Eye Catchers August 2023

Rahmi – 6th in 6.10 Curragh 26/08/23

Rahmi ran a very good race to finish sixth in the Irish Cambridgeshire for Johnny Murtagh and 3 lb claimer Danny Sheehy. He raced prominently and was the only prominent runner bar the second, Blues Emperor, to finish in the first eight. He has been dropped 3 lbs by the handicapper and there could be another race for him this Autumn.

My Girl Sioux – 5th in 3.50 Naas 27/08/23

My Girl Sioux ran fifth in the 47-65 Handicap at Naas. She was badly hampered at the start when Zig Zag Zyggy jumped right leaving the stalls bumping into Darcy’s Rock who in turn squeezed My Girl Sioux. That cost her a couple of lengths, she made that ground up and was in contention at the two furlong pole where she levelled out after her earlier exertions. 

At that point jockey Andrew Slattery wasn’t hard on her and the handicapper has dropped her 3 lbs since.

Irish Rumour – 4th in 5.45 Leopardstown 24/08/23

Irish Rumour was making her handicap debut at Leopardstown off a mark of 65 and got an educational ride by jockey Seamie Heffernan. She got a lovely position against the rail and was settled mid division where she was allowed to find her rhythm. She got three slaps of the whip but it looked like Seamie wasn’t hard on her and she finished five lengths behind the winner in fourth. She should be able to find a race of similar nature that she is capable of going close.

Swing To The Stars – 3rd in 3.35 Epsom 18/08/23

Lethal Touch slipped the field from the front to win this race but the horse to take from it was the beaten favourite Swing To The Stars. He needs a strong pace to help him settle and he didn’t get that in this race but the way he stayed on strongly all the way to the line suggests that he will win a race of a similar nature. He is entered in the Apprentice Handicap over 1m 2f at Yarmouth on Sunday. Apprentice jockeys can often go too hard up front and it could set up perfectly for a closer like Swing To The Stars.

Rockbury Lad – 4th in 7.05 Leopardstown 17/08/23

Rockbury Lad was sent off 7/2 joint favourite for a 47-70 Handicap over 1m 1f at Leopardstown. Jockey Leigh Roche went the brave man’s route up the inside to make his run and the door got firmly closed on him. He was picking up in eye-catching fashion before this happened and when gathered up after he picked up again to finish a closing fourth. He has gone up 1lb in the handicap but there is definitely a race in this horse off a mark of 63. He is entered for Killarney on Thursday and has a lovely draw in stall 4.

Half Nutz – 2nd in 5.05 Leopardstown 17/08/23

 Half Nutz is back on a handicap mark where he is capable of picking up a race soon. He went close on his last run at Leopardstown when slow from the stalls (not for the first time). If he can get a good pace to aim at over 7 furlongs on soft ground. He has an entry for a Leopardstown Handicap this Thursday and with Adam Caffrey claiming five he could take some beating. You would need an each way price to have a bet on him though.

Olympic Man – 3rd in 1.55 Galway 05/08/23

Olympic Man was the outsider of the three Willie Mullins trained horses. He jumped and travelled strongly and finished a creditable third on his stable debut. He looks like a winter horse who should improve for this run and end up a nice horse over the coming season. He should definitely be capable of winning a Maiden Hurdle on his next run.

Enniskerry – 7th in 6.40 Galway 02/08/23

Enniskerry was well supported in the Galway Plate and travelled strongly into contention rounding the final bend. He weakened inside the final furlong finishing seventh. The ground had just gone on the soft side that day which wouldn’t have favoured him. He’s been dropped 1lb by the handicapper and if the Kerry National was to be run on good ground I would be putting Enniskerry up as a selection for my subscribed members.