19:20 Curragh

Friday 31 August 2018

All16:2016:5017:2017:5018:2018:5019:2019:50

Curragh Home Of Champions Maiden

Off time: 19:21 | Winning time: 2m 9.29s

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Selected odds by:

(14)

Ballycastle Lad³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: S M Mooney⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Mrs A Mooney

100/1

18 months between his two starts and 100/1 in each of them. Never involved at Galway on return and very hard to see him being a factor here.

Form: 0/0

(7)

Oh So Sensible⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Ronan Whelan| T: T Collins| OR: 32

66/1

Unplaced in all 13 races so far including lone start of this campaign at Naas. Lowly handicaps surely offer a better chance.

Form: 60900-0

(5)

Recommendation¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: S Foley| T: Miss A Mooney

66/1

Belatedly made his debut this month and this will be third run in four weeks. Slightly better in second start over 1m2½f at Roscommon but more needed nevertheless.

Form: 07

(3)

Rising^t³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: O J Orr⁽³⁾| T: N C Kelly| OR: 72

20/1

Returned from eight months off with fair although remote third at Galway in a 1m4f maiden. That the best we've seen for current yard but would have been better off in a handicap.

Form: 48700-3

(6)

Doogan's Warren²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: W J Lee| T: M Butler

50/1

Canford Cliffs gelding was beaten 19L on debut over this trip at Leopardstown earlier in the month. Much improvement needed although should see some progress.

Form: 8

(2)

Jassaar²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Declan McDonogh| T: D K Weld| BF

2/1

Beaten 9L into eighth on debut behind Astronomer who has since won a handicap easily off a mark of 87. Looked the sort to improve on that first run so no surprise if he is involved today.

Form: 8

(1)

Rathbride Prince¹¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: L F Roche| T: P Roche| OR: 53

66/1

Well beaten in three starts in the spring all on heavy ground with the latest two over 7f. Very different test here after the break and would have to be a much improved showing.

Form: 300

(8)

Shakespear'sgalley^t1²⁸⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: J A Heffernan| T: J P O'Brien

20/1

Brother to French 10f winner Galileo's Spear and comes from a yard that can ready them first time out, slightly worrying to see the tongue tie on for debut but has to be respected all the same.

Form: 0-

(11)

Sir Erec¹³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien

11/8

Lightly raced son of Camelot beaten a short-head on reappearance at Leopardstown back in April over 1m1f. Absence since raises question marks but clearly talented and bred to stay well so extra 1f here in his favour also.

Form: 4-2

(4)

Tickled^t1

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington

16/1

Newcomer by Oasis Dream is a half-brother to a French 1m1f winner out of an unraced Galileo mare. Tough to win this first time out so best watched unless market speaks strongly in his favour.

Form:

(10)

Velsen²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: N G McCullagh| T: J M Oxx

33/1

Easy to back when a well beaten 11th on debut at Galway and 8L behind re-opposing Jassaar who was also making his first racecourse appearance there. Should improve but unlikely to find enough here.

Form: 0

(12)

Would Be King⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 90| BF

9/2

Group and Listed placed two-year-old has proven frustrating this season with defeats in three maidens including at 1/4 first time out. Tries a new trip now but surely will win a contest such as this sooner rather than later.

Form: 3-20283

(15)

Ciao¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D A McCormack⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs D Foster

20/1

Improved on debut run when second over 1m at Leopardstown and doing her best work at the finish there over 1m. More improvement probably needed here but trip may bring that about so is respected.

Form: 02

(9)

She's A Novelty^t¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Gary Carroll| T: P F McEnery

50/1

Outran odds of 150/1 latest when seventh of 16 at Gowran although never seriously threatening. Will need marked improvement although surely won't be such a price today.

Form: 0-7

Non-Runners

(13)

Savitar¹¹

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: J S Bolger J: K J Manning

Forecasts

Sir Erec (11/8), Jassaar (2/1), Would Be King (9/2), Savitar (10/1), Tickled (16/1), Ciao (20/1), Shakespear'sgalley (20/1), Rising (20/1), Velsen (33/1), She's A Novelty (50/1), Doogan's Warren (50/1), Recommendation (66/1), Oh So Sensible (66/1), Rathbride Prince (66/1), Ballycastle Lad (100/1)

When last seen in April SIR EREC looked a sure-fire future winner as he was narrowly touched off at Leopardstown. The absence since is a potential issue but he is taken to overcome it and win this. It's hard to believe that a horse with the form of Would Be King is yet to win but he isn't really getting any nearer of late so he needs to do better for this step up in trip. Ciao is considered after a good second latest where she looked likely to appreciate an extra 2f as she gets here.