Racecards
20:30 Leopardstown (IRE)
Independence Day Handicap
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 1m 4f
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- €8,000 added
- Winner: €5,520
- 2nd: €1,280
- 3rd: €560
- 4th: €320
- Form 4022-63
- Age 8
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 71
- Trainer J J Hanlon
- Jockey G F Carroll
settled towards rear, some headway on outer early straight and 9th over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
- Form 1200-85
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer W McCreery
- Jockey P J Smullen
tracked leaders and took keen hold, 4th 4f out, ridden approaching straight and no impression in 5th 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
- Form 33-6632
- Age 6
- Weight 9-12
- Official Rating 68
led until headed before halfway, tracked leader in 2nd and ridden entering straight, soon no impression on winner and dropped to 4th early final furlong, no extra and lost further 2 places near line
- Form 0435-50
- Age 6
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 64
- Trainer D Cullen
- Jockey N G McCullagh
dwelt and slowly into stride, always towards rear, in touch approaching straight but no threat under 2f out
- Form 43416
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 76
rear of mid-division on inner and 9th halfway, headway entering straight and went 5th 2f out, 3rd early final furlong and kept on same pace without troubling principals
- Form 8/9-8000
- Age 5
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 58
- Trainer Mrs C Harrison
- Jockey Katherine S O'Brien
tracked leaders in 4th, dropped to 6th early straight and soon no extra, weakened
Vim (IRE)
13- Form 39397
- Age 4
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 58
- Trainer S P Hennessy
- Jockey S A Gray
held up on outer towards rear and 10th halfway, ridden approaching straight and no impression in 8th from over 1f out
- Form 906646
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 56
- Trainer T Doyle
- Jockey L P Dempsey
mid-division and 7th halfway, ridden along approaching straight and no extra from 2f out
- Form 804000
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 56
- Trainer P Martin
- Jockey R P Whelan
reared leaving stalls and refused to race
- Form 06450/5-
- Age 10
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 54
mid-division and 6th halfway, ridden in 7th and no impression early straight, kept on same pace inside final furlong to go 4th closing stages
- Form 877-778
- Age 5
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 51
tracked leaders in 3rd and raced a bit keenly, ridden early straight and went 2nd over 1f out, no impression on winner and kept on same pace final furlong
- Form 0-85041
- Age 3
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 56
- Trainer J S Bolger
- Jockey R P Cleary
tracked leader in 2nd and raced keenly, led before halfway, ridden over 1f out to assert and kept on well inside final furlong
Wyoyo (IRE)
20- Form 0980-3
- Age 3
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 59
- Trainer G M Lyons
- Jockey I J Brennan
mid-division and 8th halfway, ridden 4f out and dropped towards rear, kept on under pressure in straight without threatening to go 5th on line
Verdict
Sword Of Honour doesn't look the most straightforward but has gone well the last twice and looks sure to be be in the mix once again. It will be interesting to see if the drop back to a mile and a half works the oracle after those useful efforts over 2f further. If Per Chance warrants respect but the eight-year-old has it to do off topweight despite his excellent latest effort, whilst Tooreen Legend contested a good Curragh handicap last time, having previously landed a small Wexford contest on lively ground. Jim Bolger has wasted no time in getting NEOPHILIA out again under a 5lb penalty after her authoritative 4l defeat of Island In The Sun at Gowran Park this week. She's asked to handle a dramatic increase in trip but it's dangerous to ignore a filly in form, didn't look like stopping at Gowran and remains temptingly weighted.
Formwatch
If Per Chance (IRE) 20-1 (9-13) Behind, ridden and headway 1 1/2f out, 8th 1f out, kept on final furlong to 3rd closing stages, 3rd of 16, 1 3/4l behind Truly Genius (9-9) at Leopardstown 1m 2f hcp 47-70 gf in Jun.
Phantom Of Plenty (IRE) 14-1 (8-5) Waited with, progress to have every chance over 1f out, no impression and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 10, 2 1/4l behind Bensoon (8-13) at Gowran Park 1m 1f hcp gf in May.
Sword Of Honour (IRE) 9-4fav (9-8) Mid-division on outer and 5th halfway, ridden and went 4th over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong to go 2nd near line, not trouble winner, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Knockcroghery (8-12) at Tipperary 1m 6f hcp 50-75 gf in Jun.
Total Reality (IRE) 20-1 (9-3) Chased leader, moderate 2nd halfway, ridden in 3rd 2f out, no extra over 2f out, 10th of 11, 20l behind Benbecula (10-0) at Fairyhouse 1m 4f hcp sft in Jun.
Tooreen Legend (IRE) 9-1 (9-1) Waited with well off pace, some headway in 6th and kept on same pace from over 1f out, 6th of 10, 8l behind Levanto (9-6) at Curragh 1m 4f 3yo hcp 60-90 gf in Jun.
Black Belt (IRE) 33-1 (9-8) Soon towards rear, never a factor, 12th of 15, 8l behind The Black Devil (9-1) at Clonmel 1m 2f hcp 47-65 gf in May.
Vim (IRE) 16-1 (9-9) Settled in rear of mid-division, 8th entering straight and soon no impression, kept on one pace final furlong, 7th of 15, 9l behind Blue Ridge Lane (9-6) at Limerick 1m 3f app hcp 47-65 gd in Jun.
Gumption (IRE) 14-1 (9-1) Towards rear, ridden into 9th 2f out, no impression in 7th 1f out, kept on same pace, 6th of 13, 4l behind The Ring Is King (9-9) at Ballinrobe 1m 1f Handicap (47-70) (4yo+) gd in Jun.
Knight Of Bangkok 20-1 (9-5) Towards rear, ridden and no impression 2f out, kept on one pace from over 1f out, 10th of 17, 15l behind Melanippe (8-5) at Fairyhouse 1m 4f hcp 47-65 gs in Jun.
Carlowsantana (IRE) 7-1 (9-9) Soon led, headed and no extra from 2f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 13, 10l behind Cognomen (8-9) at Ballinrobe 1m 6f hcp 47-65 sft in Jun '12.
Hootie (IRE) 14-1 (8-11) Chased leaders early, lost action and dropped towards rear after 1 1/2f, some late headway from over 1f out, 8th of 15, 6l behind All About Timing (8-8) at Fairyhouse 1m 2f hcp 47-65 gf in Jun.
Neophilia (IRE) 10-3fav (9-6) Soon prominent, 2nd for much, challenged and led over 1f out, stayed on well to draw clear inside final furlong, comfortably, won at Gowran Park 1m 1f 3yo hcp 47-65 gf beating Island In The Sun (9-10) by 4l, 15 ran.
Wyoyo (IRE) 8-1 (8-10) Chased leaders, moderate 4th halfway, ridden in 5th 3f out, no impression in 4th under 2f out, kept on same pace to 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Jan Van Eyck (8-13) at Navan 1m 2f 3yo clm in Jun.