19:35 Leopardstown

Thursday 15 August 2019

All16:5017:2518:0018:3019:0019:3520:05

Grant Thornton Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 19:37 | Winning time: 2m 9.84s

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Selected odds by:

(16)

Agent Zigzag²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: R Coakley| T: J M Oxx| OR: 81| D

16/1

Gained first handicap success over 1m2f at the Curragh on his penultimate start and wasn't disgraced off revised mark at Fairyhouse (1m2f, good) on latest start. Off the same mark for this so entitled to place claims.

Form: 446014

(15)

Great Grey⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: C G O'Dwyer⁽⁷⁾| T: L Comer| OR: 80

11/1

Has begun to turn his form around recently and backed up good second at Limerick two starts ago with respectable fifth at the Curragh (1m, soft) six days ago. Off the same mark so should give another good account.

Form: 430-725

(2)

Nimitz³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: K J Leonard| T: C O'Brien| OR: 80| BF| CD

14/1

C&D winner in June but has been well held off new mark in two starts, including 1m2f Navan handicap last time out. Has place claims but looks to be in the grip of the handicapper.

Form: 43-0193

(19)

See Of Rome¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: G M Ryan⁽²⁾| T: D English| OR: 76| D

8/1

Has been inconsistent this season but showed signs of a revival with 5L seventh in competitive Galway handicap (1m4f, good) on latest start. Needs further improvement but comes good at this time of year.

Form: 3-46307

(8)

Claim The Lady^p⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: T P Madden| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 83| D

14/1

Took advantage of a reduced handicap mark when registering a career-best victory at Naas (1m2f) in early July. 7lb higher off revised mark but respected nonetheless.

Form: 39-3951

(14)

Prosecution¹³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Ms N A Kane⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 74

40/1

Listowel handicap winner but failed to fire since. Visor didn't spark any revival when 11L 10th in 1m Navan handicap last time out and significant improvement is required.

Form: 3616-40

(11)

The Last Indian¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: O J Orr| T: A A Howard| OR: 74| D

9/1

Hasn't won since May 2018 but has been in good form on the flat recently with narrow second at Roscommon before 3L fourth in 1m5f Ballinrobe handicap. Dropped 1lb and not without hope.

Form: 2/505-24

(7)

Cacique Royale⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: J P Shinnick⁽⁷⁾| T: A Oliver| OR: 72

33/1

Form has been wayward this season. Latest 16L defeat at Fairyhouse leaves a lot to be desired and makes limited appeal.

Form: 4114-76

(10)

Dance Emperor¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: B M Coen| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 70| C

14/1

Record now stands at one win from 23 starts and horribly out of form this season, including 13L defeat in Galway handicap (1m). Easy to oppose.

Form: 004420

(6)

Finding Nero^h²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: A J Farragher⁽⁴⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 78| BF| D

8/1

Dual handicap winner at the start of the season but hasn't been disgraced since. Failed to last out over 1m2f at Killarney last time out but entitled to go well once again. Respected.

Form: 55-1124

(1)

Suaimhneach¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: L T McAteer⁽⁴⁾| T: J S Bolger| OR: 78| BF| C

16/1

Made a winning handicap start in 7f contest here on seasonal debut but did too much too soon at Gowran Park (1m) last time out. Pace will need to be strong but claims if rediscovering best form.

Form: 006-17

(4)

Excelcius^t²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: D W O'Connor| T: G M Lyons| OR: 76

33/1

Dundalk maiden winner on last start of last season but has been well held in handicap company this year. 2L defeat in 1m Naas handicap offers some hope and mark is tumbling down the weights.

Form: 31-5744

(9)

Royal Admiral^v¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: S M Mooney⁽⁴⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 68| D

25/1

Inconsistent sort. Latest win came at Killarney (1m3f) on penultimate start but something looked amiss with 21L defeat at Galway last time out. Running off the same mark for that is a concern though.

Form: 204310

(5)

Spruce Meadows^p¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: D N Curran⁽⁷⁾| T: J Feane| OR: 68

14/1

Well held in handicap company this season, including 15L defeat at Galway (1m, good) on latest start. Win ratio is poor and likely to not be good enough once again.

Form: 078950

(3)

Red Gerry¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: A J Slattery| T: N Meade| OR: 74

5/1

Remains a maiden but has posted some creditable efforts recently. Stripped better after return for a break with 4l third at Galway (1m4f) on latest start, which he has gone up 2lb for. Respected.

Form: 9-94263

(17)

Nam²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: J M Sheridan⁽⁴⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 63

10/1

Struggled for form since landing Naas handicap last year but put in an improved display last time out with 2L sixth at Killarney (1m, good). Usually runs to this mark and enters calculations.

Form: 618-046

(12)

Rehoboth Beach^t¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: S M Crosse| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 70

16/1

Below form when only sixth in 1m Galway handicap when last seen, failing to shape as if 1m2f would suit him. Others are preferred.

Form: 038546

(18)

Pillmakers Hill^t¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-6| J: A C Persse⁽⁴⁾| T: C W J Farrell| OR: 58

6/1

Has returned from mammoth absence in good form this season, registering career-best second in 1m Gowran Park handicap on latest start. Still off a workable mark and has solid claims.

Form: 00/3721

(13)

Alice Milligan^h⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: N M Crosse| T: W McCreery| OR: 60

20/1

Not been in form recently and ran sluggishly when last of 14 at Sligo (1m2f, good) eight days ago. Readily opposable.

Form: 9-58380

Forecasts

Red Gerry (5/1), Pillmakers Hill (6/1), Finding Nero (8/1), See Of Rome (8/1), The Last Indian (9/1), Nam (10/1), Great Grey (11/1), Spruce Meadows (14/1), Dance Emperor (14/1), Nimitz (14/1), Claim The Lady (14/1), Rehoboth Beach (16/1), Agent Zigzag (16/1), Suaimhneach (16/1), Alice Milligan (20/1), Royal Admiral (25/1), Excelcius (33/1), Cacique Royale (33/1), Prosecution (40/1)

FINDING NERO hasn't been disgraced in his last two defeats and was probably sent for home too soon at Killarney last time out. That run has allowed him to remain on a competitive handicap mark however, and he is the preference for a trainer who is in good form at the moment. Claim The Lady sets the standard based on his victory last time out and while he receives weight-for-age once again, his 7lb is a mild concern, while Suaimhneach can be forgiven for her last run which came too soon and Pillmakers Hill remains dangerously unexposed off a light weight.