16:10 Curragh

Saturday 10 June 2017

All14:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:2017:50

Junefest Handicap

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 1m 4.75s

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Selected odds by:

(1)

Son Of Rest⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-13| J: C D Hayes| T: J A Stack| OR: 103| D

4/1

National Stakes fourth to Churchill in September 2016, and duly hacked up at short odds in a Cork maiden (5F heavy) in early April. Holds plenty of fancy entries, but disappointing in the Tetrarch Stakes at Naas latest, but this is far easier despite top-weight.

Form: 24-18

(4)

Tinder⁶³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 96

8/1

33/1 winner of a Navan maiden in August 2016 (6F good), and generally ran well enough thereafter last term. Not upto Group 3 company (1,000 Guineas trial) at Leopardstown on her seasonal reappearance and expectations now lowered considerably.

Form: 90143-9

(6)

Callender^h²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: S Foley| T: M Halford| OR: 95| D

9/1

All out to land a small-field Navan nursery in September 2016 (5F soft) which was the second of his career successes to date. Yet to make his mark in three-year-old handicaps but dropped a couple of pounds and softer ground a likely plus.

Form: 1517-07

(3)

Mirdif^b1²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: P J Smullen| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 95

14/1

Performed well enough in Group and Listed company as a juvenile after winning on his second start at Leopardstown in June 2016 (6F soft). Raced at Meydan in February, but not able to regain the thread in two starts back in Ireland since (including at Listed level).

Form: 334-098

(11)

Alfredo Arcano^h,t²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: W J Lee| T: D Marnane| OR: 85| D

11/2

A dual AW winner at Dundalk over the winter (5F and 6F). Shaped well on turf latest (finished in front of a number of these rivals) when fourth to Solar Halo over C&D. Softer ground could suit, and should go close enough.

Form: 21-1244

(8)

Stormy Belle³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: L F Roche| T: P A Fahy| OR: 84

8/1

Reward for some placed efforts when an easy winner of a Limerick maiden in October 2016 (won by 6L) which proves these ground conditions will suit. Shaped well enough so far this term handicapping without quite looking like winning and is eased a few pounds in the weights.

Form: 221-045

(7)

Red Sabor^b²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁷⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 82| C| D

16/1

Won over C&D with cut in a nursery in August 2016, and also at Dundalk (5F) in April. However was well beaten and last of 14 to Solar Halo here last month and a number of these rivals did far better including Alfredo Arcano, Miss Cogent, Mirdif and Callendar.

Form: 148-910

(2)

Miss Cogent²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: N G McCullagh| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 81| D

20/1

Her sole success came over 5F at Cork in June 2016, and she's raced nine times since without registering another victory, admittedly going close behind Tilly Trotter at Dundalk in October. Seventh of 14 to Solar Halo over C&D latest.

Form: 702-077

(10)

Idyllic Acrylic⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: C P Hoban| T: W M Roper| OR: 80

7/1

Often placed, but off the mark at the seventh attempt at Fairyhouse last week when keeping on well to down Dreaming Of Gold in a 6F median auction maiden stakes. Steps up in grade and was beaten by Dierama prior to that success, but worthy of the opportunity.

Form: 424-741

(5)

Patuano⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: S P Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: W McCreery| OR: 76| D

11/2

Seems to have wintered well and suited to racing in handicaps. A ready winner on her handicap debut at Cork last month (5F good), she backed that up with a pleasing (but held) second to Orangey Road as Listowel on Sunday (6F+). In good order and should run her race.

Form: 738-12

(9)

Dierama^t²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: W M Lordan| T: E Lynam| OR: 73

9/1

Made it third time lucky when landing a Naas maiden last month (6F good to firm) by ½L from Snowstar (Idyllic Acrylic fourth). That form could be franked earlier on this card, but this is a step up in grade for this filly on different ground to which she thrived on at Naas.

Form: 741

Forecasts

Son Of Rest (4/1), Patuano (11/2), Alfredo Arcano (11/2), Idyllic Acrylic (7/1), Stormy Belle (8/1), Tinder (8/1), Dierama (9/1), Callender (9/1), Mirdif (14/1), Red Sabor (16/1), Miss Cogent (20/1)

An ultra competitive sprint handicap in which a few potential improvers lock horns with those horses that are dropping down considerably in grade which makes for a tricky puzzle to solve. The likes of Dierama and Patuano are examples of fillies on the up, whilst both Son Of Rest and Tinder have been much more highly tried throughout their short careers. ALFREDO ARCANO isn't able to race at Dundalk for a while yet, but he proved his effectiveness on turf with a good effort behind Solar Halo over C&D last month and gets a tentative nod on ground which could well suit.