A maximum field of 30 runners are set to take their chance in the Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh on Sunday.
It’s hardly surprising that the 2m½f premier handicap has attracted such a competitive line-up as a €600,000 prize fund is up for grabs, with the winner bagging €324,000 for connections.
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Tax For Max heads the weights but stablemate Echoes In Rain – with Rachael Blackmore booked to ride – appears to be Willie Mullins’ leading hope. Aidan O’Brien saddles the favourite, however, as Waterville sneaks into the race at the bottom of the handicap off a mark of 99.
The latest Irish Cesarewitch odds are on the Paddy Power website, otherwise Timeform’s handy guide to the runners and betting tips can be found below.
Irish Cesarewitch runners
Tax For Max
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: K. J. Manning Age: 5 Weight: 10st 2lbs Draw: 24
Useful winner at 16f over hurdles. 5/4, third of 4 in minor event at Roscommon (11.8f, good) on IRE flat debut 27 days ago, not clear run. Makes handicap debut.
**
Cleveland
Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Jockey: S. M. Crosse Age: 4 Weight: 9st 13lbs Draw: 4
3/1, first run since leaving Aidan O’Brien when good neck second of 8 to Gear Up in Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown (12f, good) 52 days ago, barely adequate test. Another bold show likely.
****
Falcon Eight
Trainer: D. K. Weld Jockey: J. A. Powell Age: 7 Weight: 9st 13lbs Draw: 16
Blinkered for 1st time, 10 lengths sixth of 8 to Gear Up in Ballyroan Stakes (22/1) at Leopardstown (12f, good) 52 days ago.
***
Okita Soushi
Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Jockey: M. P. Sheehy Age: 4 Weight: 9st 13lbs Draw: 21
14/1, fifteenth of 20 in handicap at York (13.8f, good to firm) 36 days ago.
***
Wordsworth
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Ryan Moore Age: 4 Weight: 9st 13lbs Draw: 29
Course winner. Creditable 1¾ lengths third of 7 to Camorra in Curragh Cup at this course (14f, good, 85/40). Off 93 days. Makes handicap debut.
***
Master Of Reality
Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Jockey: H. J. Horgan Age: 7 Weight: 9st 11lbs Draw: 15
Creditable sixth of 14 in handicap at Killarney (14.2f, good to soft, 14/1) 38 days ago.
**
Earl Of Tyrone
Trainer: P. Twomey Jockey: D. King Age: 4 Weight: 9st 10lbs Draw: 8
Course winner. 9/2, 8 lengths sixth of 9 to Duke De Sessa in Paddy Power Stakes at Leopardstown (12f, soft) 15 days ago. Significantly up in trip.
****
Yaxeni
Trainer: G. M. Lyons Jockey: C. T. Keane Age: 5 Weight: 9st 10lbs Draw: 13
2 wins from 5 runs this year. Career best when winning 15-runner listed race (2/1) at Galway (12.2f, soft) 19 days ago by 4 lengths from Azallya, keeping on well. Significantly back up in trip.
***
Calling The Wind
Trainer: Richard Hughes Jockey: Pat Dobbs Age: 6 Weight: 9st 9lbs Draw: 7
40/1, 9¼ lengths seventh of 8 to Mostahdaf in September Stakes at Kempton (12f) 22 days ago. Significantly back up in trip.
**
Benaud
Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Jockey: Declan McDonogh Age: 4 Weight: 9st 8lbs Draw: 20
Latest win at Bellewstown in June. 22/1, eighteenth of 20 in handicap at York (13.8f, good to firm) 36 days ago.
**
HMS Seahorse
Trainer: Paul Nolan Jockey: Ben Martin Coen Age: 4 Weight: 9st 7lbs Draw: 26
1 win from 1 run this year. 1/2, below form third of 9 in novice hurdle at Galway (16.6f, good to soft) 62 days ago. Significantly up in trip.
***
Ruling
Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Jockey: S. McCullagh Age: 4 Weight: 9st 7lbs Draw: 2
5/1 and tongue strap on for 1st time, respectable fourth of 8 in minor event at Killarney (16.8f, good to soft) 38 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Trainer going well. Makes handicap debut.
**
Shanroe
Trainer: Karl Thornton Jockey: R. C. Colgan Age: 8 Weight: 9st 7lbs Draw: 33
Course winner. 1 win from 3 runs this year. 15¾ lengths seventh of 11 to Kyprios in Irish St Leger at this course (14f, heavy, 66/1) 14 days ago. Looks competitive on form.
***
Phoenix Cowboy
Trainer: G. M. Lyons Jockey: G. F. Carroll Age: 5 Weight: 9st 6lbs Draw: 1
66/1, creditable eleventh of 23 in handicap at Leopardstown (12.8f, soft) 15 days ago. Up in trip.
**
Mighty Blue
Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Jockey: J. Coen Age: 6 Weight: 9st 5lbs Draw: 5
Course winner. Tongue strap on for 1st time, respectable 4½ lengths fourth of 15 to Yaxeni in listed race (9/1) at Galway (12.2f, soft) 19 days ago.
**
French Claim
Trainer: P. Twomey Jockey: William James Lee Age: 3 Weight: 9st 4lbs Draw: 10
Latest win at Cork in April. 4¾ lengths seventh of 9 to Eldar Eldarov in St Leger at Doncaster (14.5f, good to soft, 9/1) 14 days ago. Trainer going well. Makes handicap debut. Uphill task.
