Racecards
18:15 Leopardstown (IRE)
Leopardstown Handicap
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 1m 2f
- Going: Good (Good to Firm in places)
- Surface: Turf
- €15,500 added
- Winner: €9,300
- 2nd: €3,100
- 3rd: €1,551
- 4th: €775
- Form 576500
- Age 5
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer D Marnane
- Jockey D W O'Connor
prominent and led after 1f, pushed along in straight, ridden and headed 1f out, soon no impression on winner, kept on one pace
- Form 3-1
- Age 4
- Weight 9-11
- Official Rating 87
slowly into stride and rear of mid-division, some headway on outer in mid-division halfway, pushed along early straight, 7th and ridden over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong
- Form 44220-5
- Age 4
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 86
tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along early straight, ridden and no impression 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
- Form 61615-0
- Age 4
- Weight 9-9
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer J P Murtagh
- Jockey D E Sheehy
rear of mid-division, some headway on inner early straight, no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace
- Form 644-130
- Age 4
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer M Mulvany
- Jockey G F Carroll
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, pushed along and lost place approaching straight, no extra under 2f out, eased inside final furlong
- Form 14448/6
- Age 6
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer A J Martin
- Jockey R C Colgan
mid-division, pushed along early straight, ridden over 1f out and no impression inside final furlong, kept on one pace
- Form 4076-80
- Age 7
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer Peter Fahey
- Jockey B M Coen
mid-division, some headway entering straight, 6th and ridden under 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
- Form 00147-5
- Age 5
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer G P Cromwell
- Jockey C D Hayes
tracked leaders on inner, 5th halfway, ridden early straight and no extra over 1f out, eased inside final furlong
- Form 150/0-80
- Age 8
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer K Prendergast
- Jockey S T McCullagh
led early, tracked leaders, 7th halfway, 4th and ridden on outer 2f out, no impression over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, kept on one pace
- Form 008-446
- Age 6
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer Mrs A M O'Shea
- Jockey Adrian O'Shea
rear of mid-division, pushed along entering straight, ridden and no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace
Welcoming (FR)
237- Form 237610-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 79
tracked leaders, headway into 2nd before halfway, pushed along and lost place entering straight, soon no extra, eased inside final furlong
- Form 418-00
- Age 4
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 78
held up towards rear, pushed along in straight, 11th and ridden over 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong
- Form 62221/2
- Age 5
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer T Mullins
- Jockey J M Sheridan
tracked leaders, 6th halfway, pushed along and headway in 3rd entering straight, progress to lead 1f out, ridden and kept on well inside final furlong
Sayesse
20- Form 243710
- Age 6
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 73
- Trainer N C Kelly
- Jockey T P Madden
slowly into stride, always rear, pushed along and detached approaching straight, no extra
- Form 2070-56
- Age 7
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 77
Verdict
Strongbowe, a close third over this trip at Cork last May, showed his versatility when returning after over a year off to land a 7f maiden at Roscommon. The third that day was beaten five lengths and is rated 74 so Paddy Twomey's charge isn't overrated on 87. Rocky Blue, a Grade 2 winner over hurdles here in December, ran a fine race when runner-up in a 1m5f Sligo handicap two weeks ago but could just find this on the short side. Aidan O'Brien couldn't get a win out of GLOBE THEATRE last year and he's now with Joseph but starts off in handicaps off a winnable mark and can take this. Ideal Pal ran poorly on heavy ground last time but would have to be a threat on his previous two efforts including behind Patrick Sarsfield on this track. Course and distance winner Centroid was returning from a very long break at the Curragh last month and did enough to suggest he could get competitive as Dermot Weld wouldn't be keeping a five-year-old unless thought capable of winning again.
Formwatch
Freescape 50-1 (9-7) Waited with, soon rear of mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, soon no impression, 11th of 12, 13 1/2l behind Ancient Spirit (9-10) at Curragh 1m lst stks (1) gd in Jun.
Strongbowe (FR) 5-6fav (9-9) Tracked leaders on inner, switched left entering straight and headway 2f out, pushed along and edged right to lead 1 1/2f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, won at Roscommon 7f mdn gf in Jun beating El Padre (9-9) by 1 1/4l, 15 ran.
