16:50 Curragh

Saturday 20 July 2024

All13:3014:0014:3515:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Businessplus.ie Handicap

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 2m 10.27s

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Selected odds by:

(3)

Siege Of Troy^p²²

Age: 3| Weight: 10-0| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 88| CD

9/2

Thrice-raced winner. Cheekpieces on for 1st time, won 18-runner maiden at this C&D (good, 6/4) 22 days ago. Open to further progress now pitched into a handicap.

Form: 241

(1)

Messerschmitt¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-13| J: Colin Keane| T: N Meade| OR: 87

25/1

Lightly-raced winner. Last of 5 in minor event (7/2) at Naas (7f, good) 14 days ago, finding little. Significantly back up in trip for this handicap debut and needs to get back on track.

Form: 1-4365

(2)

Gibbs Island¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: W J Lee| T: A Oliver| OR: 84| C

6/1

Course winner. 5/1, good second of 11 in handicap at Roscommon (10.3f, good to firm) 18 days ago. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 742342

(7)

Lord Church²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford & T Collins| OR: 83| C

5/1

3 wins from 3 runs this year. 7/2, career best when winning 21-runner handicap at this course (9f, good) 22 days ago, driven out. Stable having good spell and he may well have more to offer.

Form: 999-111

(4)

Sli Na Ghealai¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Rory Cleary| T: J S Bolger| OR: 81

50/1

28/1, ninth of 11 in handicap at Roscommon (10.3f, good to firm) 18 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 3311-79

(5)

Slurricane¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: S Foley| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 81

10/1

Lightly-raced winner. Creditable fifth of 11 in handicap at Roscommon (10.3f, good to firm, 11/2) 18 days ago. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 557-15

(8)

Courageous Strike²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: D Egan| T: A Murray| OR: 80| C

8/1

Career best when winning 18-runner handicap (28/1) at this course (12f, good) 22 days ago, suited by way race developed. This is more demanding up 5 lb.

Form: 218-031

(6)

Puturhandstogether³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 79| BF

5/2

Promising type. 6/4, good second of 8 in handicap at Gowran (9.4f, good) 34 days ago, just failing. Remains open to improvement and he's one to consider.

Form: 96-732

(9)

It'sonlyjustbegun⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Keithen Kennedy⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 78| D

6/1

Promising individual. Career best when winning 8-runner handicap at Navan (10.2f, good to firm, 7/4) 7 days ago, plenty in hand. Solid claims.

Form: 64241

(10)

Promo Queen¹¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Robbie Colgan| T: C Timmons| OR: 75| C

150/1

Course winner. Fourth of 6 in handicap at Cork (7f, heavy, 10/1). Off 112 days. Significantly up in trip and she needs to raise her game.

Form: 05410-4

Forecasts

Puturhandstogether (5/2), Siege Of Troy (9/2), Lord Church (5/1), Gibbs Island (6/1), It'sonlyjustbegun (6/1), Courageous Strike (8/1), Slurricane (10/1), Messerschmitt (25/1), Sli Na Ghealai (50/1), Promo Queen (150/1)

This looks very competitive, with several promising and progressives types to consider. IT'SONLYJUSTBEGUN was value for at least double the winning margin at Navan last weekend and she gets the nod ahead of Puturhandstogether, who went down narrowly at Gowran last month. Lord Church has to be respected in his bid for the four-timer, while Siege of Troy's best days are surely still ahead of him and the consistent Gibbs Island should give another good account.