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 KURKUM – Well handicapped on form, well drawn, ran best of closers last time
- MACADAM’S ROCK – In form, stable profitable, slight concern about turf
- PROFIT SURGE – Raced 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)
| Horse | Tissue Odds |
|---|---|
| MY KURKUM | 4/1 |
| MACADAM’S ROCK | 5/1 |
| PROFIT SURGE | 6/1 |
| TOP OF THE POPS | 7/1 |
| JURALITY | 10/1 |
| AKEELA | 12/1 |
| JAZZ DREAMERS | 14/1 |
| SHAHADA ACE | 14/1 |
| IS THAT LOVE | 20/1 |
| RIVER DERWENT | 20/1 |
| SUPERIOR FORCE | 25/1 |
| CARVALHAL | 25/1 |
| ZUZZUDIO | 25/1 |
| FEATURE THIS | 40/1 |
| ZERO FIGHTER | 50/1 |
| SOVEREIGN BANTER | 66/1 |
| CELTIC DRUID | 66/1 |
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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