16:05 Curragh

Saturday 29 July 2017

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

Extra.ie Handicap

Off time: 16:06 | Winning time: 58.69s

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Selected odds by:

(1)

Abstraction¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Ronan Whelan| T: N Lupini| OR: 93| D

9/1

No win since June 2013 but has endured some period away from the track during that time, and has been in much better form of late. Slowly sliding down the handicap to an attractive mark, but could be playing for a place here.

Form: 0906-33

(2)

Miss Power²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: R P Downey⁽³⁾| T: E Lynam| OR: 90| BF| D

2/1

Highly progressive type who has finished in the first two in all of her last five races (every race of her career so far except her debut), and has improved 15lb in the official ratings since the beginning of May. Shows no signs of stopping and could get her head in front again here.

Form: 61-1212

(8)

Patrick²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Declan McDonogh| T: R O'Brien| OR: 89| D

3/1

Not a particularly attractive strike-rate overall over the past couple of years but has been tried in some tough handicaps, including when beaten only half a length in the Rockingham over C&D last time out. Up just 1lb and marked ease in class with obviously help.

Form: 185763

(6)

Chiclet^h¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: P J Smullen| T: T Collins| OR: 87| D

14/1

Outclassed in better handicaps than this recently, and has performed more impressively at a similar level to this in the past. Record on turf compared to the all-weather is a slight cause for concern, however.

Form: 0159-95

(4)

Enter The Red^b²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-4| J: Chris Hayes| T: A A Howard| OR: 73| C| D

11/2

In fine form so far this season, and is raised 4lb for a victory over a furlong further at this course last time out. Has been just as effective over this trip in the past, and is now apparently better than ever. A big player once again.

Form: 2514-21

(7)

Ice Cold In Alex^t¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: N G McCullagh| T: K J Condon| OR: 76| D

10/1

Fared better than the finishing position suggests when not beaten far over this trip at Navan last time, but over come into this in much stronger form and he would appear to have his work cut out.

Form: 551-207

(3)

Snowstar²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Wayne Lordan| T: W McCreery| OR: 74| D

7/1

Winner of a maiden over this trip at Tipperary last time, having also run a fair race on handicap debut two starts ago. 6lb higher after that first win last time but clearly talented and has also run well at this course in the past.

Form: 7-2231

(9)

Sammyjade^p¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: S P Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: W M Roper| OR: 70

20/1

Remains a maiden, and though she has gone relatively close on a couple of occasions a career-best by some distance would be required to get off the mark in this company.

Form: 323-024

Non-Runners

(5)

Magic Bear⁴¹

Weight: 9-1| Age: 4

T: E Lynam J: O J Orr

Forecasts

Miss Power (2/1), Patrick (3/1), Enter The Red (11/2), Magic Bear (6/1), Snowstar (7/1), Abstraction (9/1), Ice Cold In Alex (10/1), Chiclet (14/1), Sammyjade (20/1)

It is impossible not to be impressed with the progress made by MISS POWER so far this season. Having improved 15lb in the official ratings over just four races, it seems as if she could progress yet further, and if so she may end up defying her latest 1lb rise with relative ease. This is a race that looks easier than her last assignment, when she finished runner-up to a Listed-class filly of Aidan O'Brien's. If does finally hit a ceiling in her improvement then Patrick, who ran a huge race in the Rockingham last time and is raised only 1lb, is preferred next, ahead of the in-form Enter The Red.