Playin Cool
Playin Cool stayed on well to take third place behind Pierre Royal in the one-mile handicap at The Curragh on Sunday. Dropped in early on by Ronan Whelan from his wide draw, he tracked the eventual winner towards the outside until they got inside the three-furlong marker. He got a little out-paced at that point when they quickened in front of him, but he stuck to his task well. The first two came away from the rest of the field, but Playin Cool stayed on well down the near side to get up for third place close home.
It was a nice performance from John Feane's horse, given that he would probably have appreciated a greater test of stamina than one mile on fast ground at The Curragh presents. Even so, he did well to get as close as he got. The other five horses who, with him, filled the first six places, were in the first six places passing the two-furlong marker. Playin Cool was 10th at that point. He was second fastest through the final two furlongs, after the winner. A four-year-old who has raced just seven times now, he has the potential to continue his progression. He was unlucky to lose out by the bob of a head in an apprentices' handicap run over seven furlongs on soft ground at Leopardstown on his previous run, but he stays further than that. He won his maiden over nine furlongs at Leopardstown on heavy ground last October. He is versatile, he will be of interest wherever he goes next, and he proved here that he is well capable off a mark of 84, but a strongly-run mile or nine furlongs on soft ground could represent close to optimal conditions for him, and his two runs at Leopardstown have both been good.
The Curragh, 28th June 2026
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