Plinth seen here winning at Navan is our pick in the Guinness Handicap
(Healy Racing Photos) 5.05
The ground is a big unknown here for these juveniles. Backdrop looks a likely type for Dermot Weld after a promising run when fourth in a hot conditions race at Leopardstown on her debut last month. Being American-bred her ability to handle this heavy surface looks a worry though. The vote goes to TRIKALA as the progeny of her sire High Chaparral generally handle an easier surface. She ran a nice race on her debut at the Curragh and then just couldn't match a good yardstick in Home School at Roscommon. That run looks good now, however, with that rival just going down in Group 3 company since. Captain Moonlite has run well to be placed a couple of times on soft ground but was well held at Down Royal last time and a place might be the best he can hope for. He probably has the beating of Bleeding Hearts on a line through Sligo winner Princess Aloof. Bleeding Hearts had just been behind Hidden Oasis on his debut at Fairyhouse. The JP McManus runner was beaten at a short price then having shaped with promise behind the classy War Command on his debut and he may be capable of better. (GC)
5.40
SECRET LOCKET jumps off the page here for Dermot Weld with cheekpieces applied for the first time and making her handicap debut off a low mark. She has shown only glimpses of ability in maidens but should be good enough to be competitive off this kind of mark. She is a half-sister to a couple of decent sorts in Scarlet O'Hara and Starstruck and the later was recently a Grade 3 winner in the US having won a Dundalk handicap when with the yard last season. Woodsophiesmile is of obvious interest given the week Tony Martin is having and she was well punted when third at Killarney last time. Her profile would suggest she was probably wanting the quick ground there however. Snakes And Ladders in contrast looks at home on a softer surface. He hasn't run since powering home to just get up at Naas in May and that surely is to do with ground. He looks a big player here. Campestral Scene also has to be given serious consideration after staying on well to finish on top of them in a seven-furlong contest here on Monday. He looks like he handles an ease and could go close again. Janna's Jingle is consistent and seems to handle most ground but may have to settle for minor honours again while New Regalia could be given a chance on her penultimate Leopardstown run and may appreciate this drop in trip. (GC)
6.15
Experience can stand to AGREEMENT here. Stamina seems his forte as he showed when staying on nicely to grab second ahead of better fancied stable-mate Victory Song at Tipperary in testing conditions back in May. The winner, Dubai Deer, had some solid form in maidens before so it was a decent effort on his return and he's entitled to have come on again for that outing. Support for Dermot Weld's newcomer Calibrate would naturally be significant. The Khalid Abdullah filly is a daughter of Arc winner Rail Link, who did all his winning on a sound surface, and is out of Listed winner Valentine Girl. Her half-brother Florimund is an average enough handicap hurdler. John Oxx saddles Roman Romance to make her debut and again the market may prove the best guide. Of the other two with form Keychain looks like he needs to step up a good bit while Stepping Down looks limited also and may have a better chance when tackling handicap company. (GC)
6.50
Kingdom wasn't overly impressive when getting home at a short price at Fairyhouse last time and with another 5lb on his back others make more appeal here. He likes to front run and will be there to be shot at. Preference is for the yard's other runner PLINTH who ran a nice race when third on his handicap debut at the Curragh. The winner lost his way a bit afterwards but the form has worked out well otherwise with the second going on to take a Tipperary maiden in which he beat Cardinal Hill, a very impressive winner at Bellewstown. There have also been a couple of horses that finished down the field in that Curragh contest that have gone on to win since. He seems to handle a cut and Ana O'Brien has proven herself well able to ride and looks good value for her 7lb claim. Dermot Weld is represented by Show Court who looks an obvious contender. He won as he was entitled to at Sligo last time and had run really well in a good handicap at the Curragh previously. He has been well held a couple of times on soft ground, however, which would be a slight concern. Curley Bill was no match for the progressive Dabadiyan at the Curragh on his last start but that was a decent effort as the winner looks stakes class. He went up 5lb for that run but still looks on a fair mark and having won a bumper on testing ground he could be a big player here. Jack Daddy was entitled to win the maiden at Ballinrobe last time but may not be the best handicapped while Bayan, off a low weight, comes here having won over timber at Perth last month, and could sneak a place. (GC)
7.25
Military Bowl cost 220,000 Euros off the flat in France. Given his rating of 103 and the form of the Tony Martin string, you can be sure a certain percentage of punters will side with the Bellewstown maiden hurdle victor. However the course winner UNACCOMPANIED (has the same official mark of 103) has always been a very classy mare and she's likely to be difficult to upstage. She returned after spring break at Leopardstown last time and she'll surely build on her third placed effort behind Royal Diamond on that occasion. Justification (92) and Fleur De Nuit (88) would seem to be the only realistic options for those wanting to take on the big two. (EM)
7.55
He may have shown his best on a decent surface but HEAVENLY BROOK could go well here. I like the stock of the stallion Alderbrook on deep ground and with first-time cheek-pieces on now Noel Henley's charge can show up well. Another with the 'side-burns' on for the initial occasion is Carlos Fandango. He'd have been the selection but I don't like supporting horses on the back of a fall last time so he is reluctantly passed over. We have three previous course and distance winners in the line-up so Another Ambition (won this in 2011), Murchu and Ballygill Gale can't be discounted. Others to catch the eye are Churchfield Champ (tongue-strap on now), Sin Palo, Western Charmer, Coolnagorna Giggs, Our Girl Lucy, Ballyburke and Bruff. (EM)
8.25
This hardly looks very attractive from a punting point of view. After his decent effort on the level behind Busted Tycoon on Tuesday night, DANCERS DILEMMA gets a tentative nod. There are plenty of handicap first-timers in this big field so a close eye on the market is certainly advisable. Killshallago has cheek-pieces on for the first-time and he could go well at a price under 'Corky' Carroll. Coming into this on the back of successes last time, you'd have to respect the chances of Treacy Hotels Boy, Killcara Boy and Milanphardantetime. Tony Martin has Galloping Gander in so watch out for that one under Monday night's hero Stephen Clements. Course winner Glibin would have a squeak too despite top weight. Admiral Hawke went well here on Monday night and should do so again. (EM)
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
Topic Author
