17:55 Curragh
Sunday 9 August 2020
All14:0014:3515:1015:4016:1516:5017:2517:55
Guinness Handicap
- 3YO plus | 1m | Good to Yielding | 16 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 17:57 | Winning time: 1m 41.15s
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Not looked like winning for some time now. He is now 7lb below his last winning mark which came in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot in June 2018. Can't be recommended in current form though.
Built upon the promise of his first two career starts to get off the mark at the third time of asking when scoring over C&D a month ago. Front-pair drew six-length clear of the third. Open to plenty more improvement now handicapping.
Yet to fire in a trio of starts this summer finishing down the field on each occasion. Subsequently best watched for the time being in what looks a competitive affair on paper with others in better form.
10lb rise for most recent success may have found him out after he beat just one home in nine-runner contest when chasing hat-trick at Navan (1m2f; yielding) just over a month ago. Place claims at best now that he has something to prove.
Only just beaten for fifth when returned to handicap company over C&D three weeks ago. Form to reverse with Frank Arthur who finished second in that contest but he should be involved once again given he is unexposed in this grade.
Tends to run consistently well in this grade without winning (0-8 on turf). Back at 1m after not being disgraced in fifth at Leopardstown (1m2f; good) last month. Place claims at best with there being a few potential improvers in the line-up.
Looked progressive prior to running well below expectations last time out when tailed off. Something must have gone amiss then & he has to be considered in a first-time visor given the path he was upward curve he was on before that mishap.
Yet to win in 11 starts on turf but on his penultimate start he was only a half-length behind Frank Arthur when third over C&D. 2lb above that mark now but the yard are going well and he is worth giving another chance to.
Plenty of experience in these types of race and he put it to good use over C&D three starts ago when breaking his duck to beat Khafaaq (conceding weight). Expensive to follow in two subsequent starts and still 6lb above last winning mark.
Not progressed since entering handicap company after shedding his maiden tag. Step up to 7f didn't bring about any improvement last time out when he finished 11th at Galway (7f; soft). Too much to prove to recommend.
Holds a likeable profile and only found one too good on debut in this sphere in a Premier Handicap over C&D when second to Fame And Acclaim (7/2f). Remains unexposed & if he reproduced that form he would be tough to beat.
Doesn't look overly well-treated at present. Only narrowly beaten on his penultimate start when third at Killarney (1m; good) but didn't reproduced when last seen at Leopardstown (1m; good). No surprise if he bounced back but a risky proposition.
So far has been unable to progress from promising return to action when runner-up over C&D. Returns to 1m and wasn't overly disgraced when sixth at Galway (7f; soft). Likely to appreciate the better ground.
Only seventh on handicap/seasonal debut in typically competitive affair at the Galway Festival (7f; soft). May improve but will need to do so significantly and others make more appeal in this grade. Needs rain to fall.
Showed no improvement for the switch to handicaps when only ninth over C&D on his first run of the year. Mark remains the same and this looks another competitive heat so he is quickly ruled out.
Still 6lb above last winning mark but offered more encouragement when fourth at Galway (1m; soft) when returned to this trip last week. Profile suggests he would appreciate rain but likely to be competitive either way.
Non-Runners
7
(8)
Strongbowe24
Weight: 9-5| Age: 4
T: P Twomey J: W J Lee
NR
Forecasts
Carrytheone (9/4), Protagonist (11/2), Frank Arthur (11/2), So Suave (8/1), Flaming Moon (11/1), Strongbowe (12/1), Sky Seven (16/1), Imposing Supreme (18/1), Mythologic (18/1), Gee Rex (18/1), Khafaaq (18/1), Silvertown (18/1), Mccabe (25/1), Hightimeyouwon (33/1), Elite Legion (40/1), Trading Point (50/1), Settle For Bay (66/1)
Despite the competitive nature of this event, if he reproduces the form he showed on handicap debut over C&D when second to a solid yardstick then FRANK ARTHUR can go one better. He has a likeable profile and off just a 3lb higher mark should be more than capable of building on that effort. Next best is Carrytheone who holds a similar profile but this opening mark is no gift after he shed his maiden over C&D last time. Strongbowe & Hightimeyouwon are worth chancing each-way after their recent disappointments given they were going the right way beforehand. So Suave would also hold place claims after appreciating the return to handicap company when last seen.
- Frank Arthur
- Hightimeyouwon
- Carrytheone
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: €9,300.002nd: €3,100.003rd: €1,551.004th: €775.005th: €465.006th: €310.00
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