15:40 Wexford

Friday 17 March 2017

All14:2015:0015:4016:2016:5517:2517:55

Barry Ennis Memorial Novice Handicap Hurdle (80-109)

Off time: 15:42 | Winning time: 4m 22.9s

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Selected odds by:

Palmabad⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Brian Hayes| T: J Queally| OR: 106

5/1

Tame form in maiden events but was behind some useful types in those races including the well-regarded Saturnas. Mark hasn't come down too much since he went handicapping but the drop in trip could help.

Form: 4-

Half Moon Street²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: J S McGarvey| T: E P Harty| OR: 102

14/1

Third in a maiden hurdle at Thurles in December (2m, yielding), is a fair bit of form but he's failed to build on in it in recent starts, including when beaten 50l at Punchestown last time. Seems vulnerable to many of these on that evidence.

Form: 03

Baron Von Chill⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 98

33/1

As many letters as numbers among his recent form, and doesn't particularly impress even when he does manage to complete. Dropped slightly in the handicap and the jockey booked claims 3lb, but that is all unlikely to be enough,

Form: 7R080-8

Tethra^p³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: C D Maxwell| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 98

9/1

Just held on in a competitive handicap at Punchestown over Christmas, before struggling to get involved in two contests since. Handicap mark still looks workable and he cannot be discounted as one of the previous winners in the field.

Form: 000-493

Like A Demon¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: R Loughran| T: N Slevin| OR: 94

3/1

Consistent novice who goes up only 1lb for a taking performance at Navan last time when he didn't quite get home over slightly further. Has to be a big player here dropped in trip.

Form: 242034

Jefferson Davis³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: B T O'Connell| T: E Doyle| OR: 102

14/1

Former Flat runner who hasn't done much since making the switch to hurdles, running perhaps his most notable race when unseating at Navan in January. More to do on handicap debut and others make more obvious appeal.

Form: /0U081-

Peculiar Genius^b1⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: L P Dempsey| T: P Nolan| OR: 100

4/1

Ran a fine race in fourth last time out having been raised 7lb for a victory in similar conditions to what he's likely to get today. First time blinkers are likely to encourage even further improvement.

Form: 878

Tropical Express^t1²⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: S Fahey| OR: 88

22/1

Needs to improve her jumping given her tendency to fall when under pressure, but even without that quirk she would still have loads to find with several of these, and looks outclassed here.

Form: 85F09-F

Auntie Chloe⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: J B Kane⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 97

8/1

Has been running in some fairly good quality juvenile events and seems to have been improving with her ninth at Gowran last time (2m, soft), probably the best of her form so far. More needed here.

Form: 087950-

Killahara Castle^h³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: M P Burke⁽⁷⁾| T: J M Burke| OR: 85

9/2

Has been running well enough in similar races to this, including last time at Naas (2m, soft), when keeping on for sixth. Mark is gradually lowering and she looks to have a handicap of this sort in her at some point.

Form: 5645-05

Non-Runners

Whitango¹²

Weight: 10-12| Age: 5

T: P Nolan J: G N Fox

Forecasts

Like A Demon (3/1), Peculiar Genius (4/1), Killahara Castle (9/2), Palmabad (5/1), Auntie Chloe (8/1), Tethra (9/1), Jefferson Davis (14/1), Half Moon Street (14/1), Whitango (16/1), Tropical Express (22/1), Baron Von Chill (33/1)

Like A Demon was unlucky when not quite staying the trip when going close at Navan last time, while Tethra impressed in a competitive Punchestown handicap over Christmas, making him one of the only previous winners in the field. Preference, though, is for PECULIAR GENIUS, who ran a nice race last time out despite having going up in the weights, and it looks as if there could be even more improvement in him in first time blinkers.