1m6f, Handicap, 4yo+, Good To Yielding (rain about), 12 runners

A typically competitive staying handicap and an important Ebor trial. Curragh’s 1m6f start gives runners plenty of time to find position, so extreme draw bias is usually limited, though low-to-middle stalls can be slightly advantageous if the ground eases. Pace looks particularly interesting here.

Pace Assessment

Likely pace:

Perry Mason is the obvious front-runner after making all over 1m2f here last time.

Holy See was ridden positively when winning at Gowran.

Factual Fact was aggressively ridden when scoring at Killarney.

Too Bossy For Us can race prominently.


This should produce an honest rather than muddling gallop. That generally suits proven stayers and horses stepping back up to their optimum trip.

Draw Assessment

Low draws: Poetic Sound (1) and Tyson Fury (2) should secure economical positions.

Middle draws look fine.

Stall 12 for Yulia is not ideal but over this trip is far from disastrous.



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Are We Weighing The Race Correctly?

For this race I’d place extra emphasis on:

1. Stamina at 1m6f+


2. Current handicap mark versus proven class


3. Suitability to good-yielding ground


4. Pace setup


5. Recent form



Less emphasis than usual on draw because of the trip.

The key question is whether proven class (Emit, Dawn Rising) can concede weight to progressive handicappers (Factual Fact, Poetic Sound, Granite Bay).


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Runner-by-Runner Assessment

1. Emit (P)

Suitability: Track 9/10 | Trip 10/10 | Going 8/10

Former Group performer who was runner-up twice in French Group races over staying trips. Back in handicap company off 106 after perfectly respectable Listed efforts. This is a major class drop.

The concern is obvious: top weight in a deep handicap.

Score: 8.8/10 (P)


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2. Dawn Rising

Suitability: Track 9/10 | Trip 10/10 | Going 8/10

Strong staying handicap performer last season:

2nd Cesarewitch

5th Irish Cesarewitch

4th Galway Festival handicap


Recent 1m2f run can be ignored. Much better expected returned to a staying trip.

Score: 8.3/10


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3. Too Bossy For Us

Suitability: Track 8/10 | Trip 9/10 | Going 8/10

Useful dual-purpose performer. Excellent second here over 2m last summer. Flat mark looks workable.

Question is whether he’s fully tuned after recent hurdles campaign.

Score: 7.8/10


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4. Perry Mason (p)

Suitability: Track 10/10 | Trip 6/10 | Going 8/10

Three-time Curragh winner and arrives in form. However this is his first try at 1m6f.

Could get an uncontested lead but stamina remains unproven.

Score: 7.7/10 (p)


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5. Holy See (p)

Suitability: Track 7/10 | Trip 7/10 | Going 9/10

Progressive for current yard and won nicely at Gowran. Positive ride likely again.

Has to prove he can reproduce that effort against stronger opposition.

Score: 7.5/10 (p)


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6. Poetic Sound (p)

Suitability: Track 8/10 | Trip 10/10 | Going 8/10

Excellent return at Leopardstown after a break. His best 2025 form came over this trip and he shaped as though the run was needed.

Low draw, Colin Keane booked, ideal distance.

Very attractive profile.

Score: 8.6/10 (p)


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7. Granite Bay (p)

Suitability: Track 8/10 | Trip 9/10 | Going 9/10

Consistent stayer who often runs well in these races. Encouraging comeback at Gowran and likely to improve for that outing.

Ticks plenty of boxes.

Score: 8.2/10 (p)


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8. Factual Fact (P)

Suitability: Track 8/10 | Trip 10/10 | Going 8/10

Progressive profile since returning to the Flat.

Won over 2m1f at Killarney.

Runner-up at Curragh.

Carries only 8st7lb.


Looks the type still ahead of his mark and stamina is assured.

Score: 8.7/10 (P)


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9. Tribal Star

Suitability: Track 7/10 | Trip 9/10 | Going 7/10

Solid AW stayer who ran well at Chester. Rider’s claim helps.

Not obviously well treated but should remain competitive.

Score: 7.4/10


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10. Yulia (P)

Suitability: Track 8/10 | Trip 9/10 | Going 8/10

French staying winner. Irish debut over an inadequate trip where she started slowly and met trouble.

Very interesting back up in distance.

One of the more intriguing runners.

Score: 8.0/10 (P)


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11. En Or

Suitability: Track 8/10 | Trip 8/10 | Going 8/10

Capable on old form but returns after a lengthy absence from the Flat.

Market support would be significant.

Score: 6.4/10


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12. Tyson Fury

Suitability: Track 7/10 | Trip 8/10 | Going 7/10

Veteran who stays well and arrives fit from hurdling.

Others look better handicapped.

Score: 6.7/10


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Strongest Contenders

Factual Fact (P)

Progressive stayer carrying a feather weight. Guaranteed stamina and still looks ahead of his mark.

Poetic Sound (p)

Excellent comeback run and returns to optimum conditions. Likely to step forward significantly.

Emit (P)

Highest-class horse in the race. If translating Group form into handicap company he is a major player despite top weight.

Dawn Rising

Last year’s staying handicap form gives him obvious claims if returning to that level.


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Main Dangers

Granite Bay (p)

Yulia (P)

Too Bossy For Us



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Interesting Outsiders

Yulia (P)

Her Sligo run is easy to forgive. Back at a staying trip she could improve markedly.

Too Bossy For Us

Market worth monitoring. Flat mark gives him possibilities if fully wound up.


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Hold-Up Risks / Luck In Running

These runners may need gaps and race circumstances to fall right:

Dawn Rising

Poetic Sound

Granite Bay

Yulia


A genuinely run race would aid all four.


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Trainer Notes

Joseph O’Brien runs three and has an excellent strike-rate currently. Emit appears the stable’s strongest chance on form.

G M Lyons places stayers very effectively and Poetic Sound looks targeted here.

Henry de Bromhead has Factual Fact progressing rapidly.



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Private Tissue

Horse Tissue

Factual Fact 5/1
Poetic Sound 11/2
Emit 6/1
Dawn Rising 8/1
Granite Bay 8/1
Yulia 10/1
Too Bossy For Us 10/1
Perry Mason 11/1
Holy See 12/1
Tribal Star 14/1
Tyson Fury 20/1
En Or 25/1



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Each-Way Angles (12 runners, 4 places)

1. Granite Bay – solid profile, proven stamina, likely to run his race.


2. Yulia – could improve significantly for trip and circumstances.


3. Dawn Rising – strong staying handicap form makes him dangerous at a price.




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Summary

This looks set up for a genuine staying test. The race revolves around whether the class horse Emit can concede weight to improving handicappers. Factual Fact has a highly attractive weight-for-ability profile and remains unexposed as a stayer, while Poetic Sound shaped exactly like a horse ready to peak second run back.

ChatGPT Smart Plays

Win Bet

Poetic Sound (p)

Ideal trip, encouraging seasonal return, low draw, Colin Keane booked and likely improvement to come.

Saver / Alternative Win Bet

Factual Fact (P)

Progressive, well treated, proven stayer and carries only 8st7lb.

Each-Way Saver

Granite Bay (p)

Reliable stayer who should be finishing strongly if the pace develops as expected.