Racecards
14:00 Curragh (IRE)
Paddy Power 'From The Horse's Mouth' Podcast Handicap
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 5f
- Going: Soft to Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- €21,000 added
- Winner: €12,600
- 2nd: €4,200
- 3rd: €2,100
- 4th: €1,051
- Form 2/20930-
- Age 9
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer W McCreery
- Jockey Nathan Crosse
disputed lead, pushed along from 2f out, led over 50yds out, stayed on well to quickly assert
- Form 773743-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-13
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer M J Smith
- Jockey Robbie Colgan
a little uneasy in stalls, waited with towards rear, pushed along from 2f out, soon no impression
- Form 531/879-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-13
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey M A Gallagher
chased leaders, 9th before halfway, soon pushed along, one pace 1f out
- Form 67-0412
- Age 4
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer C O'Brien
- Jockey D E Sheehy
chased leaders, 5th before halfway, pushed along from 2f out, no extra from over 1f out, soon weakened
- Form 97960/4-
- Age 5
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey S Foley
close up far side where raced alone and soon disputed lead, pushed along from 2f out, headed over 50yds out, no extra and one pace after
- Form 1218/
- Age 6
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer W McCreery
- Jockey W J Lee
waited with towards rear, pushed along from 2f out, soon no impression, headway into mid-division final furlong, kept on without threatening
- Form 643953/
- Age 10
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer M C Grassick
- Jockey G M Ryan
chased leaders, 6th before halfway, pushed along 2f out, no extra from over 1f out, soon weakened
- Form 109-215
- Age 4
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer T G McCourt
- Jockey Colin Keane
chased leaders, disputed 7th before halfway, pushed along from 2f out, chased front pair 1f out, kept on without threatening closing stages
- Form 0/93114-
- Age 6
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer Mrs S Dawson
- Jockey Wayne Lordan
prominent, 4th before halfway, pushed along over 2f out, no extra and one pace 1f out
- Form 313753-
- Age 5
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer L Breen
- Jockey Chris Hayes
close up, 3rd before halfway, still chasing front pair 1f out, soon no impression, kept on without threatening closing stages
- Form 068200-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 62
- Trainer Miss S J Harty
- Jockey Ms N A Kane
mid-division, disputed 7th before halfway, pushed along 2f out, no extra from over 1f out, soon weakened
In depth
Verdict
The three-year-old Grammata faces a tough test in this sort of ground but Pretty Boy Floyd completed a track double in testing conditions in the autumn though looked a few pounds high on his hat-trick bid. The smart Downforce very rarely runs over the minimum trip these days though won't mind the conditions and his rider's claim is a bonus. Big Gossey had Ecclesiastical behind when runner-up at Dundalk just over a week ago and the pair should be contenders while Indigo Balance, a Listed winner here in 2018, is back with Jessica Harrington after an unsuccessful spell in Australia. Flaming Moon was racing over much further last season and a chance is taken with SUMMER SANDS. The winner of Redcar's Two-Year-Old Trophy in 2019 for Richard Fahey, he didn't make the expected progress last year but showed plenty of pace in Listed and Group 3 company.
Formwatch
Downforce (IRE) 25-1 (9-7) Rear of mid-division, 8th halfway, under pressure over 2f out, ridden 1 1/2f out, soon weakened, eased final 100 yards, last of 12, 8 3/4l behind Harry's Bar (9-7) at Dundalk 6f lst stks (1) pol in Nov.
Flaming Moon (IRE) 5-1 (9-11) Chased leader in 2nd for most, ridden 2f out, no impression on winner 1f out, dropped to 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 4 1/4l behind Real Force (9-11) at Naas 7f hvy in Nov.
Summer Sands 28-1 (9-7) Soon narrow leader, joined before halfway, soon headed and pushed along, no extra final furlong, 9th of 11, 8 1/2l behind Lustown Baba (9-2) at Curragh 6f lst stks (1) sft in Oct.
Big Gossey (IRE) 7-2 (9-13) Tracked leader in close 2nd on outer, strongly challenged leader 1 1/2f out, soon edged right, ridden and every chance under 1f out, not match winner final 100 yards, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Pulse Of Shanghai (9-11) at Dundalk 5f hcp pol in Mar.
Indigo Balance (IRE) (9-6) 4th of 6, 3 1/2l behind Splintex (9-1) at Randwick 5f gd in Jan.
Gobi Desert 8-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along under 2f out and no extra inside final furlong, weakened, 8th of 9, 10 1/4l behind Mr Lupton (9-3) at Curragh 6f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in May.
Texas Rock (IRE) 7-2 (10-4) Led, ridden and pressed 2f out, joined 1 1/2f out, headed final 150 yards, no extra in 3rd close home, 3rd of 5, 3/4l behind Leagan Gaeilge (8-9) at Naas 1m hcp gd in Jul.
Ecclesiastical 2-1fav (9-7) Slowly away, held up in rear, 9th 2f out, switched right over 1f out, progress under 1f out, ridden and ran on final 100 yards, never nearer, 5th of 9, 3l behind Pulse Of Shanghai (9-11) at Dundalk 5f hcp pol in Mar.
Pretty Boy Floyd (IRE) 9-4fav (9-13) Prominent, raced near side, 3rd after halfway, challenged between horses and almost on terms over 1f out, kept on without matching principals inside final furlong, 4th of 18, 3/4l behind Sagittarius Rising (9-4) at Curragh 6f hcp hvy in Nov.
That's Mad 17-2 (9-6) Slightly hampered from stalls, soon recovered and tracked leaders, 5th halfway, 3rd and ridden over 1f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Dandy Spirit (9-5) at Dundalk 5f hcp pol in Dec.
Blue Umbrella (IRE) 80-1 (8-6) Mid-division, ridden 2f out, weakened, 10th of 11, 10 3/4l behind Earls (8-10) at Naas 5f hcp hvy in Nov.
Grammata (IRE) 9-2 (9-2) A little uneasy in stalls, soon prominent, closed up travelling smoothly 2f out, gained slight lead under 1f out, soon strongly pressed, kept on well to just prevail, won at Tipperary 5f mdn gd in Sep beating Provocateuse (9-2) by nk, 11 ran.