16:22 Curragh

Sunday 28 September 2025

All13:3014:0514:3715:1215:4716:2216:5717:30

Friends Of The Curragh Irish Cesarewitch (0-110) (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 16:24 | Winning time: 3m 46.43s

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Selected odds by:

(21)

Tashkhan^v¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Ben Robinson| T: B Ellison| OR: 105

50/1

Below par this term after 10 months off, sixth of 8 to Sweet William in Doncaster Cup (66/1) at Doncaster (17.9f, good) 16 days ago. Not easy to make a case for.

Form: 5930-66

(5)

Chally Chute⁸⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Sam Coen⁽⁷⁾| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 104| C| D

66/1

Course winner. First run since leaving M. Halford & T. Collins when landing 11-runner listed race at Roscommon (12.1f, good to soft) 89 days ago by 1½ lengths from Cheeky Wink. Considered.

Form: 62050-1

(22)

London City^p1¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: J Cleary⁽⁵⁾| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 104

66/1

25/1, 6½ lengths eleventh of 17 to Happy Pharoah in handicap at Leopardstown (13f, good) 15 days ago. Up in trip. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Difficult ask.

Form: 15-0500

(11)

Queenstown^b¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: Ronan Whelan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 104| C

25/1

Course winner. Excellent third in the Ebor at York but a well-held sixth of 9 to Al Riffa in Irish St Leger (50/1) at this course (14f, good to soft) 14 days ago. Looks competitive on form if shrugging off latest effort.

Form: 00-6636

(31)

Helvic Dream^t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: James Ryan| T: N Meade| OR: 101| C

33/1

Respectable 4 lengths seventh of 17 to Happy Pharoah in handicap (14/1) at Leopardstown (13f, good) 15 days ago, not ideally placed. Up in trip. Yard in good form. Ought to be thereabouts.

Form: 553-637

(2)

Poetic Sound¹²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Gary Carroll| T: G M Lyons| OR: 100

40/1

16¼ lengths seventh of 8 to Goodie Two Shoes in listed race at Down Royal (16f, good to soft, 9/2). Off 121 days. Not taken lightly at these weights though if back on his A-game.

Form: 411-237

(24)

Ascending³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Billy Lee| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 99

8/1

Very much on the up this year, scoring at Cork before bagging the Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot. Excellent second of 22 in Ebor at York (13.8f, good to firm) 36 days ago. Goes back up in trip now and holds leading claims nudged up just 1 lb.

Form: 221-112

(26)

Shackleton^p³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 107| C

9/1

Course winner. 22/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, 11½ lengths fifth of 6 to Trawlerman in Lonsdale Cup at York (16.2f, good to firm) 37 days ago. Makes handicap debut with more needed.

Form: 3-44825

(12)

Aeronautic^t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Wayne Hassett⁽³⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 97| BF

12/1

7/2, creditable 1¾ lengths third of 17 to Happy Pharoah in handicap at Leopardstown (13f, good) 15 days ago. Up in trip. Yard in good form. One for the shortlist.

Form: 14-0533

(14)

Dawn Rising^p1,t⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: Scott McCullagh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 97| C

25/1

C&D winner. 18/1, 5¼ lengths fourth of 20 to Filey Bay in handicap at Galway (16.8f, good to soft) 62 days ago. Tongue strap back on, cheekpieces on 1st time. Worth consideration on pick of form.

Form: 61-6004

(19)

Sea Of Sands^h,t¹⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Nicola Burns⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 96| BF

33/1

Useful winner at 16f over hurdles. 16/1, 16½ lengths tenth of 16 to Lord Erskine in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, soft) 159 days ago. No forlorn hope back in this sphere.

Form: 55985/0-

(25)

Falcon Eight^p⁶²

Age: 10| Weight: 9-6| J: Chris Hayes| T: D K Weld| OR: 95| C

40/1

Course winner. 22/1, respectable 11 lengths tenth of 20 to Filey Bay in handicap at Galway (16.8f, good to soft) 62 days ago. Cheekpieces back on. Unreliable individual.

Form: 47-4160

(23)

Mr Percy^p³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: H J Horgan⁽⁵⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 95| C

33/1

Course winner. Useful winner at 20f over hurdles. Sixteenth of 22 in Ebor at York (13.8f, good to firm, 25/1) 36 days ago. Up in trip. Yard having good spell but more is needed.

Form: 2/221-10

(15)

Nurburgring^b1,t⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: D Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 95| D

7/1

Very useful and versatile performer who ran his best race over fences when fourth in a Cheltenham Festival handicap in March. Hampered and run best ignored when pulled up in Galway chase last time. Not one to write off back on the level.

Form: 0/644-02

(10)

Comfort Zone^b¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 94| D

20/1

Not seen to best effect when tenth of 17 to Happy Pharoah in handicap at Leopardstown (13f, good, 28/1) 15 days ago. Back up in trip. Stable in good form and shouldn't be written off.

Form: 071-300

(6)

Filey Bay^h,t⁶²

Age: 9| Weight: 9-5| J: Rory Mulligan⁽⁷⁾| T: E Mullins| OR: 94| D

22/1

Lightly-raced on Flat and posted a career best when winning 20-runner handicap (7/1) at Galway (16.8f, good to soft) 62 days ago by 4¾ lengths from Mon Coeur, driven clear. Very much one to consider despite a 10 lb weights hike.

Form: 8164/01

(7)

Sixandahalf¹¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Robert Whearty| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 93| BF| D

15/2

Below par over jumps and also when 21½ lengths eleventh of 13 to Mr Percy in handicap at this course (14f, good, 6/4). Off 116 days with more required.

