Trainer quotes and insight to help crack the competitive Bold Lad Handicap

1.20 Curragh
Irish Stallion Farms EBF "Bold Lad" Sprint Handicap | 6f | 3yo+ | RTE2/RTV

This was the springboard for Soffia's rise to fame as she sprang a 20-1 shock last year for Eddie Lynam and Danny Sheehy. She is now favourite for the Group 1 Flying Five so perhaps there is a future sprinting star among these 25 runners.

If there is one hiding in the long grass it might be Make A Challenge, who has been a revelation of late. He has won his last three starts on the bounce, including a pair of victories in the space of five days during the Galway summer festival.

Denis Hogan: trains Make A ChallengeCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The son of Invincible Spirit was rated 68 for the first of his four wins at Fairyhouse in late May and runs off a mark of 92. Denis Hogan has tried to counteract the sharp rise in the weights by booking 7lb claimer Joey Sheridan and that looks a very shrewd move.

While Make A Challenge is very much on an upward curve, topweight Gordon Lord Byron is in the twilight of a sensational career and makes his 104th start. It is his first foray into a handicap since last May and Tom Hogan reports the evergreen veteran to be none the worse for a rare below-par effort in a conditions race named after him at Haydock earlier this month.

Soffia: won the Bold Lad last yearCredit: Patrick McCann

If you are on the lookout for a Group horse masquerading as a handicapper, perhaps it is Primo Uomo who has been rubbing shoulders with the best sprinters all season.

British domination

Soffia stopped the rot for Irish-trained horses in this race last year as British-based runners had won the previous four editions of this very valuable sprint handicap.

What the trainers say

Tom Hogan, trainer of Gordon Lord Byron and Rhydwyan
Gordon Lord Byron is in very good form and I wouldn't read too much into his Haydock run last time – he couldn't act on the ground at all. We think six furlongs might be Rhydwyn's best trip. He's in great form and we are hoping for a big run from him.

Denis Hogan, trainer of Make A Challenge
It's an ultra-competitive race and he's obviously got to step up again but we're looking forward to it. The draw looks to be fine and Joey's 7lb claim is a help.

Ado McGuinness: runs Sirjack Thomas and Scorching HeatCredit: Patrick McCann

Ado McGuinness, trainer of Sirjack Thomas and Scorching Heat
Scorching Heat has been recovering from a bad injury but has done well of late. The more rain they get, the better for him. We run Sirjack Thomas again as he didn't handle the ground the other day at Listowel at all. He would have a chance if he came back to his best.

Ted Walsh, trainer of Castletownshend
He's been very consistent and just bumped into one on a couple of occasions. Hopefully he'll run well.

Anthony McCann, trainer of That's Not Me
She's a nice filly who didn't show her true colours at Catterick last time at all. She's much better than that and her previous two runs at Fairyhouse and Newmarket were very good.

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