17:45 Curragh

Saturday 18 July 2026

All13:1013:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:45

WTW Willis Handicap

Off time: 17:45 | Winning time: 58.55s

(1)

Namiid^p¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 10-0| J: Jessica Maye⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 84| BF| D

9/1

Opened his account in 5f Navan maiden in May and has followed that up with in-frame efforts in handicaps on last 2 starts, ¾-length second of 5 to Rosie Frith at Bellewstown on latest. Remains of interest off the same mark.

Form: 24-3142

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(11)

Daneh Of Dandy²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Billy Lee| T: P Twomey| OR: 81| D

7/1

Won novices at Ripon/Thirsk last summer for James Tate but ran poorly on final outing for that yard and didn't go with much encouragement on debut for current connections at Down Royal last month. Too soon to write off but improvement needed.

Form: 158-505

(8)

Real Encounter^p1²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 81| D

5/1

Opened her account at Dundalk (5f) in April but bettered that form when neck second of 12 to Amiata in C&D handicap next time. Again ran well at this track when 3¼ lengths third of 14 to Midnight Dusk in similar event last time and still not yet fully exposed.

Form: 4-21623

(18)

Lamar Canyon³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Adam Browne-Souza⁽⁷⁾| T: T Browne| OR: 80| D

33/1

Backed from triple-digit odds and proved a different proposition when successful (20/1) in a Dundalk maiden in May. Failed to back that up on turf/handicap debut last time, however.

Form: 007-18

(17)

Final Melody⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: N Lupini| OR: 79| D

8/1

Dundalk nursery winner in the winter, who probably needed the run when last of 9 in handicap there on return 6 days ago. Races from correct mark now and back on turf for the first time since September. Interesting under Oisin Murphy.

Form: 22212-9

(10)

Sovereign Cry¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Terry Casey⁽⁷⁾| T: Daniel Murphy| OR: 78| D

9/1

Bounced back to form with a vengeance when winning 12-runner handicap at Naas by ½ length from Bold Optimist a fortnight ago. A 5 lb rise demands more, but yard looks to have turned a corner recently.

Form: 1-04691

(6)

Focaccia¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Gavin Ryan| T: J A Stack| OR: 76| D

20/1

Showed much improved form when winning 5f maiden at Bellewstown by 2¾ lengths from Sparky Sparky 15 days ago, looking more straightforward under forceful tactics. This return to handicap company likely to provide a far sterner examination of her quirks, however.

Form: 372071

(15)

Apache Outlaw^p⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Adam Caffrey| T: A McGuinness| OR: 71| CD

13/2

Better on the all-weather but does have a past C&D success to his name. On a losing run stretching back 22 starts and over 18 months but has been shaping with more encouragement on turf of late.

Form: 806435

(13)

Happy Henry^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Leigh Roche| T: W McCreery| OR: 67| D

10/1

Improved model this year, winning handicaps at Navan in June and Bellewstown in July, maintaining unbeaten record in cheekpieces when beating Bye Bye Now by 1½ lengths in 13-runner event on latest. This is tougher.

Form: 233131

(4)

Harry's Hill^t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: Colin Keane| T: M Hassett| OR: 67| CD

11/1

A dual C&D winner in the past. Has dropped significantly in the weights but hinted at a revival when 2½ lengths sixth of 12 to Sovereign Cry at Naas 14 days ago, keeping on despite meeting plenty of trouble. Booking of Colin Keane catches the eye.

Form: 670606

(5)

Nouvel Espoir¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J Barcoe| OR: 67| D

22/1

Took advantage of easing mark when winning 8-runner handicap at Down Royal in June but appeared undone by 6 lb rise for that success when 2¼ lengths fourth of 12 to Sovereign Cry at Naas last time.

Form: 236414

(7)

Mary Shoelaces^b²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Jessica O'Gorman⁽⁷⁾| T: E & P Harty| OR: 66| CD

22/1

A 3-time winner, including twice over C&D (this race in 2024, and final outing in 2025). Yet to fire this season but shaped with a bit more encouragement when 7¾ lengths seventh of 14 to Midnight Dusk at this course last month. Blinkers back on.

Form: 491-067

(9)

Gonna Be Golden^t⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Nathan Crosse| T: A Oliver| OR: 68

33/1

Won 7f maiden at Dundalk in 2025. Best effort this year when third of 7 to The Right One at Down Royal (5f) last month. Failed to build on that effort back on polytrack last time, though, and this likely to prove far too competitive.

Form: 1-0U036

(14)

Carrigans Grove^p¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Chris Hayes| T: P J Flynn| OR: 63| C| D

10/1

Much improved in 2025, winning 3 times, including over 6f at this course. Is proving more miss than hit this season, though, and returns to sprinting after a couple of poor efforts at 7f earlier this month.

Form: 0-84007

(3)

Imperial Dream¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Alan Persse⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Flynn| OR: 63| C

50/1

Finished 2025 out of sorts and hasn't returned in much form this time around, finishing well down the field on last 2 starts. Well treated on old form but leap of faith required.

Form: 6240-00

(2)

Nebrook Star^b¹⁷⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Diego Lima| T: D Dias| OR: 67

66/1

Lightly raced maiden who shaped as if needing the run in handicap at Lingfield in January. First run for yard after leaving Lemos de Souza and she faces an uphill task in this company.

Form: 4034-6

(12)

Absoluteassignment³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A Mullins| OR: 64

16/1

Made a pleasing start in handicaps when 1¼ lengths second of 9 to Stone Bear at Fairyhouse last month but wasn't in the same form when only mid-division in similar event there last time.

Form: 07727

(16)

Tawaazon^b,t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-8| J: Keithen Kennedy⁽⁵⁾| T: J A Kinsella| OR: 60| BF| CD

12/1

Won 6f handicap at Naas last spring but form has been mixed this season, following a good second at same course last month with lesser efforts on last 2 outings.

Form: 0-40295

Forecasts

Real Encounter (5/1), Apache Outlaw (13/2), Daneh Of Dandy (7/1), Final Melody (8/1), Namiid (9/1), Sovereign Cry (9/1), Happy Henry (10/1), Carrigans Grove (10/1), Harry's Hill (11/1), Tawaazon (12/1), Absoluteassignment (16/1), Focaccia (20/1), Mary Shoelaces (22/1), Nouvel Espoir (22/1), Lamar Canyon (33/1), Gonna Be Golden (33/1), Imperial Dream (50/1), Nebrook Star (66/1)

REAL ENCOUNTER is not yet fully exposed and is taken to resume winning ways in a wide-open contest. Namiid has done well since his return and rates a big threat. Previous course winners Mary Shoelaces and Apache Outlaw are also respected.