16:35 Curragh

Saturday 1 September 2018

All13:1013:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:35

John Sisk & Son New Stand Handicap

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 1m 12.36s

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Selected odds by:

(14)

Guessthebill³¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-13| J: N G McCullagh| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 98

14/1

Useful dual winner as a two-year-old makes his first start of the campaign here after bowing out last term when fourth in a 7f Group Three. Trip sharp enough and probable he'll need the run.

Form: 154124-

(15)

Medicine Jack^b⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 96| CD

8/1

Largely disappointing since his Group Two win as a juvenile. Finished tamely here over 7f last time out and similar beforehand at Galway. Prefers ground softer and others more reliable.

Form: 103409

(13)

Urban Beat¹¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: S Foley| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 97| CD

4/1

Won twice back in the spring on heavy ground fairly bolting up here most recently. Absence since a doubt as is the considerably quicker surface but looked a sprinter really going placed so not ready to forget him yet.

Form: 0-11

(5)

Texas Rock^p⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Robbie Colgan| T: M C Grassick| OR: 94| C| D

16/1

Six-time career scorer hasn't really hit the heights in just four starts this campaign. Generally always preferred a little further too so a few doubts over him today.

Form: 10-6508

(7)

Maarek¹¹⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 9-10| J: J A Heffernan| T: Miss E McCutcheon| OR: 93| CD

20/1

Hugely popular veteran showed he still has the spark latest when only beaten just over 1L into fourth at Naas despite a slow start. Off since awaiting more suitable ground but drying conditions now against him.

Form: 4319-84

(11)

Alfredo Arcano^h,t²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: O J Orr⁽³⁾| T: D Marnane| OR: 90| C| D

14/1

Raced exclusively over 5f this year winning twice including once here. Struggled latest off career-high mark at Tipperary and handicapper will feel he has this one's measure now.

Form: 361716

(8)

Aurora Eclipse^b⁷⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: L F Roche| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 88

16/1

Finished tamely as if something possibly amiss when last seen in mid-June and absence since may back that theory up. Looked to be going the right way beforehand but rates a risky proposition.

Form: 54-9028

(3)

Patuano³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: W J Lee| T: W McCreery| OR: 86| CD

9/1

C&D winner this term has been set some fiercely difficult tasks since and mostly acquitted herself well until soft ground and 7f conspired against her latest. 10lb higher than win here and that makes life tough.

Form: 617670

(4)

Hello Brigette^p³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: G P Halpin| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 87| D

14/1

Leopardstown winner wasn't far away the next time before latest run when finding a Listed race a bit beyond her. Handicap mark appears to be fair now and can be expected to make a bold bid.

Form: 370150

(2)

Arcanears¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 84| CD

10/1

Heavy ground C&D winner flopped next time on a faster surface but bounced back after near three month absence latest when close fourth at Dundalk (AW). Ground will be somewhere between two previous runs so hopefully prove suitable.

Form: 8104

(6)

Blairmayne²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: K J Leonard⁽³⁾| T: N Lupini| OR: 80| D

11/2

2016 C&D winner wasn't beaten far here latest when third to useful handicapper St Brelades Bay. Same mark today and should be firmly in the thick of things with doubts over plenty of his rivals.

Form: 33-1843

(12)

Fit For Function⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Rory Cleary| T: J G Murphy| OR: 79| D

10/1

1lb higher than when second over C&D in penultimate start. Didn't run as well latest over 6½f but back to this mark he should be capable of involvement.

Form: 0-71620

(9)

Highly Approved^t⁷²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Wayne Lordan| T: S M Duffy| OR: 79| D

40/1

Won last three starts for Joseph O'Brien, all on AW. Yet to add to that for current connections and finished last behind Hello Brigette when last seen so not the easiest to make a case for.

Form: 113847

(10)

Powersville¹¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Chris Hayes| T: T Mullins| OR: 76| D

25/1

Dual winner at two hasn't been seen since 12th of 14 here back in May. Possibly had issues since and unproven on a sound surface so drying conditions here a concern.

Form: 158-470

(1)

Ducky Mallon^t¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 8-4| J: S P Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: D Kinsella| OR: 73| CD

10/1

Battled to success latest at Leopardstown over 6f in a race he also won last year but is 4lb out of the handicap in this considerably tougher contest.

Form: 085551

Forecasts

Urban Beat (4/1), Blairmayne (11/2), Medicine Jack (8/1), Patuano (9/1), Fit For Function (10/1), Arcanears (10/1), Ducky Mallon (10/1), Hello Brigette (14/1), Guessthebill (14/1), Alfredo Arcano (14/1), Texas Rock (16/1), Aurora Eclipse (16/1), Maarek (20/1), Powersville (25/1), Highly Approved (40/1)

URBAN BEAT was looking like a really classy sprinter when last seen back in the Spring but he has been absent since. Fitness must now be taken on trust but his last run here is hard to ignore so he gets the nod to continue his upward curve. Blairmayne is a consistent sort who ran well in a race every bit as strong as this latest so he merits respect as does Hello Brigette who hasn't been harshly treated by the handicapper since her Leopardstown success.