Racecards
16:00 Curragh (IRE)
EquiNectar Handicap
- 16 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- €15,500 added
- Winner: €9,300
- 2nd: €3,100
- 3rd: €1,551
- 4th: €775
- Form 321323-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer J C McConnell
- Jockey B M Coen
tracked leaders, mid-division approaching straight and soon pushed along, ridden and 6th 1f out, no impression and kept on one pace inside final furlong
Zenon (IRE)
100- Form 113526/
- Age 6
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Rachael Blackmore
towards rear, some headway on inner entering straight, soon pushed along and no impression under 2f out, no extra
- Form 17-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer O McKiernan
- Jockey S Foley
tracked leaders, headway entering straight and 2nd 2f out, ridden and dropped to 4th 150 yards out, no extra
- Form 440730/
- Age 8
- Weight 9-13
- Official Rating 87
towards rear, headway on outer early straight, went 3rd and ridden 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, no impression closing stages
- Form 523109/
- Age 7
- Weight 9-12
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey W J Lee
tracked leaders, headway to lead 7f out, headed entering straight, ridden and no impression under 2f out, no extra
- Form 23102/0-
- Age 6
- Weight 9-12
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer Miss A Mooney
- Jockey J P Shinnick
rear of mid-division, pushed along entering straight and soon no extra
- Form 316-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer J S Bolger
- Jockey K J Manning
mid-division, pushed along early straight and no not clear run briefly 2f out, kept on one pace
- Form 0/0421-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey S M Crosse
mid-division, headway on outer approaching straight, pushed along and no impression under 2f out, no extra
- Form 222841-
- Age 6
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer C Byrnes
- Jockey N G McCullagh
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along and no extra early straight, weakened
- Form 22-31
- Age 6
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 79
led, ran freely, headed 7f out, led again entering straight and ridden 2f out, strongly pressed inside final furlong, kept on under pressure, headed on line
- Form 0022/51-
- Age 9
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 78
tracked leader, 3rd halfway, 5th and pushed along entering straight, ridden and no impression under 2f out, no extra
- Form 44099/0-
- Age 7
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer G P Cromwell
- Jockey W M Lordan
tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along entering straight and ridden 2f out, 4th over 1f out, rallied between horses to challenge inside final furlong, kept on well under pressure to lead on line
- Form 34/3-649
- Age 7
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer D Hogan
- Jockey James J Doyle
towards rear, closer early straight, pushed along and short of room when switched left in 9th 1f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong to go 5th close home
- Form 730510-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey D P McDonogh
towards rear, closer early straight, pushed along and headway between horses to go 7th 1f out, no impression inside final furlong
- Form 022196-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer G P Cromwell
- Jockey J M Sheridan
towards rear, pushed along and no impression on outer early straight, ridden over 1f out and kept on one pace, never a factor
Formal Order
261- Form 320205-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 71
- Trainer M J Smith
- Jockey R C Colgan
mid-division, dropped towards rear 5f out and no extra entering straight, weakened
- Form 0/44-
- Age 8
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 71
Verdict
DALTON HIGHWAY is 12lb higher than when landing this a year ago but Andrew Slattery can claim 5lbs. He continued in excellent form, finishing runner-up in three lucrative handicaps, and ended the year beating a huge field of hurdlers at Leopardstown. Never Do Nothing was a smart handicapper over 1m4f for Andrew Balding last summer and scored over hurdles for new connections on New Year's Day. Winning bumper and hurdler Jerandme stepped up to 2m at Dundalk and proved his stamina with a battling victory while Run For Mary, a winning hurdler and bumper, could hardly have won a Thurles maiden more easily and will be ready for this. Tony Martin's new recruit Buckman Tavern and Joseph O'Brien's Pasley are others to note in a wide-open handicap.
Formwatch
Never Do Nothing (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Mid-division, outpaced 2 out, ridden before last, weakened flat, 9th of 13, 11 3/4l behind Burning Victory (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) sft in Mar.
Zenon (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Led briefly early, slow at 1st, tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, pushed along in 3rd approaching straight, no impression when left 2nd from 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 7, 28l behind Bay Ambition (11-2) at Thurles 2m 7f hcp Soft - Heavy in Mar.
Presto 10-1 (10-0) Mid-division on outer, some headway entering straight, ridden and no impression under 2f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong, 7th of 12, 4 3/4l behind Long Arm (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Oct.
Graceland (FR) 6-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, ridden and lost place after 2 out, soon well beaten, 9th of 10, dist behind The Steward (10-6) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Aug.
