaster showed promise on his reappearance at Naas 26 days ago after joining a new yard and can improve for that outing. Unique Journey and Indigo Dream are also respected.