Sky Seven (IRE) 25-1 (10-3) Mid-division early, 8th approaching halfway, soon pushed along briefly between horses, headway to chase leaders inside final furlong on outer, kept on, 5th of 15, 5 3/4l behind Mirann (10-3) at Gowran Park 1m 1f hcp gd in Jun.
Multamis (IRE) 15-2 (10-3) Waited with, 11th approaching halfway, headway straight, one pace 1 1/2f out, 11th of 15, 7 3/4l behind Ideal Pal (9-9) at Gowran Park 1m 1f hcp gd in Jun.
Ideal Pal (IRE) 9-2 (10-2) Pushed along briefly early, soon chased leaders, lost position and slightly impeded early straight and switched right, weakened from under 2f out, 11th of 13, 35l behind Isotope (9-12) at Roscommon 1m 2f hcp hvy in Jul.
Akhlaaq 50-1 (9-13) Dwelt, towards rear, some headway from over 1f out, kept on without threatening inside final furlong, 6th of 15, 7 1/4l behind Mirann (10-3) at Gowran Park 1m 1f hcp gd in Jun.
Hamley (FR) 16-1 (8-12) Rear of mid-division, 10th halfway,lost place and under pressure 2 1/2f out, weakened over 1f out, 13th of 16, 12 3/4l behind Rayounpour (8-6) at Cork 1m 4f hcp Yielding in Jul.
Innamorare (IRE) 14-1 (9-1) Mid-division, pushed along entering straight, 8th and ridden over 1f out, kept on one pace under pressure inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 6 1/2l behind Patrick Sarsfield (9-5) at Leopardstown 1m 1f hcp gd in Jun.
Centroid 16-1 (9-8) Mid-division, headway into 5th 3f out, soon ridden and no impression, 12th of 18, 8 1/4l behind Njord (10-0) at Curragh 1m 2f hcp gd in Jun.
Aared (IRE) 14-1 (9-8) Chased leaders, dropped to 8th and ridden 3f out, weakened, 13th of 18, 8 1/2l behind Njord (10-0) at Curragh 1m 2f hcp gd in Jun.
Contrapposto (IRE) 100-1 (9-13) Waited with, soon towards rear, pushed along under 4f out in last, no impression under 2f out, weakened from over 1f out, 6th of 7, 20l behind Pondus (9-13) at Roscommon 1m 4f lst stks (1) hvy in Jul.
Welcoming (FR) 25-1 (10-0) Soon led, headed after 2f and 2nd halfway, ridden and lost place 2f out, soon no extra, 12th of 13, 21 3/4l behind Lord Rapscallion (9-5) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Nov.
Mohtarrif (IRE) 5-2fav (9-10) Pushed along briefly early, prominent, 2nd approaching halfway, pushed along again and effort straight, no extra from over 1f out, 12th of 15, 13 1/4l behind Mirann (10-3) at Gowran Park 1m 1f hcp gd in Jun.
Rocky Blue (IRE) 4-1 (9-9) Dwelt, held up towards rear, 9th over 2f out, progress on outer entering straight, 5th over 1f out, kept on to go 2nd 100 yards out, no impression on winner, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Sicario (9-3) at Sligo 1m 5f hcp gd in Jul.
Sayesse 40-1 (10-0) Towards rear, no headway, slightly detached 2f out, soon weakened, never a factor, last of 18, 35 1/4l behind Gee Rex (10-2) at Curragh 1m hcp gd in Jun.
Spruce Meadows (IRE) 25-1 (9-4) Mid-division, closer in 5th 3f out, ridden 2f out, 3rd 1f out, no extra final furlong, 6th of 18, 4 1/2l behind Njord (10-0) at Curragh 1m 2f hcp gd in Jun.
Globe Theatre (USA) 9-2 (9-5) Dwelt and pushed along briefly, raced in 6th early, soon 5th, raced on outer into straight and soon struck by rival rider's whip, kept on well without reaching front pair inside final furlong, 3rd of 14, 1l behind Hazel Bay (9-4) at Dundalk 1m 3f mdn pol in Oct.