Kilbeggan 5:45 Result

Cooladdi tops the weights on OR 110 but the form is strong and progressive - a recent win (F1) shows he's going the right way, with the fall/blip before that likely explaining the "F" and not a true reflection. He's the highest rated horse in the field, carries a first-time-look hood, and is trained by a small yard that will target a race like this. The step up to 3m1f looks a natural progression given he was competitive and improving at shorter/similar trips, and handicapper hasn't yet fully caught up with his upward trajectory. Key market rivals: Mighty Berkshire (00-412) is interesting with a leading recent run but hasn't strung together the same level of form; Pride Of Place and Sound Judgement for Elliott/McManus have obvious stable class but the profiles show unproven form figures (P and 3F, mixed placing) at this trip and are not certain stayers over 3m1f having shown best form at shorter. Sound Judgement's sire Doyen and it being trained by Elliott is interesting but the recent form (26-316) is only fair, and it's already had 2 runs without winning since a break. Cooladdi's Affinisea/King's Theatre pedigree suggests a stayer, and the gelding is unexposed at this trip having won last time. Weight of top-rated horses in competitive handicaps can be a slight concern, but the promise in the form figures, the fact he's fresh off a win and lightly-raced compared to some of these battle-hardened older types, gives him the biggest upside. I make him the most solid single bet in a wide-open, competitive field.