16:15 Curragh

Sunday 4 October 2026

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Business Plus Handicap

3YO plus | 6f | Soft | 22 Runners | Turf

(16)

Nakamura^b¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 10-0| J: Patrick McGettigan⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 79| D

40/1

Recorded back-to-back nursery wins over 6f last year. Right back to his best when ½-length second at Fairyhouse (6f, good to soft) in June but below form both starts since, albeit over 7f (still unproven at distance) at Listowel 12 days ago.

Form: 878207

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(21)

Real Force¹⁶⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Sam Coen⁽⁵⁾| T: Gerard O'Leary| OR: 78| C

22/1

Course winner who hasn't stood much racing in recent years but didn't shape too badly when fourth of 9 in handicap at this course (6f, heavy, 16/1) on return in March. Not in same form here the following month and is probably opposable after 168 days off, for all he's tumbled in the weights.

Form: 19/50-40

(17)

Cool Azul⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-13| J: Billy Lee| T: A Oliver| OR: 78| D

11/2

Upped his game when getting off the mark at the fifth attempt in 13-runner maiden at Navan in July, digging deep. Took another step forward in first-time cheekpieces when second of 14 in handicap at Roscommon (7.5f, good) 47 days ago and can remain competitive with headgear discarded.

Form: 223712

(22)

Sommelier^t,v1⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Nathan Crosse| T: K P Cotter| OR: 77| CD

10/1

C&D winner in June who bounced back to form when fourth of 20 in handicap at this course (5f, good to soft, 40/1) 8 days ago, albeit better drawn and benefiting from a clearer passage than most. Visor on first time.

Form: 500004

(15)

I Bid You Ajou²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Reese Holohan⁽⁵⁾| T: M Fahey| OR: 76| D

25/1

Runner-up 4 times this year, including twice in July. Shaped as if still in form at Dundalk in August and found the company much too hot when down the field in a premier handicap at C&D 21 days ago. Interesting now only 1 lb above last winning mark.

Form: 442260

(18)

Tolebi¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Danny O'Leary⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Gerard O'Leary| OR: 76

18/1

Regular slow starter who again wasn't seen to best effect under a 10-lb claimer when fifth of 11 in handicap at Listowel (7f, good to soft) 12 days ago, On a competitive mark if at his best but he's not the easiest to score with.

Form: 940455

(2)

Contrary To Law⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 75| BF

11/1

Well backed and justified support on handicap debut in 15-runner event at Fairyhouse, benefiting as expected from the return to 7f to lead dying strides. Below form with his usual hood discarded at Roscommon last time and drop to sprint trip isn't certain to suit.

Form: 4-67146

(19)

Smoke Them Out⁴^{(ex 7)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Terry Casey⁽⁷⁾| T: T G McCourt| OR: 67| CD

11/1

Dual C&D winner who justified support from a slipping mark when driven out to win a 6-runner handicap (4/1) at Bellewstown (5f, soft) 4 days ago by ¾ length from Nouvel Espoir. A 7-lb penalty makes this tougher.

Form: 030771

(13)

Go Athletico^t¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Ronan Whelan| T: A McGuinness| OR: 73| CD

22/1

Plenty of creditable efforts in defeats since his last win but last 2 efforts have been below par, so has something to prove at present.

Form: 625600

(20)

Michael's Well^b1,t1⁶²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Declan McDonogh| T: E & P Harty| OR: 74| D

33/1

Off the mark at the second attempt at Navan last year. Hasn't fired in 3 starts this year, though, and blinkers/tongue strap are now reached for.

Form: 21-685

(1)

Jon Riggens^t,v²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: James Ryan| T: E Lynam| OR: 72| CD

11/1

Ended a long losing run in 9-runner handicap at Navan (6f, good) in June and ran at least as well in defeat when a fast-finishing third of 22 in handicap at Cork (6f, soft, 16/1) 25 days ago. Can make his presence felt.

Form: 076713

(10)

Gerrit's Gem^b²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: J Cleary⁽⁵⁾| T: J G Coogan| OR: 70| D

12/1

Looked back in form when third at C&D in August and backed that up with another solid fourth of 22 in handicap (17/2) at Cork (6f, soft) 25 days ago. Respected with blinkers back on.

Form: 007034

(6)

Nouvel Espoir⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Julian Pietropaolo⁽⁷⁾| T: J Barcoe| OR: 70| BF

9/1

Took advantage of easing mark when winning at Down Royal in June. Has made the frame all 6 starts since, again not beaten far when ¾-length second of 6 to Smoke Them Out in handicap at Bellewstown (5f, soft) 4 days ago. Respected from same mark.

