15:25 Navan

Saturday 1 April 2017

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:40

Kilberry Restaurant Handicap Hurdle (80-109)

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 4m 25.4s

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Selected odds by:

Benkei¹²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: B M Cash| T: H Rogers| OR: 109

7/1

Fair form in maiden hurdles having shown promise on the Flat, making his handicap debut today. Looks progressive and had a chance in a wide open race if he can defy top weight.

Form: 9/057-

Russian Roulette¹³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J S McGarvey| T: C O'Brien| OR: 109

25/1

Last won at Killarney back in July (2m4f, good), off a mark of 101. Has struggled off higher since and could find his rating still a little too much, returning after a break. Best form is on better ground than this.

Form: 125502-

Next Bend³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: J M Moore| T: T Gibney| OR: 104

16/1

Dual winner (once over hurdles and once on the Flat) who has lost his way somewhat recently, including when making his all-weather debut at Dundalk last month. Needs to return to the best of his form here.

Form: 249410

Bashful Beauty¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: C Brassil⁽⁵⁾| T: J Feane| OR: 102

11/1

Hasn't won over hurdles since July 2014 and has been well beaten on each of his most recent starts over the small obstacles, with his best form coming in chases nowadays. Mark is gradually getting lower, but there's a reason.

Form: 00747-3

Hareth¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: E O'Connell⁽⁷⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 102

10/3

Has run well in two starts since an absence of nearly two years. Should be back to full fitness by now and could go close here.

Form: 21/3331-

Kinnitty Castle^b1¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr S Clements⁽³⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 102

16/1

Has been pulled up on four of his most recent five starts over hurdles, often fading quickly in his races. The drop in trip should help him, therefore, and blinkers are applied, but he's still liable to get outclassed.

Form: 0PP-PP8

Courtly Conduct³³³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-3| J: B R Dalton| T: D McDonogh| OR: 100

12/1

Close second at Ballinrobe last time was his best piece of form for some time and he could be dangerous here given what a low mark he's now on. He's not getting any younger, however.

Form: 0/744-26

Broughtons Star^t⁹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 99

7/1

Was already seemingly beaten when unseating at Tramore last time out, having been sent off favourite that day. That was the latest of a few slightly below par performances, and he's gradually going up in the handicap despite not winning, but this could be a realistic target for him.

Form: F2UU46-

Fenlon's Hill^t¹¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: P Townend| T: P Stafford| OR: 98

16/1

Hasn't gotten within 10L of a winner since his bumper days, and he looks an unattractive proposition here up against some more talented rivals.

Form: 730-070

Ballinahow Bill⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: S W Flanagan| T: D H Kelly| OR: 90

10/1

Moderate form at best both on the Flat and so far over hurdles, though he was slightly better in a handicap at Punchestown last time. Still seems up against it with the best of these.

Form: 980890-

Hidden Diamond^t1⁴¹⁴

Age: 13| Weight: 10-7| J: R Loughran| T: Ms M Kelly| OR: 90

33/1

Veteran who makes his first appearance over hurdles since May 2013. Remains a maiden in this sphere and looks an unlikely prospect to break his maiden here. Wears a first time tongue tie.

Form: 702690/

Ardview Boy⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: C D Maxwell| T: A Mulholland| OR: 89

16/1

Took a few runs to get going last year, was then competitive without winning before form tailed off again. Navan and Fairyhouse evidence recently suggest he'll need time to gather his edge, though a 235L beating last time out has to be a big concern.

Form: 307000-

Peculiar Genius¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: D J Mullins| T: P Nolan| OR: 99

8/1

Won well at Tramore on New Year's Day on his hanicap debut in a weaker race than this and wasn't quite so impressive the last twice, including when beaten 20L last time out. Will still be improving and not out of the reckoning for this.

Form: 878

Canova^t⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: J W Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 86

12/1

0/22 under rules and hasn't looked threatening on any of his most recent starts. Going isn't ideal and others hold more convincing claims.

Form: 654P-00

The Irritator^p¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: D Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: P E Collins| OR: 86

10/1

Ran a good race in second at Down Royal last time in likely similar conditions to today's. Up 2lb for that run which he should be able to defy and potentially run another big race.

Form: F02P4-6

Emily Square²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: M A Enright| T: T Mullins| OR: 92

20/1

Won a maiden on the Flat but was less impressive during the rest of her career in that sphere and has shown little over hurdles so far either. Much more needed.

Form: /00785-

Forecasts

Hareth (10/3), Benkei (7/1), Broughtons Star (7/1), Peculiar Genius (8/1), Ballinahow Bill (10/1), The Irritator (10/1), Bashful Beauty (11/1), Courtly Conduct (12/1), Canova (12/1), Next Bend (16/1), Ardview Boy (16/1), Kinnitty Castle (16/1), Fenlon's Hill (16/1), Emily Square (20/1), Russian Roulette (25/1), Hidden Diamond (33/1)

A fair few of these would look unlikely winners of most races on their current form, but one who has been running well recently is BROUGHTONS STAR. Gordon Elliott's charge has gone close on a number of occasions recently, and as long as he doesn't cause another mishap and end up with yet another letter on his form line, he could be the one to beat here. Despite his advancing years, Courtly Conduct has also been running some nice races recently, while Hareth has made a pleasing return from a long lay-off and should now be back in a position to go close in a race of this nature.