Form: 23613-0

(16)

Small Fry¹¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Nathan Crosse| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 92

20/1

Landed 14-runner handicap at Epsom (12f, good to soft, 9/4) 113 days ago on his final run for yard after leaving Gary & Josh Moore. Not without interest for his new yard in his hat-trick bid.

Form: 122-311

(32)

Sirius^h⁴²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Ben Coen| T: W P Mullins| OR: 91| BF| D

50/1

Good fourth of 18 in handicap at Galway (12f, soft, 4/1). Off 14 months but still considered for top yard now significantly up in trip.

Form: 815/014-

(13)

Too Bossy For Us^h¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: J M Sheridan| T: W P Mullins| OR: 91| BF

14/1

17/2, respectable 1¾ lengths third of 17 to Happy Pharoah in handicap at Leopardstown (13f, good) 15 days ago. Back up in trip. Hood back on. Merits consideration.

Form: 284-203

(27)

Tribal Star^p¹⁵^{(ex 7)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Adam Caffrey| T: A McGuinness| OR: 83

50/1

Latest win at Dundalk in August. 9/1, solid third of 11 in handicap at Chester (15.9f, good) 15 days ago, running on. Possibilities.

Form: 294713

(8)

Happy Pharoah^t¹⁵^{(ex 7)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Gavin Ryan| T: Donnacha O'Brien| OR: 91| BF

17/2

Improving son of American Pharoah bagged his third victory in his last four runs in 17-runner handicap (9/1) at Leopardstown (13f, good) 15 days ago by head from Light As Air, just holding on. Up in trip. A likely player.

Form: 541121

(3)

Plontier⁶²

Age: 9| Weight: 8-13| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: W P Mullins| OR: 88

40/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2022. Fairly useful winner at 20f over hurdles. 8½ lengths sixth of 20 to Filey Bay in handicap at Galway (16.8f, good to soft, 20/1) 62 days ago. Can't be totally dismissed.

Form: 362/00-6

(9)

Lord Erskine^b²

Age: 12| Weight: 8-12| J: Wesley Joyce⁽³⁾| T: H Rogers| OR: 87| CD

25/1

C&D winner. 1 win from 1 run this year. 11/4, won 6-runner minor event hurdle at Galway (21.6f, soft) 20 days ago, kept up to work. In the picture back on the Flat.

Form: 74508-1

(28)

Zoffman^p³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Jamie Powell⁽³⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 87| C

40/1

Course winner. Cheekpieces on for 1st time in this code, creditable fourth of 8 in handicap hurdle at Killarney (17f, good, 5/2) 38 days ago. Trainer going well. In the mix.

Form: 02-0448

(33)

Minstrel Knight¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Andrew Slattery| T: E Bethell| OR: 86

40/1

11/2, creditable second of 9 in handicap at Musselburgh (18.1f, good to soft) 15 days ago, no match for winner. No forlorn hope.

Form: 110-402

(1)

Mon Coeur³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 8-10| J: Robbie Colgan| T: J G Murphy| OR: 85| D

50/1

Respectable fourth of 10 in handicap at Killarney (14.4f, good, 8/1) 37 days ago. One for the shortlist.

Form: 05/6024

(20)

Tounsivator⁴³^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Shane Foley| T: W P Mullins| OR: 78| D

11/1

Useful winner at 19f over hurdles. Evens, won 9-runner handicap at Tramore (12f, good to soft) 43 days ago. Can go well again off an unchanged mark.

Form: 1120/6-1

(18)

Intellotto^b1,t³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Julian Pietropaolo⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 84

80/1

Good third of 4 in novice chase at Wexford (19.4f, good, 13/8) 30 days ago. Blinkers on 1st time and can make presence felt back in this sphere. RESERVE

Form: 22/1496-

(30)

Puturhandstogether³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: N G McCullagh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 82| BF| C

7/1

Course winner. 13/2, very good second of 17 in handicap hurdle at Listowel (16f, good to soft) 3 days ago. Significantly up in trip. Stable in good form. Should go well again reverted to the Flat. RESERVE

Form: 73217-3

Non-Runners

(4)

Shoda¹⁷

Weight: 9-1| Age: 4

T: J P O'Brien J: Julian Pietropaolo

(29)

Highwind²³

Weight: 8-11| Age: 5

T: W P Mullins J: Leigh Roche

(17)

Light As Air¹⁵

Weight: 8-7| Age: 3

T: A P O'Brien J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Puturhandstogether (7/1), Nurburgring (7/1), Sixandahalf (15/2), Ascending (8/1), Happy Pharoah (17/2), Shackleton (9/1), Light As Air (10/1), Tounsivator (11/1), Aeronautic (12/1), Too Bossy For Us (14/1), Shoda (14/1), Small Fry (20/1), Comfort Zone (20/1), Filey Bay (22/1), Queenstown (25/1), Lord Erskine (25/1), Dawn Rising (25/1), Mr Percy (33/1), Helvic Dream (33/1), Sea Of Sands (33/1), Highwind (33/1), Plontier (40/1), Minstrel Knight (40/1), Zoffman (40/1), Poetic Sound (40/1), Falcon Eight (40/1), Sirius (50/1), Mon Coeur (50/1), Tribal Star (50/1), Tashkhan (50/1), Chally Chute (66/1), London City (66/1), Intellotto (80/1)

This is wide open but Henry de Bromhead's Ascot Stakes hero ASCENDING brings rock solid form to the table and can resume winning ways on the back of an excellent Ebor second with this return to a marathon trip a big plus. Emmet Mullins' smart hurdler Filey Bay remains with few miles in this sphere and could emerge as the chief threat, although a whole host of others offer persuasive cases, notably Happy Pharoah, Small Fry, Tounsivator and Comfort Zone in a cracking Irish Ceserawitch.