Kaatskill Nap (FR) 11-10fav (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, not fluent at 1st, led from 6th, travelling well 3 out, slight mistake at last and ridden, briefly edged left, headed inside final furlong, no extra close home, 2nd of 17, 2 3/4l behind Lord In Red (11-4) at Roscommon 2m 4f mdn gd in Oct.
White Desert (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Waited with, 8th after 2nd, slight mistake 4th, slightly impeded 5th, closed up from 7th, one pace approaching 2 out, 3rd of 11, 18l behind Make The Switch (11-1) at Down Royal 2m 4f mdn gd in Aug.
Harriet Tubman (IRE) 25-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders, ran freely early, 4th halfway, closer and pushed along approaching straight, ridden and no impression under 2f out, no extra from over 1f out, 6th of 8, 9l behind Dadoozdart (9-1) at Limerick 1m 4f lst stks (1) hvy in Oct.
Pasley (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Soon tracked leaders, 3rd after 2nd, not fluent 5th, challenged on inner from 2 out and not much room, no extra and one pace run-in, 3rd of 10, 6 1/4l behind Instant Return (11-5) at Naas 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Run For Mary (IRE) 9-4fav (9-9) Waited with, 8th approaching halfway, closed up over 4f out travelling smoothly, led over 2f out on outer, soon pushed along, stayed on well to assert inside final furlong, comfortably, won at Thurles 2m mdn sft in Oct beating Caer (9-9) by 7 1/2l, 14 ran.
Jerandme (IRE) 3-1fav (11-7) Awkward from stalls and bumped, soon disputed and ran freely early, headed after 1f and chased leaders, moderate 3rd halfway, closer in 2nd 2 1/2f out, ridden to lead 2f out, strongly pressed 1 1/2f out, joined close home, just prevailed at line, won at Dundalk 2m hcp pol in Feb beating Sharjah (10-0) by ns, 14 ran.
Bay Hill (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Raced in last throughout, not fluent at 1st, left remote 5th at 8th, never a factor, 5th of 6, dist behind Yaha Fizz (11-3) at Punchestown 2m hvy in Feb.
Mutadaffeq (IRE) 9-1 (12-0) Rear of mid-division on outer, took keen hold, headway into 4th at 3rd, went 3rd entering straight, led narrowly 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on well under pressure inside final furlong, won at Clonmel 2m 1f sft in Mar beating Bitsandpieces (12-0) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Bal De Rio (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden in 4th 3 out, no impression before next, kept on one pace, slight mistake last, 4th of 20, 20 1/4l behind Wingin A Prayer (11-4) at Down Royal 2m 1f mdn sft in Mar.
King Pellinor (IRE) 5-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 4th, 2nd halfway, ridden and lost place before 3 out, no impression early straight, no extra and behind when refused last, at Gowran Park 2m mdn hvy in Feb.
Severus Alexander (IRE) 4-1fav (10-9) Mid-division, not fluent at 3rd and briefly pushed along, pushed along at 5th, ridden in moderate 9th 2 out, kept on without threatening inside final furlong, 4th of 15, 15 1/4l behind Benefit North (11-2) at Downpatrick 2m 3f hcp Yielding in Mar.
Formal Order 4-1 (9-5) Soon led, headed soon after 3f and prominent, on terms from halfway, edged left and headed over 2f out, no extra and one pace after, 5th of 16, 6l behind Istoria (9-0) at Gowran Park 1m 1f mdn sft in Sep.
Sneaky Getaway (IRE) 33-1 (9-7) Mid-division, driven and headway over 3f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, never reached leaders, 8th of 30, 13 3/4l behind Stratum (9-7) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp stks (2) sft in Oct.
Dalton Highway (IRE) 9-2fav (11-7) Mid-division early, 14th at 3rd, impeded at 4th, soon headway and effort straight, led inside final 100yds, stayed on well, won at Leopardstown 2m 4f hcp sft in Dec beating Youngnedofthehill (10-4) by 2 1/2l, 23 ran.
Buckman Tavern (FR) 7-2 (8-13) Led, headed over 1f out, no extra, 3rd of 6, 4 1/4l behind Starczewski (8-6) at Chelmsford City 1m 6f hcp (2) pol in Aug.
Tritonix 12-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, 7th at last (usual 3 out), soon ridden and no impression, 10th of 21, dist behind Yukon Lil (11-7) at Naas 2m mdn sft in Dec.
Lakemilan (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Mid-division, ridden in 6th entering straight, soon no impression, 8th of 15, 13 3/4l behind Janidil (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp Yielding - Soft in Dec.