17:50 Curragh

Friday 30 August 2019

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

TRM Stride Handicap

Off time: 17:53 | Winning time: 1m 12.94s

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(13)

Mr Scarlet^t⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: P A Harnett⁽¹⁰⁾| T: S Lavery| OR: 92

50/1

Fine fifth in Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot behind Caravaggio in 2017, but largely below form since, and again well held in an extended 6f handicap here on reappearance.

Form: 83008-0

(18)

Alfredo Arcano^h,t¹⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: O J Orr| T: D Marnane| OR: 91| C| D

33/1

Better on AW than turf, but is 8lb lower than when scoring over 6f at Dundalk in April. Just a respectable fifth returned to turf at Navan in May, though, and entitled to be rusty after a 15-week break. Well held in this contest 12 months ago.

Form: 476145

(3)

St Brelades Bay^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: A M Glynn⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 88| CD

14/1

Winner of this contest in 2017, and while he's not been firing on all cylinders this season, he appeared not to stay 1m here last time, and is now just 1lb above his last winning mark, with a promising claimer reducing his burden further.

Form: 3-73568

(17)

Never Back Down¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: S M Mooney⁽⁷⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 87| D

50/1

Won the Listed Carnarvon Stakes at Newbury last year for Hugo Palmer, but has struggled since joining current yard, and despite falling quickly in the weights, he's hard to fancy having finished dead last over C&D on his latest start.

Form: 000750

(12)

Silverkode^p¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Gary Carroll| T: J G Murphy| OR: 86| C

10/1

Consistent sort who was back to form at Cork back in May where he ran respectably for third (subsequently promoted). Probably needed the run after a break here last time, and ought to get closer with the benefit of that outing now.

Form: 233-037

(11)

Medicine Jack¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: S P Bird⁽¹⁰⁾| T: G M Lyons| OR: 85| CD

16/1

Group 2 winner here as a juvenile, but largely struggling for form this time around, and didn't fare much better when sixth of 14 to Make A Challenge over C&D last time. Blinkers he's worn of late are left off now.

Form: 805096

(7)

Scorching Heat²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: O Murphy| T: A McGuinness| OR: 85| D

20/1

Only raced twice since winning at Goodwood in August 2017 for Andrew Balding. Every chance on that form, and hinted that his ability remained intact when fifth of 7 behind stablemate Sirjack Thomas at Sligo recently. Jockey booking takes the eye.

Form: 2321/4-5

(19)

Mary Salome¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Chris Hayes| T: Madeleine Tylicki| OR: 84| D

16/1

Won off 6lb lower at Limerick (6½f) in April and better form when ½L second of 8 to Arabeska in a 7f handicap at Gowran last time. May still be improving, and hard to rule out on that basis.

Form: 1-01662

(24)

Blairmayne²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: S Foley| T: N Lupini| OR: 80| CD

6/1

Just 1lb higher than when winning over C&D in May, and shaped as if back to best at Leopardstown last time when not enjoying much luck in running. One to bear in mind.

Form: 5-51067

(14)

She's A Babe¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: A J Slattery⁽⁵⁾| T: A Fogarty| OR: 83

33/1

Minor winner at Vichy last year for Matthieu Palussiere, but has struggled a little since, often highly tried. Not disgraced on debut for current yard but ran poorly at Tipperary last time.

Form: 58-0578

(20)

Erich Bloch¹¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 82| D

8/1

Second in three consecutive races last season before winning a 20-runner Naas (6f) maiden in November. Ran creditably when fifth of 17 to Woody Creek on handicap debut therein May, and claims for all his subsequent absence is a concern.

Form: 02221-5

(22)

Maarek²³

Age: 12| Weight: 9-0| J: M A Gallagher| T: Miss E McCutcheon| OR: 78| CD

20/1

Veteran who was top-class in his prime, but on the decline, and ran just respectably when fourth of 7 to Sirjack Thomas in a minor contest at Sligo last time.

Form: 067564

(10)

Blyton^b¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Rory Cleary| T: L Comer| OR: 80| D

33/1

Won three times as a juvenile for Tom Dascombe. Largely below form for new yard, but bounced back when fourth of 14 to Make A Challenge in a C&D handicap last time equipped with blinkers for the first time. Claims if the headgear works as well now.

