16:45 Curragh

Sunday 16 July 2017

All14:0514:3515:1015:4516:1516:4517:2017:50

Killashee Handicap

Off time: 16:46 | Winning time: 3m 33.9s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Digeanta^t⁶³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 9-10| J: P J Smullen| T: W P Mullins| OR: 90| CD

9/2

Has won over C&D before but attempt to defy 630-days off in returning to action here. Now ten-years-old but, given he's trained by WP Mullins, cannot be written off too quickly and was previously quite smart in this sphere.

Form: 471010/

Mandatario^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 87| D

12/1

Hasn't impressed in four starts this season, beaten 11L behind Three Kingdoms over C&D already this month. At best would be a major player but doubts if that can be produced at the moment.

Form: 4-36470

Sure Reef³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: W P Mullins| OR: 82

13/8

Second runner for the champion jumps trainer and has also had his problems, missing close to three years after a smart novice hurdling stint in 2014. Very capable hurdler and interesting returned to this sphere for the first time since 2012 with Ryan Moore booked and a recent jumps outing to help with fitness.

Form: 521151/

Zeftan¹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁷⁾| T: A Keatley| OR: 79| C

9/2

Already a four-time course winner at up to 1m4f, including last month from 6lb lower mark. Ran fair race over shorter since off this mark and should be competitive now back up in trip if stamina holds out which remains a cause for concern (Engaged here on Saturday).

Form: 37-4134

Shadagann¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: S Foley| T: M Halford| OR: 78| C| D

12/1

Well beaten in all three C&D outings so far this season, latest coming early this month when almost 12L adrift on good to yielding ground. Looks to be up against it just now.

Form: 477-500

Unrequited^b¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: S P Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: J Nash| OR: 74

33/1

No win since April 2015 over 1m4½f at Tipperary. Reverts here having been running poor races in maiden hurdles of late and gets blinkers back on. Old form gives him some kind of chance but that is a fading memory now.

Form: 950/09R-

Micras^b³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-5| J: K J Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Fahy| OR: 71| D

7/1

Might be as well to forget last month's C&D run when impeded and faded late on. Previously had won over slightly longer trip at Clonmel and gone well around here this term. Second behind easy winner over C&D in that penultimate start and that form gives him a good chance.

Form: 460-128

Grand Canyon⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: Wayne Lordan| T: Miss A Mooney| OR: 70

10/1

Overall form is poor but most recent effort came over C&D last month and finished fourth, just under 2L behind Micras in second spot. 1lb better off now and not out of things completely if able to build on that showing.

Form: 1470-04

Non-Runners

Benkei³³

Weight: 9-12| Age: 7

T: H Rogers J: Chris Hayes

Forecasts

Sure Reef (13/8), Zeftan (9/2), Digeanta (9/2), Micras (7/1), Grand Canyon (10/1), Benkei (10/1), Mandatario (12/1), Shadagann (12/1), Unrequited (33/1)

A couple of very interesting runners for the champion jumps trainer in here, headlined by Sure Reef who has Ryan Moore for company. A smart hurdler, he hasn't been seen on the Flat since 2012 and has had problems, but must be respected now. Similarly, Digeanta has enough form on the Flat to suggest he can win under Smullen but a 630-day layoff doesn't inspire great belief in the ten-year-old. While that pair are respected, there should be more juice in the price about MICRAS, who will have every chance if repeating his penultimate start over C&D. He's flopped since, but that is forgiven and with a useful 5lb claim to boot, he can be right in the mix. Grand Canyon showed improved form to be within 2L of Micras in June and could outrun his price if building on it. Mandatario would have a chance on best form but isn't certain to produce it.