16:55 Cork

Sunday 2 April 2017

All14:0514:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:25

Follow Us On Twitter Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 16:59 | Winning time: 1m 57.22s

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Selected odds by:

(14)

Sweet Company^t²⁰⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: O J Orr| T: A J Martin| OR: 82

25/1

Won when last seen on the Flat at Galway over 1m4f in a maiden, needs to show he has the pace for this shorter trip, and that is far from certain.

Form: 0/41-0

(13)

Nanabad^h1¹⁵⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: D E Hogan⁽⁴⁾| T: J P Fahey| OR: 80

20/1

Only the fourth start for a filly who won a maiden on similar ground to what is forecast at Gowran Park in October. Other two performances were less impressive but she has excuses and could go well here.

Form: 710-25

(7)

Dragon Fei⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: E T Daly⁽⁴⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 79

16/1

Hasn't looked at his best on his most recent starts on the Flat, but we at least know he goes on the ground. The worry would be he may need a bit further nowadays.

Form: 05300-0

(18)

Warp Factor^b⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: D O'Brien| T: J P Shanahan| OR: 79

7/1

Ran a fine second in a Listed contest over hurdles last time out and has a fair record on the Flat as well. Should be fitter than most of these due to his winter campaign and looks to be a leading contender here.

Form: 77-7532

(6)

Balcony^p¹⁷⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: K K Hennessy⁽⁴⁾| T: J A Stack| OR: 78

11/2

Only very narrowly beaten given he was in fifth last time out at Limerick (1m, soft) and won a maiden at Navan the time prior to that. Is actually down 4lb for that last performance and should go well here.

Form: 215-035

(11)

Bainne^h¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: D W O'Connor| T: J F Levins| OR: 76

12/1

Has been kept fit over the winter with frequent performances at Dundalk. Former course winner here though so may improve for the switch back to the turf.

Form: 806333

(8)

Youceeyouceecee^p¹⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: D P Linehan⁽²⁾| T: Miss S A Finn| OR: 75

8/1

Last time out winner at Limerick over a furlong shorter. Needs to show he is as effective over a mile, though he is only 1lb higher in the weights.

Form: 317031-

(5)

Ecoeye¹⁰⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: G P Halpin| T: A Leahy| OR: 71

9/2

Was knocking at the door for much of late last year, finishing in the money and not being beaten far in many of his races. Remains on a similar handicap mark to that run and it will be interesting to see how he comes out of the break.

Form: 261222

(16)

Elm Grove¹⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: N M Crosse⁽⁷⁾| T: W McCreery| OR: 71

6/1

Unreliable sort who was well beaten when favourite in a Leopardstown mile handicap last time out. Has shown ability on her day but maybe she isn't quite as good as some expected.

Form: 0329-14

(1)

Flattothemat¹⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: R Coakley| T: K Purcell| OR: 71

16/1

Has shown little to get excited about on three runs in maidens so far, though arguably seen at his best on this ground and he has the inside draw to help. Is liable to get outclassed by some of these, though.

Form: 055-0

(3)

Best Not Argue¹⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: M K O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Murphy| OR: 70

25/1

Won a Gowran Park handicap in great style in June (1m, soft), and was rightly hiked up in the weights after that. Has struggled since and is probably still in the hands of the handicapper.

Form: 8190-05

(2)

Intense Stylist¹²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: K P Moriarty⁽⁴⁾| T: A Moriarty| OR: 66

25/1

Has put in some good performances over shorter, particularly last year, but has something to prove over a mile given the way he's been beaten on previous attempts at this trip.

Form: 33527-0

(9)

Bay Hill^b⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Anastasia O'Brien| T: C Roche| OR: 63

16/1

His most recent performances on the Flat were a series of impressive performances, but the last of those came in July 2015. Looked badly in need of the run when finishing last of all at Naas over hurdles last time out.

Form: 11/4113

(4)

Miss Ballygally^t¹⁶⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-6| J: T P Madden| T: M M McNiff| OR: 62

11/1

Fair performances towards the end of last season, and often seems to be at her very best on Heavy ground. Needs to take a step forward but that looks more than possible off a nice low weight.

Form: 09224-5

(17)

Estrenar⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-5| J: Karen Reidy⁽⁷⁾| T: Lady J Gillespie| OR: 61

20/1

The handicapper looks to have caught up with him by this stage in his career given the nature of his most recent performances on the Flat and he's 0/12 overall.

Form: 0-95660

(12)

Hurricane Twister^t²⁶⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 8-4| J: A J Breslin⁽⁴⁾| T: V Clifford| OR: 59

25/1

Was beaten less than a length in a handicap at Listowel last June but that was on good ground. Has some previous form in softer conditions and has a chance if repeating that good form again.

Form: 0/3670-0

(10)

Aussie Guest³²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 8-4| J: D M Melia⁽⁴⁾| T: E M O'Sullivan| OR: 55

20/1

Ran well on his return from a long break in April at Limerick but was underwhelming the time after and he has another break to overcome now, though at least he seems to go well fresh.

Form: 80/37-00

(15)

Zero Euro^p¹⁶⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 8-4| J: S P Davis⁽⁴⁾| T: H Rogers| OR: 51

33/1

C&D winner last time, going up 8lb for that victory. Will probably be held on that basis and given the more competitive nature of this contest, but that recent form is notable.

Form: 40801-8

Forecasts

Ecoeye (9/2), Balcony (11/2), Elm Grove (6/1), Warp Factor (7/1), Youceeyouceecee (8/1), Miss Ballygally (11/1), Bainne (12/1), Bay Hill (16/1), Dragon Fei (16/1), Flattothemat (16/1), Nanabad (20/1), Estrenar (20/1), Aussie Guest (20/1), Sweet Company (25/1), Best Not Argue (25/1), Intense Stylist (25/1), Hurricane Twister (25/1), Zero Euro (33/1)

This is an open looking handicap where MISS BALLYGALLY could be the one to be on. She looks on a workable work and put in some great performances towards the end of last season, which she can build on here, especially if her favoured testing ground is what comes up. Twice her age, Hurricane Twister is nonetheless capable of running a big race, again given conditions are in his favour, while Bay Hill ticks many of the boxes to go well here if stripping fitter for a poor run over hurdles after a recent long break.