Thursday 17th October
By SP2A Analysis
CURRAGH 4.10 Handicap - 1 mile 6 furlongs - 23 run - Yielding to Soft
I've applied the tried and trusted logic here of looking at Flat form, form at the trip and further, Going performance on Autumn ground and any Draw bias and having assessed every single runner on that tick box logic, I was left with an initial list of 11 of the 23 runners.
From that I discarded Rockview Consort, Pachmena, and Charlie Darling, and then whittled off POlemon who has a decent form shout but who would prefer better ground, Club Manager for the Cromwell team whose Hurdle form has been decent but whose Flat runs in the UK for Andrew Balding were far more moderate and finally Make Good, who was placed in this race off a 2 year break, placed again last year off a substantial break and who arrives back here again as a big danger and very reluctantly discarded at the final hurdle.
That left me with 5 and I really see the favourite SIR ALLEN as an each way saver at 5/1, it ticks every box and if you want that comfort blanket take it but it was only my 4 rated behind the following top 3 and a 4th one at very big odds.
GRAPPA NONINO is my top rated a Course and Distance winner and placed here too, ticks every box, arrives lightly raced and fresh and with more than an inkling that this race has been a plan all season with the ground coming right.
PLAINS INDIAN had two very solid runs over Course and Distance last Autumn in October and another surely targeted at this race since then, gets ideal ground and a mark of 67 would be competitive even before the 10lbs Claimer is booked, and a capable one at that!
RAIN was outclassed at Naas on Sunday when the best part of a stone out of the handicap, not given a hard time and had a nice spin and if reappearing here would be right back in ideal company and ideal conditions.
The one at biggest Odds who really has caught me eye is SCOTT LANG who has had a needed recent prep run, best Flat Form is over 13 furlongs in Heavy up the very stiff finish at Navan off a mark of 69 and off a mark of 65 here, I can visualise it outrunning early odds of 33/1 by a considerable margin. (MG)
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TRACKERS
Wincanton 2.18 Cherry Cola
Brighton 3.50 Fullforward
Chelmsford 5.10 Switchel
Wincanton 5.15 Robinsville
Southwell 8.00 Kitsune Power
Southwell 8.30 Bond Spirit