Form: 443222

(12)

Therewillbeglory¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Andrew Slattery| T: A Slattery| OR: 70

25/1

Fared better than on handicap bow when 1¼ lengths second of 9 in maiden at Laytown (7f) last month and ran to a similar level stepped up in trip when filling the same position in a 7-runner maiden at Clonmel (1¼m, good) 18 days ago. Unproven over sprint trips.

Form: 24-3022

(3)

Apache Outlaw^p,t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Adam Caffrey| T: A McGuinness| OR: 68| C| D

13/2

Came as close to ending his lengthy losing run as he has in a long time when close third in 7f Galway handicap in August. Backed that up with respectable efforts to be placed at Chester and Listowel since and he merits consideration.

Form: 350323

(14)

Apothic Red^v³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Sadhbh Tormey⁽⁷⁾| T: T G McCourt| OR: 69| CD

15/2

Has improved since fitted with a visor, finishing runner-up at Sligo before producing a career-best to win a 19-runner handicap at this C&D (good to soft) 36 days ago. 7-lb claimer retains the ride and he's on the shortlist again.

Form: 865721

(4)

Irish Rumour^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Orla Tynan⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Jennifer Anne Lynch| OR: 67

12/1

Won 18-runner handicap (11/2) at Navan (5f, good) last month and shaped better than the bare result when fifth of 17 in handicap at Fairyhouse (6f, good, 4/1) 13 days ago, finishing with running left after meeting trouble. Considered from unchanged mark.

Form: 050315

(8)

Noble Nation^t1¹⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Gary Carroll| T: Gerard O'Leary| OR: 66| D

9/1

Ended last year out of sorts but made a winning reappearance for the second year running at Naas in March and shaped as if still in form after a slow break when third of 10 (5f, heavy) here 4 weeks later. Returns from 168 days off in first-time tongue strap.

Form: 1000-13

(7)

Venetian Star^b,t⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Luke McAteer| T: P T Foley| OR: 64

11/1

Still a maiden and proving hard to catch right, but wasn't disgraced when fifth of 14 in handicap at Down Royal (7f, good to soft, 17/2) 6 days ago. Drop back to a sprint trip doesn't look an obvious positive, though.

Form: 200505

(23)

Green Kite¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Conor Cusack⁽⁷⁾| T: Kevin Coleman| OR: 61

33/1

Yet to win but several good efforts this season, including when second at Leopardstown in June. Solid efforts when fourth at Cork and fifth at Listowel last month and has a 24-hour turnaround as a valid excuse for his latest outing.

Form: 420458

(5)

Go Out¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Jamie Powell| T: Daniel Murphy| OR: 60

28/1

Still a maiden after 16 runs but plenty of good efforts this year and probably remains in form, left with far too much to do when tenth of 17 in handicap at Fairyhouse (6f, good) 13 days ago,

Form: 903460

(24)

Tawaazon^b,t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 8-7| J: Keithen Kennedy⁽⁵⁾| T: J A Kinsella| OR: 50| BF| CD

33/1

Veteran who has shaped well in defeat a couple of times this season but was below par at Newcastle 2 weeks ago and this looks a tough ask from 7 lb out of the weights.

Form: 594556

Non-Runners

(11)

Gotta Catch'em All²⁹

Weight: 9-8| Age: 6

T: H Rogers J: Siobhan Rutledge

(9)

Mint Man³²

Weight: 9-3| Age: 5

T: P J F Murphy J: Chris Hayes

Forecasts

Apothic Red (11/2), Nouvel Espoir (13/2), Noble Nation (8/1), Gerrit's Gem (8/1), Jon Riggens (10/1), Apache Outlaw (10/1), Sommelier (12/1), Cool Azul (14/1), Irish Rumour (14/1), Smoke Them Out (16/1), Contrary To Law (16/1), Tawaazon (20/1), Gotta Catch'em All (20/1), Green Kite (20/1), Tolebi (25/1), Mint Man (25/1), Go Out (25/1), Venetian Star (25/1), Therewillbeglory (25/1), Michael's Well (25/1), Nakamura (25/1), I Bid You Ajou (50/1), Go Athletico (50/1), Real Force (50/1)

A most competitive sprint, with the vote going to APACHE OUTLAW, whose latest efforts at 7f suggest he might prove very well suited by a big-field at this trip. Jon Riggens also arrives in good form and is also shortlisted, with I Bid You Ajou, Gerrit's Gem, Apothic Red and Irish Rumour others to merit serious consideration.