18:45 Curragh

Friday 26 June 2026

All16:3317:0517:3518:1018:4519:2019:5520:30

Fitzpatrick's Mercedes-Benz Apprentice Derby Handicap

Off time: 18:47 | Winning time: 2m 33.14s

(2)

Sea Eagle⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Danny O'Leary⁽⁷⁾| T: Gerard O'Leary| OR: 82| BF

66/1

Fairly useful sort who was in the process of showing improved form when unseating in a Tramore maiden hurdle in April, however, yet to prove he's stays this far on the Flat and isn't the most consistent.

Form: 056/600-

(4)

Granville Street^p1¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Sam Coen⁽²⁾| T: Ciaran Murphy| OR: 72| D

13/2

Fairly useful dual-purpose performer who wasted no time getting back to form when fourth in a big-field handicap at Fairyhouse (1¾m, good to soft) on his latest start, without ever looking like winning, but he's certainly worth a go in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 5/06-254

(3)

Eastern Peace⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: J Cleary| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 71

10/1

Dundalk maiden winner who came from further back than the pair that beat her in a fillies handicap at Leopardstown (1¼m) last time. Longer trip no guarantee on pedigree but shapes as though it's within range, and she's less exposed than most.

Form: 4/9419-3

(14)

Devine Genius²⁷⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Adam Browne-Souza⁽⁷⁾| T: J Morrison| OR: 70

100/1

Lightly-raced maiden who was well beaten in testing conditions on final start for Adrian Murray last September. Sold for only €3,000 subsequently and has a bit to prove on stable debut.

Form: 0836/60-

(17)

Party Dress^t⁹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Wesley Joyce| T: W McCreery| OR: 68

40/1

Out of sorts when last seen on the Flat and offered very little on chasing debut at Clonmel in late-March.

Form: 829700-

(1)

Faro Island^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Jack Kearney| T: A Oliver| OR: 67

10/1

Low-mileage 4-y-o who doubled his tally with a career-best success at Gowran (9.5f) last time. His style suggests this longer trip shouldn't be an issue (already proven over 11f), and he's one of the more interesting types.

Form: 0310-41

(13)

Celtic Druid³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Sadhbh Tormey⁽⁷⁾| T: T G McCourt| OR: 65| D

18/1

Successful in back-to-back 1½m Dundalk handicaps to start the season and while not disgraced when seventh of 13 in a handicap at Gowran (1¾m), he remains on a career-high mark.

Form: 57-1147

(10)

Royal Alliance^t⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Jessica O'Gorman⁽⁷⁾| T: Maurice Ahern| OR: 63

9/1

Sole success came in all-weather novice for previous yard, but he returned to form from out of the blue (following 3 months off) when close third at Down Royal (13f, soft) 6 days ago and has claims if building on that. Tongue strap refitted.

Form: 000-003

(7)

Covert Legend^t²³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Shay Wallace⁽⁷⁾| T: Maurice Ahern| OR: 62

18/1

Returning from 7 months off when runner-up at Southwell (11f) on debut for the Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith stable. Has again changed hands (for only 5,500 gns) and it's hard to be confident following a further 7-month absence.

Form: 6/46442-

(8)

Keepsgettingbetter^t1⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Paddy Harnett| T: Donnacha O'Brien| OR: 76| BF

7/2

Sottsass filly who is on the up in handicaps, winning at Dundalk in March/April before running well to finish third in her hat-trick bid at Leopardstown. She wasn't ideally placed last time, either, and there could be more to come from this lightly-raced type. Tongue strap added.

Form: 00-0113

(11)

Darius Dark^p1⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Rory Mulligan⁽²⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 74| D

3/1

Progressive sort who followed up his gambled-on handicap debut success (under this jockey) with a solid victory at Leopardstown (1½m) last time. Looks far from the finished article and with the addition of the cheekpieces expected to suit, he may improve again to make it a hat-trick.

Form: 09-011

(5)

Nod Of Approval¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Keithen Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 74

13/2

Having shaped well behind Darius Dark when second at Cork on penultimate start (third also won next time), he didn't get home over a markedly longer trip at Limerick (17f), and is well worth another chance back down in distance.

Form: 055-620

(19)

Gaelic Drills³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Orla Tynan⁽⁷⁾| T: J S Bolger| OR: 73

11/1

Handicap debutant who finished a promising fifth first time up at Leopardstown (1¼m, soft) in April. Didn't build on that either start since and has a wider-than-ideal draw, however, his opening mark looks a lenient one given his debut form.

Form: 547

(22)

Folly Beach⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-7| J: Patrick McGettigan⁽²⁾| T: M A Molloy| OR: 59

18/1

Fourth in this race 12 months ago and wasn't far off her best when close second at Down Royal (13f, soft) 6 days ago. RESERVE

Form: 70/74-72

Non-Runners

(20)

Quatre Bras⁷

Weight: 10-0| Age: 5

T: R O'Brien J: Darragh O'Sullivan

(18)

Pillar Of Hope²²

Weight: 9-9| Age: 8

T: P Sweeney J: Patrick McGettigan

(12)

Cracking Cloud²⁵

Weight: 9-8| Age: 4

T: R O'Sullivan J: Hugh Horgan

(23)

Kool One³³

Weight: 9-7| Age: 5

T: Conor Maxwell J: Nicola Burns

(6)

Derry Lad²

Weight: 9-2| Age: 8

T: Kevin Coleman J: Nestor Kash

(9)

Tatum¹⁶

Weight: 8-13| Age: 5

T: N Meade J: Jimmy Dalton

(21)

Cooley's Mist²²

Weight: 8-9| Age: 4

T: H Rogers J:

(15)

Tassarolo¹⁴

Weight: 8-8| Age: 5

T: D Hogan J: Reserve 1

(16)

Avoca Woods³¹

Weight: 8-7| Age: 3

T: Jack Foley J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Darius Dark (3/1), Keepsgettingbetter (7/2), Nod Of Approval (13/2), Granville Street (13/2), Royal Alliance (9/1), Faro Island (10/1), Eastern Peace (10/1), Gaelic Drills (11/1), Derry Lad (12/1), Pillar Of Hope (12/1), Tatum (14/1), Cracking Cloud (14/1), Kool One (16/1), Quatre Bras (16/1), Cooley's Mist (16/1), Tassarolo (16/1), Celtic Druid (18/1), Covert Legend (18/1), Folly Beach (18/1), Party Dress (40/1), Avoca Woods (50/1), Sea Eagle (66/1), Devine Genius (100/1)

It could pay to concentrate on the 3-y-os in a very competitive handicap, and DARIUS DARK gets the nod to make it a hat-trick. Gaelic Drills is on a potentially handy mark for his handicap debut, with Keepsgettingbetter and Nod Of Approval others to consider