Racecards
18:25 Curragh (IRE)
Today FM Handicap (60-90)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 6f
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- €16,500 added
- Winner: €11,386
- 2nd: €2,641
- 3rd: €1,155
- 4th: €660
- Form 532-113
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer T Collins
- Jockey P J Smullen
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
- Form 0-64459
- Age 6
- Weight 9-13
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer Joseph Murray
- Jockey Colin Keane
dwelt, in rear, ridden over 2f out, 9th 2f out, no impression
- Form 0-57042
- Age 6
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 79
chased leaders, 5th 2f out, soon ridden, 2nd 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, dropped to 3rd close home
- Form 773021
- Age 9
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer H Rogers
- Jockey Gary Halpin
disputed lead, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 20661-6
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 77
rear of mid-division, short of room 2f out, soon pushed along, 6th when switched left and ridden 1f out, good headway inside final furlong to lead close home
- Form 360-812
- Age 4
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer D Kinsella
- Jockey C R King
disputed lead, led and ridden 2f out, strongly pressed 1f out, headed and no extra close home
- Form 51430-6
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer J S Bolger
- Jockey K J Manning
always behind, pushed along after 2f, no impression from 2f out, never a factor
- Form 343472
- Age 7
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer A McGuinness
- Jockey Chris Hayes
mid-division, ridden in 6th 2f out, no impression final furlong
- Form 86250-0
- Age 6
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer T Doyle
- Jockey Wayne Lordan
chased leaders, ridden 3f out, soon weakened
- Form 480-921
- Age 5
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 63
- Trainer D English
- Jockey Rory Cleary
chased leaders, ridden in 3rd 2f out, 3rd 1f out, no extra final furlong
- Form 703917
- Age 6
- Weight 8-5
- Official Rating 64
- Trainer R O'Sullivan
- Jockey T P Madden
disputed lead, headed and ridden halfway, no impression from 2f out
- Form 9513-33
- Age 3
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 67
- Trainer A Keatley
- Jockey G J Phillips
mid-division, ridden in 7th on stands' rail 2f out, went 5th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
In depth
Verdict
Three-year-olds have won the last two of these so Fields Of May shouldn't be dismissed despite having had little experience. Mick Halford has won two of the last four and DARK ALLIANCE (NAP) can continue the sequence. He looked very progressive when scoring easily at Dundalk in November and will be all the better for his run here earlier this month where he only faded close home. Indian Landing was in tremendous form at Dundalk earlier this year but has never won from a mark this high while Calm Bay and Shipyard, who fought out the finish of a Down Royal handicap last week, have a bit more to do over this extra furlong. Ducky Mallon looks a threat as he scored over an extra furlong at Gowran and was then just reeled in by Shabra Emperor over the same trip at Fairyhouse. Ask Dad is in cracking form and a 5lb penalty for Wednesday's victory at Naas shouldn't prevent another big run.
Formwatch
Indian Landing (IRE) 6-1 (9-9) Mid-division, ridden in 6th 2f out, no impression in 3rd 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 12, 6l behind Grey Danube (9-5) at Dundalk 7f hcap pol in Feb.
Captain Cullen (IRE) 11-2 (9-6) Held up, soon 13th, switched right under 3f out, 10th 1f out, one pace, 9th of 16, 6l behind Vitally Important (9-8) at Naas 7f hcp.
Shipyard (USA) 3-1fav (9-10) Chased leaders, ridden in 5th on outer 2f out, went 3rd 1f out, stayed on well final furlong to strongly press winner close home, 2nd of 8, hd behind Calm Bay (9-2) at Down Royal 5f hcp gf.
Calm Bay (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Dwelt, held up in mid-division on inner, 6th halfway, progress and went 3rd 2f out, ridden in 2nd over 1f out, stayed on well to lead inside final furlong, all out close home, won at Down Royal 5f hcp gf beating Shipyard (9-10) by hd, 8 ran.
Dark Alliance (IRE) 3-1fav (9-11) Soon led and disputed, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, no impression and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 6th of 15, 5l behind Bainne (9-0) at Curragh 6f hcp.
Ducky Mallon (IRE) 5-2fav (9-10) Held up 5th, pushed along approaching straight, switched right and on terms 2f out, led narrowly 1 1/2f out, soon ridden, kept on well, headed close home, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Shabra Emperor (8-13) at Fairyhouse 7f hcp 50-80 gf.
Fields Of May (IRE) 10-1 (9-8) Chased leaders, pushed along in rear approaching straight, no impression 2f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 7, 14l behind Corbata (9-11) at Leopardstown 7f 3yo hcp sft in Apr.
Oor Jock (IRE) 13-2 (8-5) Tracked leaders, 3rd 2f out, ridden over 1f out, 2nd and no impression on winner inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Balmont Mast (9-9) at Navan 6f hcp 60-95 gf.
Maria Montez 25-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, 8th halfway, no extra straight and eased in rear over 1f out, last of 10, 19l behind Annie Irish (8-5) at Limerick 7f stks gf.
Ask Dad 4-1fav (9-6) Prominent, 4th early, moderate 2nd over 1f out, closed and drifted left inside final furlong, gained narrow lead from 50yds out and stayed on well, won at Naas 6f hcp 47-65 gf beating Longfield Lad (8-11) by hd, 20 ran.
Doonard Prince (IRE) 10-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, no impression 1f out, kept on same pace under pressure inside final furlong, 7th of 15, 6l behind Bainne (9-0) at Curragh 6f hcp.
Anonymous Lady (IRE) 7-2 (8-13) Close up on rail, 2nd halfway, ridden in 3rd and no impression 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, no extra closing stages, 3rd of 7, 4l behind Ostatnia (9-8) at Cork 5f 3yo hcp gf.
Archibald Thorburn (IRE) 25-1 (8-10) Towards rear, last halfway, headway between horses from 2f out and soon switched right, closed 1f out, kept on without troubling winner inside final furlong, 3rd of 15, 2 1/4l behind Bainne (9-0) at Curragh 6f hcp.