Form: 1-90094

(23)

Miss Jabeam²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: W J Lee| T: A A Howard| OR: 80| CD

13/2

Ran poorly over C&D in May, but has won both starts since with blinkers removed, over 6½f here and over 6f at Leopardstown. Climbing the weights, but had a bit more to spare than the narrow margin last time, and shortlisted.

Form: 1-33011

(2)

Arcanears^p1,h1⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 76| CD

14/1

Ran very well when runner-up behind Blairmayne here in May, beaten ½L, but below form on both starts since, and now trying the unusual combination of cheekpieces and a hood for the first time.

Form: 6-20280

(21)

Fridtjof Nansen^b⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Ben Coen⁽⁵⁾| T: K P Cotter| OR: 76| CD

8/1

Better signs when fourth of 14 in a 5f maiden here two starts ago, and appreciated step up in trip when winning a 29-runner handicap over 6½f here last time. A 10lb rise for that success does seem a bit steep, however.

Form: 706441

(15)

Sevenleft^t⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Robbie Colgan| T: S Lavery| OR: 76

20/1

Placed at up to 1m at Dundalk earlier in the year, and beaten only 1½ lengths when sixth of 12 to Baladiya over 7f here last time after a break. Yet to tackle a bare 6f, but worth a try, for all that form hasn't worked out.

Form: 9-63246

(5)

Ducky Mallon^t⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: K J Leonard| T: D Kinsella| OR: 75| CD

14/1

Won at Fairyhouse in June, and several sound efforts since, fading late on when 5¼L eighth of 29 to Fridtjof Nansen over 6½f here last time. Shorter trip will suit, and not ruled out.

Form: 3-10428

(8)

Castletownshend⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: T M Walsh| OR: 74

10/1

Runner-up off a 2lb higher mark at Naas in May, and claims on that, while he's not been beaten far in any of his subsequent starts. Retains his maiden status, which is a concern, but should be on the premises once more.

Form: 824236

(4)

Dash D'Or¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: C P Hoban| T: K P Cotter| OR: 74| D

33/1

Back to winning ways over 5f at Tipperary in June, but a rather mixed bag since, and her latest effort, when last of 9 over the same track and trip, gives her plenty to find.

Form: 130379

(6)

Suaimhneach¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 77

25/1

Improved when landing a 7f handicap on her belated return at Leopardstown in July, but below that form in two subsequent starts at up to 1¼m. Drops markedly in trip now, and too early to write her off.

Form: 006-170

(9)

Limit Long^b,h1⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: N G McCullagh| T: D Bunyan & G O'Leary| OR: 76

20/1

Excelled himself in a Listed race here in May, but now looks flattered by that effort, and was again below his best when 3L ninth of 23 to Sendmylovetoyou here last week. Hood now added to blinkers and tongue tie he's worn of late.

Form: 262509

(16)

Sun Sign⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: Wayne Lordan| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 67

14/1

Faded late when beaten 2L into eighth of 23 to Sendmylovetoyou in a C&D maiden last week, and better judged on previous efforts when there or thereabouts in similar events. Not badly handicapped on balance of form.

Form: 4/43228

Non-Runners

(1)

Twenty Minutes¹⁴

Weight: 9-1| Age: 4

T: D English J: Declan McDonogh

Forecasts

Blairmayne (6/1), Miss Jabeam (13/2), Fridtjof Nansen (8/1), Erich Bloch (8/1), Castletownshend (10/1), Silverkode (10/1), Ducky Mallon (14/1), St Brelades Bay (14/1), Arcanears (14/1), Sun Sign (14/1), Mary Salome (16/1), Medicine Jack (16/1), Scorching Heat (20/1), Sevenleft (20/1), Maarek (20/1), Limit Long (20/1), Twenty Minutes (20/1), Suaimhneach (25/1), Blyton (33/1), Dash D'Or (33/1), She's A Babe (33/1), Alfredo Arcano (33/1), Never Back Down (50/1), Mr Scarlet (50/1)

Plenty to consider in a typically competitive handicap for the track, with 2017 winner ST BRELADES BAY taken to turn the clock back having only recently fallen back to a winnable mark, and his apprentice rider is value for his claim. Oisin Murphy is another interesting booking for Scorching Heat, having ridden that horse to his last win for Andrew Balding. The unexposed Erich Bloch has been off since May, but is open to improvement and needs a market check for the connections which won last week's Ebor.