Racecards
16:00 Curragh (IRE)
Gabriel Curran Memorial Madrid Handicap
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 7f
- Going: Soft to Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- €20,500 added
- Winner: €13,325
- 2nd: €3,895
- 3rd: €1,845
- 4th: €615
- Form 143-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer D K Weld
- Jockey P J Smullen
held up towards rear, ridden and no impression 1 1/2f out
- Form 123341-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer J S Bolger
- Jockey K J Manning
settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, ridden into close 2nd under 2f out, no impression winner over 1f out, kept on same pace
- Form 81-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey Joseph O'Brien
tracked leader, close 3rd halfway, improved to lead over 2f out, ridden 1f out, kept on strongly final furlong to go clear, eased close home
- Form 621256-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer P J F Murphy
- Jockey R P Whelan
led, headed over 2f out, soon ridden and no extra
- Form 158-
- Age 3
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer P J Prendergast
- Jockey C D Hayes
prominent in 2nd, ridden in 3rd 1 1/2f out, no impression over 1f out, disputed 3rd inside final furlong, 4th close home
- Form 52442-2
- Age 3
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer T Carmody
- Jockey B A Curtis
held up towards rear, not clear run over 1 1/2f out, soon ridden, 4th 1f out, stayed on to dispute 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd close home
- Form 723-138
- Age 3
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer G M Lyons
- Jockey I J Brennan
settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and no extra 2f out
Verdict
The last nine favourites have been beaten though it's difficult to know who will be market leader this time. Muaanid didn't make an appearance until August when he scored comfortably at Galway and was by no means disgraced in much better company subsequently. Einsteins Folly ran well throughout his first campaign, scoring twice and producing his best form on heavy going. FRANCIS OF ASSISI showed the benefit of his opening run with a very smooth victory in a Naas maiden run in testing conditions. It wasn't much of a race so the assessor couldn't be hard on him and entries in the 2000 Guineas and Derby here suggest much more is expected. Sherzam has a fitness advantage having run well at Dundalk and she performed with credit on soft ground here last year.
Formwatch
Muaanid 7-1 (9-7) Mid-division, improved into 2nd 2f out, soon ridden, strongly pressed winner final furlong, dropped to 3rd close home, 3rd of 12, 1/2l behind Snow Queen (9-3) at Naas 6f 2yo prm hcp hvy in Oct.
Einsteins Folly (IRE) 5-2 (9-6) Tracked leader, led after 3f, had rivals struggling from 2f out, stayed on well, won at Gowran Park 7f 2yo hcp gs in Aug beating Horizon Sky (9-5) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Francis Of Assisi (IRE) Evensfav (9-5) Pushed along early and soon mid-division, pushed along in 7th after halfway, ridden in 5th 2f out, progress to lead under 1f out, stayed on strongly, comfortably, won at Naas 6f mdn stks hvy in Oct beating General Direction (9-2) by 4l, 12 ran.
Wholelotofrosie (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Led, ridden early straight, headed over 1 1/2f out, no extra final furlong, 6th of 8, 5l behind Seolan (9-0) at Curragh 1m 2yo fll Listed stks (1) hvy in Oct.
Smoker 7-1 (9-7) Close up, 4th halfway, ridden and lost place entering straight, no impression from 1 1/2f out, last of 8, 6l behind Ballyorban (9-3) at Leopardstown 7f 2yo hcp sft in Nov.
Sherzam 2-1fav (8-7) Tracked leaders, ridden in pursuit of principals from over 1f out, soon no impression, kept on, 2nd of 13, 1l behind Calissa (9-0) at Dundalk 1m 3yo mdn fll pol in Feb.
Toccata Blue (IRE) 5-2fav (9-6) Held up towards rear, ridden and no impression 2f out, kept on one pace, 8th of 9, 5l behind Have A Nice Day (8-1) at Dundalk 7f 3yo hcp pol in Feb.