Fitzpatrick's Mercedes-Benz Apprentice Derby Handicap.
Curragh · Friday, 26 Jun · 20:45
· 1m 4f
· TURF
WEIGHEDIN
Status
17:45
Off time
14
Runners
Good to Firm (Good in places)
Going
🎯 Tipster's 1·2·3
Sporting Life pick
🏆 Top pick
DARIUS DARK (IRE
🥈 Second
GAELIC DRILLS (IRE
🥉 Third
KEEPSGETTINGBETTER (IRE
Betting forecast
Market prediction · 23 runners · sorted by price
01 · 🏆 FAV
4
3/1
02 · 🥈 2nd
4.50
7/2
03 · 🥉 3rd
7.50
13/2
04 · —
7.50
13/2
05 · —
10
9/1
06 · —
11
10/1
07 · —
11
10/1
08 · —
12
11/1
09 · —
13
12/1
10 · —
13
12/1
11 · —
15
14/1
12 · —
15
14/1
13 · —
17
16/1
14 · —
17
16/1
15 · —
17
16/1
16 · —
17
16/1
17 · —
19
18/1
18 · —
19
18/1
19 · —
19
18/1
20 · —
41
40/1
21 · —
51
50/1
22 · —
67
66/1
23 · —
101
100/1
Sporting Life forecast prices — published the night before the race. Top 3 highlighted as market favourites.
Runners
| Pos | No. | Dr | Horse | Form | Jockey | Trainer | Age | Wgt | Best decimal odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12th | 1 | 2 |
Sea Eagle (G)
Fairly useful sort who was in the process of showing improved form when unseating in a Tramore maiden hurdle in April, however, yet to prove he's stays this far on the Flat and isn't the most consistent.
|
056/600- | Danny O'Leary | Gerard O'Leary | 6 | 64.4 kg |
67
66/1
|
| — | 2 | 20 |
Quatre Bras (G)
Hit-and-miss performer on turf in recent months and while it's hard to be confident from stall 20 given his slow-starting ways, the forecast strong pace is at least in his favour.
|
204088 | Darragh O'Sullivan | R O'Brien | 5 | 63.5 kg |
17
16/1
Betfa… 13
Paddy… 13
Sky B… 11
|
| — | 3 | 18 |
Pillar Of Hope (G)
Winner of this race 12 months ago (off 10 lb lower) but he arrives on the back of a season's best fourth (9f) at Leopardstown and has been given a chance by the handicapper.
|
24-8804 | Patrick McGettigan | P Sweeney | 8 | 61.2 kg |
13
12/1
Paddy… 15
Betfa… 13
Sky B… 13
|
| — | 4 | 12 |
Cracking Cloud (G)
Showed something like his debut form when sixth of 15 on qualifying run at Gowran (9.5f) and with the step up in trip (by Cracksman) and switch to a handicap expected to suit, he could make more of an impact.
|
356 | Hugh Horgan | R O'Sullivan | 4 | 60.8 kg |
15
14/1
Sky B… 29
Paddy… 29
Betfa… 23
|
| — | 5 | 23 |
Kool One (G)
[T]
Fairly useful winner of a Navan handicap in April prior to shaping as though still in good form when sixth in a better race at this course (1¾m) last time. Draw could have been kinder, though.
|
014-517 | Nicola Burns | Conor Maxwell | 5 | 60.3 kg |
17
16/1
Sky B… 13
Betfa… 13
Paddy… 13
|
| 8th | 6 | 4 |
Granville Street (G)
[P1]
Fairly useful dual-purpose performer who wasted no time getting back to form when fourth in a big-field handicap at Fairyhouse (1¾m, good to soft) on his latest start, without ever looking like winning, but he's certainly worth a go in fir…
|
5/06-254 | Sam Coen | Ciaran Murphy | 8 | 59.9 kg |
7.50
13/2
|
| 11th | 7 | 3 |
Eastern Peace (F)
Dundalk maiden winner who came from further back than the pair that beat her in a fillies handicap at Leopardstown (1¼m) last time. Longer trip no guarantee on pedigree but shapes as though it's within range, and she's less exposed than mo…
|
4/9419-3 | J Cleary | R O'Sullivan | 4 | 59.4 kg |
11
10/1
|
| 13th | 8 | 14 |
Devine Genius (G)
Lightly-raced maiden who was well beaten in testing conditions on final start for Adrian Murray last September. Sold for only €3,000 subsequently and has a bit to prove on stable debut.
|
836/60-0 | Adam Browne-Souza | J Morrison | 4 | 59 kg |
101
100/1
|
| — | 9 | 6 |
Derry Lad (G)
[PT]
On a lengthy losing run but that's reflected in his mark, and he turned in his best effort of the season in reapplied cheekpieces/tongue tie when fifth at Naas (1¼m) on Wednesday.
|
0-99055 | Nestor Kash | Kevin Coleman | 8 | 58.1 kg |
13
12/1
Betfa… 26
Paddy… 26
Sky B… 26
|
| 6th | 10 | 17 |
Party Dress (M)
[T]
Out of sorts when last seen on the Flat and offered very little on chasing debut at Clonmel in late-March.
|
829700- | Wesley Joyce | W McCreery | 6 | 58.1 kg |
41
40/1
|
| 7th | 11 | 1 |
Faro Island (G)
[P]
Low-mileage 4-y-o who doubled his tally with a career-best success at Gowran (9.5f) last time. His style suggests this longer trip shouldn't be an issue (already proven over 11f), and he's one of the more interesting types.
