15:30 Curragh

Saturday 29 July 2017

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:10

Irish Mail On Sunday Handicap

Off time: 15:31 | Winning time: 1m 23.06s

Settings

Selected odds by:

(2)

Elusive Time^p¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: D P Linehan⁽⁵⁾| T: T Kodama| OR: 85| C| D

8/1

Experienced campaigner who has an impressive strike-rate on the Flat given his age (especially on turf). Won well at Leopardstown last time (1m, good to firm), and though he's up 5lb he's won off higher than this before and has shown he is capable of putting together winning runs in the past.

Form: 94-0041

(8)

Power Grid^e/s1²¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: G P Halpin⁽³⁾| T: J Feane| OR: 82| BF| D

25/1

Makes his first appearance of 2017 in a first time eye-shield. Has run very well on Dundalk's Polytrack but open to some questions regarding his effectiveness on turf and is best watched here.

Form: 632814-

(5)

Silverkode²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: G F Carroll| T: J G Murphy| OR: 88| CD

5/2

Highly progressive gelding who improved again to win on handicap debut last time. That came over C&D and it looks like this trip, or perhaps little further, will turn out to be his optimum, and up 4lb he is worth considering once again.

Form: 611

(10)

Plough Boy¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: D W O'Connor⁽⁵⁾| T: G Donnelly| OR: 80| CD

5/1

Last victory on turf came over C&D a year ago, but has won on the all-weather since and is better off at the weights with Silverkode than when beaten only half a length by that reopposing rival two starts ago, again over C&D.

Form: 8-66433

(7)

St Brelades Bay^p²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: N G McCullagh| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 77

10/1

Both career victories have come over 6f and he's yet to impress over this trip; not a bad effort here latest but hadn't looked as effective prior to that and others hold more convincing claims.

Form: 73-0308

(3)

Silk Cravat^h²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: C T Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 76

14/1

0/8 in his career and though he showed some ability when formerly trained by Simon Crisford, he is yet to run to that level of form for his currently handler and makes little appeal here.

Form: 425-988

(6)

Fior Cliste⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 82| BF| D

9/2

Off the mark two starts ago and subsequently acquitted himself well on handicap debut at Leopardstown over this trip last time. Up 3lb now but something seems to have clicked and he should be capable of going close.

Form: 8240-12

(1)

Casla²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: C D Hayes| T: J A Stack| OR: 79| C

7/1

Won a maiden here well last time at the second time of asking (1m, good), in what was a much better showing than on debut. Makes her handicap debut now and should have plenty more to offer.

Form: 41

(4)

Excelli¹⁸¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: L F Roche| T: A A Howard| OR: 72

20/1

Returns from a short, lackluster campaign as a novice hurdler having not been in the best of form on the Flat prior to that. Has done all his winning over further than this and surely needs at least an additional furlong to show anything like his best.

Form: 020485-

(9)

Dandys Gold²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D E Hogan⁽⁷⁾| T: W J Fitzpatrick| OR: 78| D

7/1

Handicap winner at Gowran two starts ago (7f, good), and ran well in defeat with an extra 6lb to carry last time. This looks to be her trip and ground and she should be capable of least fighting for a place.

Form: 3-21713

Forecasts

Silverkode (5/2), Fior Cliste (9/2), Plough Boy (5/1), Dandys Gold (7/1), Casla (7/1), Elusive Time (8/1), St Brelades Bay (10/1), Silk Cravat (14/1), Excelli (20/1), Power Grid (25/1)

A few of these come to into this in fair form, including ELUSIVE TIME. This seasoned campaigner is practically a veteran compared to his rivals here, but he has an impressive-strike rate overall on the Flat (especially on turf), and has also won at this course in the past. Most of all though, he has often put together long winning runs in the past, defying a rising handicap mark when coming to form, so a 5lb increase for a victory last time should be of little concern. He can see off the improving Silverkode, who did well to win on handicap debut last time, and Casla, another last time out winner, this time of a maiden at this venue.