17:55 Curragh

Saturday 26 May 2018

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:2017:55

Curragh 'Where Champions Are Made' Handicap

Off time: 17:57 | Winning time: 1m 41.87s

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Selected odds by:

(3)

Band of Outlaws³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 89

10/1

Won twice in 2017 and going well in defeat this campaign. Gives the impression he's capable of defying this sort of mark and ought to go well again.

Form: 151-432

(9)

Caffe Macchiato^b¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁷⁾| T: A Keatley| OR: 88| D

7/1

A winner at Navan over this trip before a respectable effort at Chester when last seen and this is possibly a bit easier so must have each-way claims again.

Form: 35-414

(6)

Bond Street¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 87| D

3/1

Improving Galileo colt, won a mile maiden on the AW at Dundalk this month and backed that up with second at the Curragh (1m, yielding to soft) off this mark, likely more to come and may improve if he gets better ground here.

Form: 353-312

(10)

Masucci⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 86

8/1

Returned from winter break having been gelded and duly notched a 7f AW handicap at Dundalk in early April. Upped in distance and 2lb higher here so not ruled out if he appreciates the extra stamina test.

Form: 3160-1

(11)

Medal Of Honour^t¹⁶⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: J A Heffernan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 86

16/1

Lope De Vega colt kept some decent company last year before shedding maiden tag in 7f Dundalk contest in December. Should be better things to come this season.

Form: 260521-

(13)

Lethal Power¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: S Foley| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 80

10/1

Improved from maiden company to place at Killarney last time. More progress possible but must defy a 5lb rise in the weights here.

Form: 056-2

(2)

Insignia Of Rank²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Gary Carroll| T: J G Murphy| OR: 78

25/1

Has run some fair races in defeat at Dundalk over the winter. Will need more on handicap debut to defy this mark though.

Form: 833-6

(8)

Rock Sound³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Declan McDonogh| T: D K Weld| OR: 78

5/1

Lope De Vega gelding related to multiple winners, made winning start last month in 7f Limerick maiden (soft to heavy) and should have improvement on second start for respected connections.

Form: 1

(7)

Dream Of Words¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 77

14/1

Improved down in trip on handicap debut to win at Gowran last time. Any rain probably in her favour but a 12lb hike in the weights perhaps a little harsh.

Form: 607-1

(12)

T For Tango¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: L F Roche| T: J Nash| OR: 77

66/1

Not really gone on from winning a 5f maiden at Naas on debut this time last year, poor effort over 6f here on return and eased just 1lb. Needs a major step forward on that showing.

Form: 40698-0

(4)

Dance Emperor^p1,t1²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 76

10/1

Still a maiden after eight starts. Should remain competitive after promising efforts twice this term and first-time headgear of cheekpieces and tongue-tie may help.

Form: 2425-53

(5)

Raphael²⁷²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Chris Hayes| T: K Prendergast| OR: 73

12/1

Roderic O'connor gelding improved to finish 2¼L fourth of eight on handicap bow here in August off a mark of 75. Could be more to come if primed to fire returning from the break.

Form: 8454-

(1)

Natty Dresser¹⁶²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Rory Cleary| T: S Lavery| OR: 71

20/1

Well held in three handicaps late last year, including 13L defeat over this trip at Naas on yielding ground. Handicapper hasn't taken any major chances, will have to improve on his own steam in seasonal bow.

Form: 755043-

Forecasts

Bond Street (3/1), Rock Sound (5/1), Caffe Macchiato (7/1), Masucci (8/1), Dance Emperor (10/1), Lethal Power (10/1), Band of Outlaws (10/1), Raphael (12/1), Dream Of Words (14/1), Medal Of Honour (16/1), Natty Dresser (20/1), Insignia Of Rank (25/1), T For Tango (66/1)

MASUCCI may be capable of better now upped in trip and is taken to land what looks like a competitive finale to the card on day one of the meeting. Bond Street looks capable of improvement while Raphael is respected, particularly if there's any market support for him on return from an absence.