20:30 Curragh

Friday 26 May 2023

All16:5017:2518:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Novibet Blog Handicap (50-80)

Off time: 20:39 | Winning time: 1m 42.12s

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(22)

Benavente⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: J Kearney⁽⁷⁾| T: R O'Brien| OR: 79

16/1

7f winner who was in good form on AW earlier this year, again finding only one too good at Dundalk (7f) when last seen in March. However, his task is to back that up now returned to turf on back of 2 months off.

Form: 37-6322

(11)

Coeur d'Or^t¹²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: C D Hayes| T: D K Weld| OR: 78

10/1

Improved for fitting of a tongue tie late last year, landing a Laytown maiden (7f) prior to finishing a solid third in big field C&D handicap on final start. Shaped a lot better than distance beaten suggests over hurdles thereafter and he may not have reached his limit in this sphere.

Form: 0/48713-

(16)

Facethepuckout⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: C T Keane| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 78| C| D

3/1

Course winner. 13/2, good third of 13 in handicap at Naas (8f, good to firm) 5 days ago, faring best of those held up. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 3110-33

(6)

Giuseppe Cassioli²³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: D N Curran⁽⁷⁾| T: D Bunyan & G O'Leary| OR: 78| D

22/1

12/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, eleventh of 13 in handicap at Dundalk (8f). Off 7 months. First run for yard after leaving G. O'Leary.

Form: 163300-

(8)

Dare To Flare¹⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Amy Jo Hayes⁽⁷⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 77| D

50/1

Unreliable sort who finished last of 14 in handicap at Dundalk (10.7f) in December, somewhat typically very slowly away. Returns to action with yard in good form but he can ill afford a tardy start here.

Form: 100060-

(19)

Giselles Ausie⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: G F Carroll| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 77

18/1

Exploits proved mixed in handful of starts last year but entitled to be sharper for reappearance run when eleventh in 13-runner Leopardstown handicap (10f) 7 days ago. Worth noting if the market speaks in her favour.

Form: 25500-0

(23)

My Minervina^b¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: R P Whelan| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 77| D

12/1

Fifth of 8 in handicap at Gowran (8f, soft, 11/2) 16 days ago. Blinkers back on. Others more persuasive.

Form: 9142-55

(20)

Gradulations¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: W M Lordan| T: A Oliver| OR: 76

22/1

5/1, sixth of 9 in handicap at Sligo (10.4f, good to soft) 10 days ago, losing all chance at start. Back down in trip.

Form: 008-066

(9)

Helpmeout²⁶⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: W J Lee| T: W McCreery| OR: 76| D

16/1

Enjoyed a productive 2022, doubling career tally over this trip at Leopardstown (1m) in July. Creditable fourth of 7 in handicap at Gowran (7f) on final start in August and not out of things on return to action now.

Form: 618164-

(14)

Relevant Range^p⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: N M Crosse| T: G Scott| OR: 76| D

25/1

1 win from 3 runs this year. Didn't need to improve to win 11-runner maiden (10/3) at Dundalk (8f) 56 days ago, pushed out. More on his plate returned to handicaps but consistency ought to stand him in good stead.

Form: 332-221

(15)

Jaafel^t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: C J MacRedmond⁽⁵⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 75| D

12/1

Latest win at Dundalk in February. Respectable sixth of 18 in handicap at this course (7f, soft, 33/1) 25 days ago, left with lot to do. Not taken lightly.

Form: 641606

(13)

Sirjack Thomas²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: Adam Caffrey⁽⁷⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 75| CD

16/1

C&D winner. Nineteen runs since last win in 2021. 22/1, last of 11 in handicap at Cork (8f, soft) 21 days ago, never landing a blow. Others arrive with more pressing claims.

Form: 07-0500

(12)

A Shin Undine^p¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: M A Enright| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 74

16/1

Career best when winning 17-runner handicap (17/2) at Gowran (9.4f, soft) 16 days ago, just holding on. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 2-99021

(17)

Eloquent Arthur^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: J M Sheridan⁽³⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 74| D

11/1

Back to winning ways over 1m in August and ended last term in good form, fifth in 18-runner Leopardstown handicap (10f) on final start. Seemingly working his way back to form in pair of outings so far this campaign and not out of things from easing mark.

Form: 4235-06

(21)

Monzoon²¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: L F Roche| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 72| CD

22/1

C&D winner. Eleven runs since last win in 2021. 25/1, last of 14 in handicap at Dundalk (1m) in October, weakening quickly. However, he did run well on his respective return last season and the handicapper has afforded him a chance.

Form: 042590-

(2)

Akmaam⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: E A Murphy⁽¹⁰⁾| T: J F Levins| OR: 71| D

15/2

Latest win at Dundalk in March. 14/1, creditable seventh of 25 in handicap at Cork (7f, good) 9 days ago, pushed along over 1f out and keeping on. Return to 1m a plus here.

Form: 007147

(4)

Extensio²⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Sylvia O'Donnell⁽¹⁰⁾| T: P F O'Donnell| OR: 71| BF| C

18/1

Course winner. 3/1, creditable second of 14 in handicap at Dundalk (12f) in November, needing stiffer test. This run may just bring him on following 6 months off.

Form: 921242-

(1)

Secret Spy^t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: D McMonagle| T: A Oliver| OR: 71

20/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Ninth of 11 in handicap (11/1) at Cork (8f, soft) 21 days ago, driven entering straight and never nearer. Still, it remains early days with him at least.

Form: 4-49

(5)

Old Peculier¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: G M Ryan| T: M Fahey| OR: 69

14/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Very good fourth of 11 in maiden (10/1) at Killarney (8.1f, good to soft) 10 days ago. Makes handicap debut. Reserve 1.

Form: 6954

(7)

Darkdeserthighway^b⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Siobhan Rutledge⁽⁵⁾| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 67| D

28/1

Nineteenth of 25 in handicap (11/1) at Cork (7f, good) 9 days ago, never involved on the back of 5 months off. Refitting of blinkers may put an extra edge on him here if getting a run. Reserve 3.

Form: 15202-0

Non-Runners

(18)

Superior Force⁵¹

Weight: 10-0| Age: 4

T: A Murray J: J Coen

(10)

Georgeta⁵¹

Weight: 9-13| Age: 4

T: G M Lyons J: J J G Ryan

(3)

Dagoda⁹

Weight: 9-6| Age: 5

T: Miss Jennifer Anne Lynch J: J A Heffernan

(24)

Bucky Larson⁶³

Weight: 9-4| Age: 8

T: R Donohoe J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Facethepuckout (3/1), Dagoda (7/1), Akmaam (15/2), Coeur d'Or (10/1), Georgeta (10/1), Eloquent Arthur (11/1), Jaafel (12/1), My Minervina (12/1), Old Peculier (14/1), Sirjack Thomas (16/1), Helpmeout (16/1), Benavente (16/1), A Shin Undine (16/1), Superior Force (16/1), Giselles Ausie (18/1), Extensio (18/1), Secret Spy (20/1), Monzoon (22/1), Gradulations (22/1), Giuseppe Cassioli (22/1), Relevant Range (25/1), Darkdeserthighway (28/1), Dare To Flare (50/1), Bucky Larson (50/1)

FACETHEPUCKOUT showed the benefit of his reappearance run and was arguably unlucky not to win when meeting interference at a crucial point when third at Naas (1m) 5 days ago and, unsurprisingly turned out quickly, he could well be up to making amends again partnered by Colin Keane. Dagoda remains a maiden but is knocking on the door and is feared, with Eloquent Arthur, Jaafel and Relevant Range others fancied to feature.