16:25 Roscommon, Monday 12 May 2025NEXT MEETING AT ROSCOMMON ON MONDAY, 19th MAY HANDICAP (Div I)Classified Handicap | 7f111y | Turf | (0–60) | €6,000 | 3yo+ | Good ground | 17 runners declared

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Race Conditions & Setup

This is a low-grade handicap restricted to horses rated 0–60, over 7f111y on good ground. It is the first division of this split handicap.

Pace Forecast: Strong
Draw Bias: Strongly favours low – lower-numbered stalls (1–4) are best positioned, particularly when a solid gallop stretches the field.

Specific Pace Hint: The strong pace is expected to benefit those with late energy. MY KURKUM, drawn in stall 2, is positioned to take advantage tactically, while PROFIT SURGE, a prominent racer from stall 13, could be at risk of overdoing it from a wide berth.


Strongest Contenders

MY KURKUM (Stall 2)66 (TF adj)

  • Last-time-out second over 6f at Sligo, doing best of the closers.
  • Up in trip, and has previous placed turf form at similar distances.
  • Ideal draw in 2 and likely to be delivered late off a strong pace.
    Rating: 8/10

MACADAM’S ROCK (Stall 9)63+

  • Won a Dundalk 7f handicap in good style; turf form less reliable, but not without merit.
  • Same mark, solid AW form, and trainer Miss H. McLoughlin shows profitable one-off runners.
    Rating: 7/10

TOP OF THE POPS (Stall 5)64

  • Gowran winner two starts back; below form at Sligo latest, but this looks weaker.
  • Typically holds a position behind the pace and is tactically versatile.
    Rating: 6.5/10

Main Dangers

PROFIT SURGE (Stall 13)65+

  • Raced against the track bias on return and ran better than the result.
  • Still a maiden but has shown flashes; trainer John Geoghegan has a solid record with single-meeting runners.
  • Wide draw and likely to go forward early may not suit in this pace setup.
    Rating: 6.5/10

JAZZ DREAMERS (Stall 16)65

  • Lightly raced of late but showed some promise when eighth of 15 off 60 in a better race at Gowran last year.
  • Wide stall tempers enthusiasm, but market support would be interesting.
    Rating: 6/10

AKEELA (Stall 10)65

  • Below par on both turf starts this year but has a Naas win to her name from 2024 off a similar mark.
  • Has speed for 7f and stays further; slightly awkwardly drawn but not ruled out.
    Rating: 6/10

Interesting Outsiders / Watchlist

JURALITY (Stall 6)63

  • Showed first sign of life when fourth at Gowran last week off 52.
  • Modest rating but possible he’s turned a corner for new trainer.
  • Market move would be notable.
    Rating: 6/10

IS THAT LOVE (Stall 12)57

  • Once fairly useful; has dropped in the weights significantly.
  • Not showing much currently but has CD form and is well handicapped on old efforts.
    Rating: 5.5/10

SHAHADA ACE (Stall 3)56

  • Unexposed 3yo filly by Waldgeist, looks likely to improve now handicapping.
  • Trainer A. Slattery won this race in 2022.
  • Ran three times in softish ground; could be better suited by this surface.
    Rating: 6/10

Others – Brief Notes

  • CARVALHAL (15) – Front-runner returning second-up from a break; poor draw for his style. Rating: 5/10
  • RIVER DERWENT (7) – Former winner here but looks regressive. Rating: 5/10
  • SUPERIOR FORCE (14) – Runs best on AW; form on turf poor. Rating: 4.5/10
  • FEATURE THIS (17) – Hard to fancy on recent form. Rating: 3.5/10
  • SOVEREIGN BANTER (1) – Return from long layoff; watch market. Rating: 4/10
  • ZUZZUDIO (4) – Off 145 days, lightly raced but little to go on. Rating: 4.5/10
  • ZERO FIGHTER (8) – Longstanding out-of-form; hard to recommend. Rating: 3.5/10
  • CELTIC DRUID (11) – Reserve; form uninspiring. Rating: 3/10

Trainer Trends

  • A. Slattery (SHAHADA ACE) – won the 2022 renewal.
  • Ian Donoghue (FEATURE THIS) – won the 2024 Div II.
  • Conor D. Maxwell, 2024 Div I winner, not represented here.
  • Miss H. McLoughlin and John Geoghegan both show healthy profits to level stakes with single runners at meetings.

Timeform Profile Flags

  • MY KURKUMWell handicapped on form, well drawn, ran best of closers last time
  • MACADAM’S ROCKIn form, stable profitable, slight concern about turf
  • PROFIT SURGERaced against track bias LTO, needs to settle better

Each-Way Angle

With 17 runners declared, this race qualifies for 4 places EW terms (if bookmakers extend), and MY KURKUM, MACADAM’S ROCK, and TOP OF THE POPS make the most appeal at likely double-digit odds.


Tissue Estimate (based on ratings, profiles, setup)

HorseTissue Odds
MY KURKUM4/1
MACADAM’S ROCK5/1
PROFIT SURGE6/1
TOP OF THE POPS7/1
JURALITY10/1
AKEELA12/1
JAZZ DREAMERS14/1
SHAHADA ACE14/1
IS THAT LOVE20/1
RIVER DERWENT20/1
SUPERIOR FORCE25/1
CARVALHAL25/1
ZUZZUDIO25/1
FEATURE THIS40/1
ZERO FIGHTER50/1
SOVEREIGN BANTER66/1
CELTIC DRUID66/1

Note: Keep a close eye on the betting market, particularly for long-absent runners like SHAHADA ACE, SOVEREIGN BANTER, JAZZ DREAMERS, and FEATURE THIS, who could be primed for a ‘go day’ now handicapping or back on preferred ground.

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