Irish Racing Review: The Curragh, May 26th 2013

The Curragh

Curragh – Sunday, May 26^th

6f 2yo Maiden

The obvious impression is that this was a good race but I’m not so sure and they looked something of a rogue’s gallery. To start with Taanif who unshipped rider shortly after stalls; he swished the tail just before doing this and may not be one to trust. In the same colours, Mustajeeb raced very keenly but also showed HC in the process.

Intensified held the head a bit high in the finish while Muscle Beach (entered in the Railway which wouldn’t be the yard’s style) got an easy introduction though had the jaw cocked albeit meeting traffic. Sudirman was much more professional than debut (that form worked out over the weekend) but with doubts about the attitude of a few, hard to get carried away with the form of Sir John Hawkins.

Some promise in the run of All Set To Go, travelled better than most, stayed on from rear having to be switched and not given hard time; yard’s runners all improving for the run. Master Of Time (well-backed) showed speed but faded.

1m4f Handicap

Beforehand this looked light on well-treated sorts and the form is probably below the grade; the pace looked even. Paddy The Celeb limitations well-known before this (likely to improve for further though, niggled early), likewise Leah Claire and surprise if not some better-handicapper middle-distance types than this lot in country. Show Court has reputation and did more to deliver on it here, decent effort, and same applies to Hold The Line from 10lbs wrong in the handicap; the fact a 3yo could run so well, being 10lbs wrong suggests maybe they will do well up in trip, the Irish 3yo middle-distance colts going well at present. Beach Of Falesa ran on from rear but finds little and is hard to win with; good run from Aladdins Cave as had a rotten draw, type to like cover but 19 of 20 here.

First off the bridle but ran on despite having every chance to throw in the towel to take sixth; likeable and should bounce back though may not be well-treated at this stage. Cul Baire was inclined to cock the jaw both ways while Rich Coast has a high HC. Top Spin not quite so bad as the result, hampered albeit losing ground at the time, but handicapper could drop again and was good flat horse in youth. Raydari wasn’t beaten up but made little inroads anyway and looks AW horse. With regard to the non-runner Justification, he met trouble in the Chester Cup but made no real progress closing stages there, at least relative to Simenon, and could be overbet NTO.

1m2f 3yo Group 3

This is a race that has been of little account in recent years, the pace looked slow. Leading Light an idle type, found plenty for pressure, looks like further will suit, sort to trade higher IR. Little White Cloud is slow but at least paid some sort of compliment to Battle Of Marengo. Count Of Limonade has never beaten a decent horse (in fact has only beaten yokes) while Fighter Squadron would prefer shorter. A mark of 107 overrates Sruthan who found this trip too far anyway; very keen hold and was never going to last home.

1m2f Group 1

Camelot found out here as mid-120s horse at best, well-beaten by Al Kazeem who was not given a hard time having travelled the better, only getting two cracks. Possibility the winner will be overrated off this though plenty have been doubted Camelot for a while but hype may still hold sway; feeling at this stage is that likes of Snow Fairy and Cirrus Des Aigles would have winner’s measure, to mention but two, though there may be more to come from Al Kazeem up in trip. This race has no business being a Group 1.

1m 3yo Group 1

These looked a poor crop beforehand and nothing to support a contrary view afterwards; something could improve past the winner before season’s end. Rehn’s Nest came from rear having briefly met trouble but is a bit of a thief and one to take on; the form of her sole win is terrible. The attitude concerns about Just Pretending not really an issue now, found plenty for pressure, and improving. Big Break travelled as well as anything bar the winner and this was a very good run conceding fitness all around on ground that would have been quick enough for her. Mizzava has improved run-to-run though may be difficult to place now. Maureen met plenty of trouble and is worth marking up, could well have placed with a clearer run while Dubaya travelled well to a point.

6f Handicap

Looked a competitive race beforehand and the form should prove decent. Very impressed with how Via Ballycroy travelled, less so with the fact she swished the tail in the finish (has shown temperament in the past); now in foal and clearly in good heart. A step back up to 7f may suit Arbitrageur while Srucahan has run well; travelled strongly and had to weave way through from rear, Foot Perfect another that met some trouble coming from rear and has joined Halford though temperament issues in past. Lake George in better heart than LTO though not sure to back this up while Greek Canyon showed a bit albeit not any better than form, can win off this mark. Six Of Hearts another that can compete off his mark, best horse at weights here and 7f and/or softer ground might suit; streaky sort but in form now. Curly Wee got an easy time and ran on while Rummaging was off it early but kept at it; has a race in him but it will likely be over further; he tends to improve for a run. Royal Empress, not for the first time, went like a 5f horse, while the well-backed Grey Danube showed little; he’s well-treated but may need the AW. Angela’s Dream was off it early and was entitled to need it while Made In Design is out of form and was one of the first beaten.

1m2f Maiden

Orator went like the best horse here, Connor King riding a gradual sort of race but not really allowing for Maggie Dalton quickening up on the inner, more concerned with the others he was going better than; the horse ran on again in the closing stages. Pearl Turn was another to show up well from the Majenta form-line though showed attitude that day while Lake Nova’s debut form looked poor and had a high HC on that occasion. Manalapan has not built on his debut effort despite having conditions back in his favour here and has something to prove while Magical Steps was one of the first beaten. Street Party travelled well and got an easy ride off Lordan, better to come.