Rappell
Rappell did well to finish as close as he did in the five-furlong handicap at The Curragh on Sunday from his high draw. This is a race in which the low numbers often come to the fore, and that was the case again this year, with the winner Cuban Grey emerging from stall three, and the next three home racing, respectively, from stalls five, four and two. Rappell did best of the high-drawn horses, finishing fifth from stall 16.
The field raced in one group, but it was those on the far side of the group who emerged on top. Rappell travelled well just behind the front rank on the near side and, when he got the split just outside the furlong marker, he picked up well. They were largely racing in diagonal formation at that point though, the far-side horses in front, and the first four home over there did have a small break on the rest of the field at the winning line, but Rappell got past all the other horses who raced on the near side.
This was another good run from Paul Flynn's horse in blinkers. He wore the headgear for the first time when he finished second to Daamberdiplomat in a six-furlong contest at The Curragh on Irish Derby weekend and, while the winner didn't uphold the form in the Scurry - he just didn't give his running for some reason - the third horse Back Down Under ran a big race to finish third in the same race. Rappell remains an interestingly-handicapped horse now on a mark of 72. That is 7lb lower than his peak, and there could be more to come from him now in the headgear. Out of the Spinning World mare Spinning Lucy, who won the Listed Bosra Sham Stakes over six furlongs, he goes well at The Curragh, he is at his best when he has a fast pace at which to aim, and he is probably better over six furlongs than he is over five.
The Curragh, 20th July 2025
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