**
Azallya
Trainer: D. K. Weld Jockey: C. D. Hayes Age: 4 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 23
11/2, creditable 4 lengths second of 15 to Yaxeni in listed race at Galway (12.2f, soft) 19 days ago, no match for winner. Significantly up in trip. Makes handicap debut.
***
Echoes In Rain
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: Rachael Blackmore Age: 6 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 3
Smart jumps winner. Smart winner at 16f over hurdles. Won 20-runner handicap (11/4) at Galway (16.8f, good to soft) 62 days ago by 1½ lengths from Maze Runner, driven out. Expected to be bang there.
*****
Taipan
Trainer: Mrs J. Harrington Jockey: Shane Foley Age: 4 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 19
20/1, creditable fifth of 14 in handicap at Killarney (14.2f, good to soft) 38 days ago, never nearer.
***
Classic Lord
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead Jockey: D. E. Sheehy Age: 4 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 30
28/1, eleventh of 14 in handicap at Killarney (14.2f, good to soft) 38 days ago. Others have achieved more.
**
Dame Rapide
Trainer: Barry Fitzgerald Jockey: L. T. McAteer Age: 5 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 31
Well-beaten fourteenth of 15 to Yaxeni in listed race (20/1) at Galway (12.2f, soft) 19 days ago. Significantly up in trip.
**
Maze Runner
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: R. P. Whelan Age: 7 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 28
Course winner. 1 win from 2 runs this year. Very good 1½ lengths second of 20 to Echoes In Rain in handicap (16/1) at Galway (16.8f, good to soft) 62 days ago, keeping on well. Not taken lightly.
***
Merroir
Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Jockey: G. P. Halpin Age: 5 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 25
Creditable 5 lengths fifth of 15 to Yaxeni in listed race (18/1) at Galway (12.2f, soft) 19 days ago, never nearer. Significantly up in trip.
***
Lot Of Joy
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: Daniel Tudhope Age: 4 Weight: 8st 13lbs Draw: 32
First run since leaving Wido Neuroth when 6¼ lengths fourth of 20 to Echoes In Rain in handicap (10/1) at Galway (16.8f, good to soft) on IRE debut 62 days ago, worst of draw. Can make presence felt.
****
Whiskey Sour
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: J. M. Sheridan Age: 9 Weight: 8st 13lbs Draw: 22
14/1, unseated rider in handicap hurdle at Galway (22.8f, heavy) 57 days ago. Useful on the Flat, respectable on last Flat run. Not taken lightly.
***
Golden Flame
Trainer: Charlie & Mark Johnston Jockey: P. J. McDonald Age: 4 Weight: 8st 11lbs Draw: 27
Last of 6 in handicap at Haydock (14f, firm, 5/1) 22 days ago.
*
Inuit
Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Jockey: D. B. McMonagle Age: 3 Weight: 8st 11lbs Draw: 6
3/1, very good second of 9 in handicap at Gowran (12.4f, good) 46 days ago, sticking to task. Significantly up in trip. Worthy of respect.
***
Jerandme
Trainer: Noel Meade Jockey: C. J. MacRedmond Age: 8 Weight: 8st 11lbs Draw: 12
1 win from 3 runs this year. Good second of 8 in minor event at Killarney (16.8f, good to soft, 7/1) 38 days ago, having run of race. Not taken lightly.
***
Powerful Aggie
Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Jockey: G. M. Ryan Age: 4 Weight: 8st 11lbs Draw: 11
20/1, below form 19¾ lengths ninth of 20 to Echoes In Rain in handicap at Galway (16.8f, good to soft) 62 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time.
***
Waterville
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: W. M. Lordan Age: 3 Weight: 8st 9lbs Draw: 18
Lightly-raced winner. 7/4, very good second of 5 in minor event at Leopardstown (12.8f, good) 66 days ago. Back up in trip. Should continue to give a good account.
****
Scaramanga
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: Reserve Age: 7 Weight: 8st 10lbs Draw: 17
Creditable eleventh of 19 in handicap (28/1) at Royal Ascot (20f, good to firm). Off 103 days. First run for yard after leaving Paul Nicholls. RESERVE.
***
Jesse Evans
Trainer: Noel Meade Jockey: Reserve Age: 6 Weight: 8st 9lbs Draw: 9
Good third of 23 in handicap at Leopardstown (12.8f, soft, 12/1) 15 days ago. Back up in trip. RESERVE.
***
Dutch Schultz
Trainer: Gavin Patrick Cromwell Jockey: Reserve Age: 5 Weight: 8st 9lbs Draw: 14
Below form thirteenth of 23 in handicap at Leopardstown (12.8f, soft, 11/2) 15 days ago. Back up in trip. RESERVE.
***
Irish Cesarewitch tips
Timeform: ECHOES IN RAIN showed improved form to make the most of what looked a handy mark on just her second Flat start for this yard when scoring with plenty in hand at the Galway Festival and can enhance Willie Mullins excellent record in this race. Her stablemate Lot of Joy shaped very well from a bad draw when fourth behind the selection in the same race and rates a big threat on her second start for this yard, with improving 3-y-o Waterville also high on the shortlist.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
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