18:35 Curragh

Friday 24 May 2019

All16:5517:2518:0018:3519:0519:3520:05

TRM Excellence In Equine Nutrition Handicap

Off time: 18:37 | Winning time: 1m 23.68s

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Selected odds by:

(1)

Flight Risk²⁰⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-13| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 106| CD

16/1

Winner of three of his 39 turf starts on the Flat including a win over C&D in the Group 3 Gladness stakes over four years ago. Solid and consistent sort who races at least 10lb higher than 13 of his 15 rivals.

Form: 845/324-

(8)

Downforce^h1,v²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: W J Lee| T: W McCreery| OR: 103| BF| C| D

16/1

Genuine type, winner of six of his 27 starts on turf including hitting the frame over C&D. Plenty to like about his second of 10 over an extended 7f at Tipperary last month and likely to be in the mix in first time hood.

Form: 6386-82

(3)

Freescape^b⁸⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: O J Orr⁽³⁾| T: D Marnane| OR: 96

20/1

Two-time winner on the AW but without success in nine starts on turf. Has been running well in defeat on a couple of occasions in Meydan over the winter and possible best watched on return to action.

Form: 61-0349

(14)

Sanaadh^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Colin Keane| T: M Wigham| OR: 96| D

13/2

Both wins over this trip have come on AW, including at Kempton in March before a possibly losing his chance at the start in the Victoria Cup at Ascot earlier this month. Interesting Newmarket raider with notable jockey booking.

Form: 71-3410

(7)

Equitant¹¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 95| D

14/1

Winner of two of his 12 starts on turf for trainer Richard Fahey. Needs to put a couple of poor efforts at Meydan behind him on return to action here.

Form: 1112-00

(5)

Kimifive¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: J Tuite| OR: 95| D

9/2

Won twice over 6f last season, and built on his comeback effort when winning a 7f handicap at Goodwood before running a big race in defeat in the Ascot Victoria Cup earlier this month. Another bold show likely with eye catching pilot booked.

Form: 460-017

(4)

Saltonstall^p1,t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Ronan Whelan| T: A McGuinness| OR: 94| C| D

10/1

Course winner that has also won over this trip. Has completely lost all form in three starts since moving from Mick Halfords. First time cheekpieces. unlikely to bring about the required amount of improvement needed to play a role here.

Form: 000-000

(13)

Texas Rock^p⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: Robbie Colgan| T: M C Grassick| OR: 94| CD

14/1

Winner of one of his six starts over C&D hitting the frame on a further two occasions. Ran well in defeat over 7f earlier this month at Naas and step back up in trip sure to suit.

Form: 0-03664

(11)

St Brelades Bay^p,t1¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 92| BF| C| D

8/1

Has hit the frame on both starts over C&D including when second of 14 beaten 1L in August off a 1lb higher mark. Solid and constantly running well in defeat since and worth a check in the market in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 223-735

(15)

Annie Fior⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁵⁾| T: B A Murphy| OR: 87| D

16/1

Has enjoyed a busy year with 10 starts already and enjoying a fine run of progressive form in handicaps winning three of her last five. Game and genuine sort will appreciate the return to handicap company here following defeat at Naas this month.

Form: 611216

(6)

Jassaar²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: A J Slattery⁽⁷⁾| T: D K Weld| OR: 85

9/2

Off the mark for connections at third time of asking landing a Limerick maiden over this trip on soft ground last month. Yard still in good form with a 47% win and place strike rate in the last couple of weeks.

Form: 82-41

(12)

Turbine^p,t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-5| J: Rory Cleary| T: D Hogan| OR: 84| D

9/1

Won for the first time in three years when landing a Cork handicap over this trip off a 3lb lower mark earlier this month. Tackles sterner opposition here but capable of hitting the frame in this company.

Form: 35306-1

(10)

Ahlan Bil Zain^b¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: C P Hoban| T: M Halford| OR: 82| D

33/1

Has been in great form on the all-weather with three wins coming from his last six starts. Has not looked the same horse on turf though so a lot to prove off current handicap mark.

Form: 341-130

(2)

Verhoyen^b¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: Wayne Lordan| T: M C Grassick| OR: 81| BF| C

20/1

Finally off the mark on turf at the 22nd time of asking here when winning an ultra-competitive 30-runner 6f handicap earlier this month off a 14lb lower mark. Ran well in defeat at Naas subsequently over 5f and may not appreciate step up in trip.

Form: 053413

Non-Runners

(9)

Sharp Defence¹⁹

Weight: 8-4| Age: 5

T: R O'Brien J: Chris Hayes

Forecasts

Jassaar (9/2), Kimifive (9/2), Sanaadh (13/2), St Brelades Bay (8/1), Turbine (9/1), Saltonstall (10/1), Texas Rock (14/1), Equitant (14/1), Flight Risk (16/1), Annie Fior (16/1), Downforce (16/1), Sharp Defence (16/1), Verhoyen (20/1), Freescape (20/1), Ahlan Bil Zain (33/1)

The ease of the win of JASSAAR in a Limerick 1m maiden on soft ground last month suggested there was plenty more to come from the Dansili gelding. The four-year-old looks to be on a lenient mark on handicap debut and can follow up his win in this contest at the expense of Downforce who can improve in a first-time hood and course winner St Brelades Bay, while C&D winner Texas Rock and Annie Fior should not be easily dismissed.