14:52 Curragh

Saturday 19 August 2023

All13:4514:2014:5215:2716:0016:3517:1017:40

Neville O'Byrne Memorial Irish European Breeders Fund Fillies Handicap

Off time: 14:52 | Winning time: 2m 41.21s

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Selected odds by:

(5)

Female Soldier^b1¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: T Mullins| OR: 85

11/1

50/1, bit below form ninth of 20 in handicap at Galway (16.8f, heavy) 19 days ago, finding less than looked likely. Back down in trip and blinkers on 1st time. Looks vulnerable from a win point of view.

Form: 547749

(1)

Blazing Skies¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: W J Lee| T: W McCreery| OR: 84| D

11/1

66/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, twelfth of 17 in handicap at Galway (12f, good) 15 days ago, doing too much too soon. Others look stronger.

Form: 8-75690

(7)

No Niki No^b¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Chris Hayes| T: Eoghan O'Neill| OR: 82

9/1

Winner at Leopardstown in June. 10/1, creditable second of 10 in handicap at Sligo (10.5f, good to soft) 10 days ago. Likely to be on the premises once again.

Form: 9-51532

(4)

Vera Verto^t³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Gary Carroll| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 82

8/1

One win from 3 runs this year. Latest win at Ballinrobe in June. Creditable fifth of 9 in handicap (7/2) at Tramore (12f, good to soft) 39 days ago. Needs to raise her game a touch.

Form: 6/13-215

(8)

Youcrackmeup^b¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 90| D

13/2

Two wins from 6 runs this year. Career best when winning 13-runner handicap (16/1) at Galway (12.4f, heavy) 19 days ago. Hit with a 10 lb rise for that but she appears to be on the up.

Form: 060121

(2)

Marvelosa³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Jack Kearney⁽⁷⁾| T: R O'Brien| OR: 80

8/1

Winner at Sligo in May. 6/1, creditable second of 8 in handicap at Killarney (11.2f, good to soft) 32 days ago. Each-way chance.

Form: 421342

(3)

Esquiline^p²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: S B Kelly| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 86| D

4/1

Lightly-raced winner. Successful at Bellewstown in July. Fourth of 7 in minor event at Leopardstown (12.8f, good to soft, 5/1) 23 days ago. More needed now pitched into a handicap.

Form: 8-2214

(9)

Effernock Fizz^p,t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: Colin Keane| T: C Collins| OR: 76| CD

25/1

C&D winner. Eighteen runs since last win in 2021. Fifth of 6 in minor event (12/1) at Galway (14.1f, good to soft) 15 days ago. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 056-965

(6)

Sugaree⁵⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 85| D

9/4

11/4, won 12-runner maiden at Leopardstown (12f, good) 58 days ago, driven out. This unexposed filly is of strong interest now handicapping of what could be a fair opening mark.

Form: 731

Forecasts

Sugaree (9/4), Esquiline (4/1), Youcrackmeup (13/2), Marvelosa (8/1), Vera Verto (8/1), No Niki No (9/1), Blazing Skies (11/1), Female Soldier (11/1), Effernock Fizz (25/1)

SUGAREE has improved with each of her three starts, most recently landing a Leopardstown maiden in decisive fashion, and she earns the vote with further progress on the cards now pitched into a handicap. The progressive Youcrackmeup is greatly respected, despite going up 10 lb for her recent Galway success, while No Niki No is third choice ahead of Marvelosa.