|
0310-41 | Jack Kearney | A Oliver | 4 | 57.6 kg |
11
10/1
|
| 3rd | 12 | 13 |
Celtic Druid (G)
Successful in back-to-back 1½m Dundalk handicaps to start the season and while not disgraced when seventh of 13 in a handicap at Gowran (1¾m), he remains on a career-high mark.
|
57-1147 | Sadhbh Tormey | T G McCourt | 5 | 56.7 kg |
19
18/1
|
| — | 13 | 9 |
Tatum (M)
[B]
A winner twice at Leopardstown last season, she did too much too soon on first try over a staying trip at Limerick (17f) on her latest start and should be suited by this big field/drop back in distance.
|
3121-75 | Jimmy Dalton | N Meade | 5 | 56.7 kg |
15
14/1
Betfa… 13
Paddy… 13
Sky B… 12
|
| 14th | 14 | 10 |
Royal Alliance (G)
[T]
Sole success came in all-weather novice for previous yard, but he returned to form from out of the blue (following 3 months off) when close third at Down Royal (13f, soft) 6 days ago and has claims if building on that. Tongue strap refitte…
|
000-003 | Jessica O'Gorman | Maurice Ahern | 4 | 55.8 kg |
10
9/1
|
| 4th | 15 | 7 |
Covert Legend (G)
[T]
Returning from 7 months off when runner-up at Southwell (11f) on debut for the Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith stable. Has again changed hands (for only 5,500 gns) and it's hard to be confident following a further 7-month absence.
|
46442-4 | Shay Wallace | Maurice Ahern | 6 | 55.3 kg |
19
18/1
|
| 2nd | 16 | 8 |
Keepsgettingbetter (F)
[T1]
Sottsass filly who is on the up in handicaps, winning at Dundalk in March/April before running well to finish third in her hat-trick bid at Leopardstown. She wasn't ideally placed last time, either, and there could be more to come from thi…
|
00-0113 | Paddy Harnett | Donnacha O'Brien | 3 | 55.3 kg |
4.50
7/2
|
| — | 17 | 21 |
Cooley's Mist (G)
Lightly-raced maiden who was suited by the emphasis on stamina when bouncing back to form on second start for current yard, finishing third of 15 in a handicap at Leopardstown (9f, soft), and he's well worth another crack at this trip.
|
0747-83 | — | H Rogers | 4 | 54.9 kg |
17
16/1
Paddy… 19
Betfa… 15
Sky B… 15
|
| 1st | 18 | 11 |
Darius Dark (G)
FAV
[P1]
Progressive sort who followed up his gambled-on handicap debut success (under this jockey) with a solid victory at Leopardstown (1½m) last time. Looks far from the finished article and with the addition of the cheekpieces expected to suit,…
|
09-011 | Rory Mulligan | J P Murtagh | 3 | 54.4 kg |
4
3/1
|
| 5th | 19 | 5 |
Nod Of Approval (G)
Having shaped well behind Darius Dark when second at Cork on penultimate start (third also won next time), he didn't get home over a markedly longer trip at Limerick (17f), and is well worth another chance back down in distance.
|
055-620 | Keithen Kennedy | Mrs J Harrington | 3 | 54.4 kg |
7.50
13/2
|
| 9th | 20 | 19 |
Gaelic Drills (C)
Handicap debutant who finished a promising fifth first time up at Leopardstown (1¼m, soft) in April. Didn't build on that either start since and has a wider-than-ideal draw, however, his opening mark looks a lenient one given his debut for…
|
547 | Orla Tynan | J S Bolger | 3 | 54 kg |
12
11/1
|
| — | 21 | 15 |
Tassarolo (G)
[PT]
Three-time winner across both codes in 2025 and is holding his form well this year, for all he never really looked like winning when eighth of 17 in a handicap at Fairyhouse (1½m) on his latest start.
|
8-93558 | Reserve 1 | D Hogan | 5 | 54.4 kg |
17
16/1
Paddy… 11
Betfa… 11
Sky B… 11
|
| 10th | 22 | 22 |
Folly Beach (M)
Fourth in this race 12 months ago and wasn't far off her best when close second at Down Royal (13f, soft) 6 days ago. RESERVE
|
70/74-72 | Patrick McGettigan | M A Molloy | 8 | 54 kg |
19
18/1
|
| — | 23 | 16 |
Avoca Woods (C)
Sea The Moon colt who went the wrong way in maidens and faces a stiff task at the weights on his handicap bow. RESERVE
|
809 | Reserve 3 | Jack Foley | 3 | 54 kg |
51
50/1
Betfa… 26
Paddy… 26
Sky B… 26
|
Betting forecast: Darius Dark (3/1), Keepsgettingbetter (7/2), Nod Of Approval (13/2), Granville Street (13/2), Royal Alliance (9/1), Faro Island (10/1), Eastern Peace (10/1), Gaelic Drills (11/1), Derry Lad (12/1), Pillar Of Hope (12/1), Tatum (14/1), Cracking Cloud (14/1), Kool One (16/1), Quatre Bras (16/1), Cooley's Mist (16/1), Tassarolo (16/1), Celtic Druid (18/1), Covert Legend (18/1), Folly Beach (18/1), Party Dress (40/1), Avoca Woods (50/1), Sea Eagle (66/1), Devine Genius (100/1)
Prize money
| Position | Prize |
|---|---|
| P1 | 18000.0 EUR |
| P2 | 6000.0 EUR |
| P3 | 3000.0 EUR |
| P4 | 1500.0 EUR |
| P5 | 900.0 EUR |
| P6 | 600.0 EUR |