Racecards
20:25 Leopardstown (IRE)
Manguard Plus Handicap
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 1m 5f
- Going: Good to firm (watering)
- Surface: Turf
- €17,500 added
- Winner: €10,780
- 2nd: €3,343
- 3rd: €1,592
- 4th: €718
- Form 47/2005-
- Age 5
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey R P Whelan
chased leader in 2nd, pushed along from 4f out and ridden to challenge under 2f out, led inside final 150 yards and kept on well closing stages
- Form 416
- Age 10
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer T Mullins
- Jockey N G McCullagh
slightly slow away and briefly pushed along from stalls, raced towards rear and 7th from halfway, pushed along in rear from 3f out, ridden and no impression over 1f out, kept on same pace into 6th inside final furlong
- Form 532254-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 75
towards rear and in rear from halfway, some progress on outer from 3f out, ridden and went 3rd from 1f out, kept on inside final furlong without threatening principals
- Form 223
- Age 5
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer D K Weld
- Jockey D P McDonogh
chased leaders and 3rd from halfway, pushed along from 3f out, no impression and weakened to rear from over 1f out
- Form 96-7195
- Age 9
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 73
- Trainer C O'Brien
- Jockey T P Madden
mid-division and 6th from halfway, ridden from 4f out, no impression in 6th from 1f out and kept on into 5th inside final furlong
- Form 5588-27
- Age 8
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer A J Martin
- Jockey C T Keane
mid-division and 5th from halfway, pushed along from 2f out, no impression in 5th from 1f out, weakened to 7th inside final furlong
- Form 461321
- Age 3
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer J S Bolger
- Jockey K J Manning
led, pressed under 2f out, soon pushed along and ridden, headed inside final 150 yards, no extra and kept on same pace close home
Verdict
Abjar ran four times on the all-weather for Sir Michael Stoute last summer, landing a Wolverhampton maiden, and will have needed his comeback run and first start for his new stable at the Curragh last month. Top Of the Ra is a useful hurdler on his day and showed that fast going was no problem when landing a 1m7f maiden here last month. Days Without End, a winning bumper, has had three runs in maidens on testing ground and makes his handicap debut so how he handles the conditions could be the key to this race. Hurricane Sky gained an easy victory over course and distance last month but has struggled from his new mark and was behind the very progressive DAWN HOOFER at the Curragh. He has a big pull in the weights so looks a threat though the winner is going the right way and can complete a double.
Formwatch
Abjar 33-1 (9-5) Mid-division early, headway when slightly impeded on outer under 2f out, kept on without threatening inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 10 1/2l behind Sea The Lion (9-12) at Curragh 1m 4f hcp gf in Jun.
Tarazani (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Disputed, headed after 1st and chased leaders, 5th halfway, weakened before 4 out, 14th of 17, dist behind You Can't Catch Me (11-7) at Clonmel 2m 4f hcp gd in Jun.
Top Othe Ra (IRE) 8-1 (8-10) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along under 4f out, kept on same pace from 2f out, 6th of 14, 9l behind Low Sun (9-6) at Curragh 2m hcp gf in Jun.
Waterville Dancer (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Prominent early, mid-division after 2nd, progress in 5th after 3 out, disputed 2 out, ridden in 3rd after 2 out, stayed on to challenge last and slight mistake, soon under pressure in 3rd, kept on into 2nd closing stages, no impression on winner, 2nd of 10, 5 1/2l behind Lucky Icon (11-0) at Ballinrobe 2m gd in May.
Days Without End (IRE) 13-8fav (9-7) Led, pressed from 3f out, ridden and headed from 2f out, dropped to 3rd inside final furlong and kept on without matching principals, 3rd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Roseriver Has (9-7) at Tipperary 1m 4f mdn sft in May.
Hurricane Sky (IRE) 20-1 (9-8) Waited with, progress and effort straight, soon chased leaders and kept on same pace without threatening inside final furlong, 5th of 15, 5 1/4l behind Dawn Hoofer (8-9) at Curragh 1m 4f gf in Jun.
The Plan Man (IRE) 7-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, one pace from over 1f out, 7th of 10, 8l behind Hurricane Sky (9-4) at Leopardstown 1m 5f hcp gf in Jun.
Dawn Hoofer (IRE) 9-2 (8-9) Always prominent, on terms over 3f out, soon led, kept on well final furlong to hold on at the finish, won at Curragh 1m 4f gf in Jun beating Azzuri (9-10) by 1/2l, 15 ran.