16:40 Fairyhouse

Sunday 2 April 2017

All13:5014:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:10

Great Value Online Novice Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:40 | Winning time: 5m 21.9s

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Selected odds by:

First To Boogie¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: R C Colgan| T: Madeleine Tylicki| OR: 114

25/1

Justified favouritism to score at Punchestown earlier in the season but been a bit disappointing in three runs since, including when pulled up over 2m5f at Limerick last month. Bit to prove now.

Form: 120P40-

Jaime Sommers¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: C A Landers⁽⁷⁾| T: M J Bowe| OR: 114

25/1

Bit more required but ran well enough in recent Limerick novice contest to merit respect in first handicap outing over timber.

Form: 22558-2

Usurp¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: B J Cooper| T: G Elliott| OR: 112

11/1

Won a maiden over 2m at this course in October and has been consistent without winning since. Fair run at Limerick last month and fairly treated for this extra furlong.

Form: 144304-

Close Shave²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: B J Geraghty| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 109

9/2

Much-improved effort on handicap bow at Navan recently over this trip, beaten 7L. Entitled to offer more still and should be competitive.

Form: 80641

State Of Origin^t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: M A Enright| T: E P Harty| OR: 108

33/1

Failed to complete in last three starts, two over fences and most recently when pulled up in a 2m6f handicap hurdle at Down Royal last month. Not one to trust currently.

Form: 6FPP04-

Travertine¹⁰⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: N P Madden| T: N Madden| OR: 105

20/1

Just under 7L behind First To Boogie at Punchestown in November, similar effort at this venue in December and cannot be ruled out of calculations with any great certainty on seventh hurdles outing.

Form: 2P0-076

Bilbo Bagins^h1²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: S W Flanagan| T: A Murray| OR: 104

7/1

Strong in the finish to open account over timber at the fifth time of asking over this trip at Navan 29 days ago. That was a much-improved effort and needs respecting off 6lb higher.

Form: 976819

Rogue Agent^t⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: R Loughran| T: R P McNamara| OR: 103

50/1

Mostly disappointing at this game so far, including in sole handicap outing over 2m at Wexford in October. Had an AW spin last month to fresh him up but hard to be confident in his chances.

Form: 53080-

Nicole's Milan⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: D N Russell| T: S Aherne| OR: 102

3/1

Twice a winner around here this year already, including at this trip. Failed in hat-trick bid at Navan last time off this mark but should be competitive once again and far from out of it.

Form: 2-08404

Well Joey^t1³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: D J Mullins| T: Mrs P Dobbs| OR: 102

25/1

Decent effort at Down Royal to be second in 2m maiden in January, was in trouble when unshipping rider at Ayr subsequently and now goes up in trip for handicap bow. Looks held on that evidence.

Form: 482U05-

Babanango³⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: R M Power| T: A J Martin| OR: 97

16/1

Was running a big race on handicap debut in April at Ballinrobe when coming down at the last. Been off since but every chance shrewd trainer will have him primed to go again.

Form: 770F/60-

Aimin For Anna^b¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: D Meyler⁽³⁾| T: T P O'Connor| OR: 95

33/1

Four runs since the turn of the year at a variety of trips, including this one, have been hugely underwhelming and give the mare plenty to prove.

Form: 99PD0P-

Platinum Empress⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Rachael Blackmore⁽³⁾| T: L P Cusack| OR: 95

12/1

Improved effort at Naas in January over 2m off this mark in January, goes up in distance and will require further progress to take a hand in the finish.

Form: 78050-

Slicker City⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: J M Moore| T: T Gibney| OR: 95

8/1

Competitive in first two outings this term, below best over C&D in February but could be capable of running into the places.

Form: F59-486

Time And Times¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: D F O'Regan| T: D McNamara| OR: 95

6/1

Scored over this trip at Cork last week, would have done so more convincingly but for poor jump at the last and may be able to cope with 7lb ratings hike as a result.

Form: 32

Rock On Barney^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: D E Mullins| T: G T Lynch| OR: 90

8/1

Yet to win in eight outings over hurdles but has been on the premises of late and certainly wouldn't be winning out of turn should he make the breakthrough.

Form: 22230-8

Non-Runners

Oscar Buzz⁷¹

Weight: 10-4| Age: 10

T: E Cawley J: C D Timmons

Forecasts

Nicole's Milan (3/1), Close Shave (9/2), Time And Times (6/1), Bilbo Bagins (7/1), Slicker City (8/1), Rock On Barney (8/1), Usurp (11/1), Platinum Empress (12/1), Babanango (16/1), Travertine (20/1), First To Boogie (25/1), Jaime Sommers (25/1), Well Joey (25/1), Oscar Buzz (25/1), State Of Origin (33/1), Aimin For Anna (33/1), Rogue Agent (50/1)

BABANANGO was ready to mount a strong challenge on his handicap bow at Ballinrobe almost a year ago before crashing out. He hasn't been seen since but is greatly respected for his shrewd trainer and in-form jockey now coming out again. Times And Times scored at Cork last time out and, having fluffed his lines at the last, he should be well capable of challenging against off a 7lb higher mark. Usurp has won here already this season and has claims of being involved while an improved effort at Navan recently brings Close Shave into the equation. Bilbo Bagins was a winner at that venue on his previous run and deserves consideration in his bid to follow up.