17:10 Listowel

Sunday 4 June 2017

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:1017:40

St. John's Literary Centre Handicap (45-65) (Div 2)

Off time: 17:11 | Winning time: 1m 43.19s

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Selected odds by:

(10)

Avalanche²³²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: W M Lordan| T: T J O'Mara| OR: 60| BF| D

14/1

Beaten favourite in a very competitive Cork handicap last time but was still disappointing given the 28L margin of defeat. Has been immediately dropped 4lb as a result which will be a help, but he still has to put that performance behind him.

Form: 4/17630-

(6)

Aussie Bound^t1³²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-11| J: C J McGovern⁽⁵⁾| T: S Fahey| OR: 59

33/1

Makes his handicap debut here off a high enough weight and in a first time tongue strap having shown not enough in maidens and a claimer to suggest he is a contender in this.

Form: 3090-

(9)

Lady Ranger¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: C P Hoban| T: P McCreery| OR: 58

12/1

Now back below his last winning mark but needs to put in a better performance than his recent efforts, especially in what looks to be a competitive enough race.

Form: 71700-8

(4)

Double Fast^b¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: R P Cleary| T: T Cleary| OR: 53

13/2

Has previously won over 7f at the furthest but clearly stays this trip well, and on recent evidence may even prove to be most effective over it. Could probably do with a slightly lower handicap mark before he's considered for win purposes, though.

Form: 27100-6

(1)

Tamara Love^h,t⁹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: G P Halpin⁽³⁾| T: E Kent| OR: 53

25/1

Has shown no more (and perhaps a little less) since switching to handicap company from maidens and the sense seems to be that she'll need to drop even further down the weights before having a say in race such as this.

Form: 75756-0

(3)

Gold Struck^t¹²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: W J Lee| T: A J Martin| OR: 52

20/1

Returned from a very long absence last October (having only run in a maiden prior to that) and has only been capable of running races of little account since. Looks an unlikely player here.

Form: 6/00-0

(5)

Shepherds Crook^p⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: G F Carroll| T: J G Murphy| OR: 50

10/1

Hasn't managed to win or finish second in any of his 13 races yet, but has shown some indications of promise, including over a furlong shorter at this course. Mark looks workable and is capable of running a big race.

Form: 0-45600

(12)

Sleepy Head¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: P J Smullen| T: P J Flynn| OR: 50

6/1

Ran a solid race on handicap debut latest, and remains on the same mark now. Only making the fifth start of her career so is entitled to improve and shouldn't have an issue with these conditions.

Form: 760-8

(15)

Cool Artist¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 49| BF

5/1

Fared much better on handicap debut last time out than she had in maidens when finishing second in a competitive affair at Gowran last time. Drop in trip should be fine and another big run could be on the cards off the same mark.

Form: 000-2

(16)

Apache Gold¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-0| J: R P Whelan| T: J J Walsh| OR: 48| D

12/1

Much improved on returning to handicap company having run solid races on each of his starts in this sphere so far since a couple of unsuccessful attempts at maiden hurdles. Probably needs to find a bit more and goes from a wide draw, but has shown he is capable of winning races in the past.

Form: 355-936

(13)

Lightening Stricks^t²⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 8-12| J: D E Hogan⁽⁷⁾| T: L Roche| OR: 46| D

10/1

Last won at Killarney last May off only 1lb less than this and though his form figures don't look the most exciting, he has run much better in recent races than they suggest. Big player.

Form: 204459-

(8)

Dressednblack¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: C D Hayes| T: T Doyle| OR: 45

4/1

Ran what was potentially a career-best at Killarney last time out, especially given she didn't enjoy a clear run. She would have finished closer if she had, but as it is remains on the same mark and should go close again.

Form: 5760-44

(7)

Kilteery Pier²⁹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: K J Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: A Leahy| OR: 45

25/1

0/15 in his career despite being tried over a number of different trips and in different types of race, and is now down another 5lb. Still looks an unlikely winner, however.

Form: 486648-

(2)

Thats A Fret^b,t1¹⁰⁶¹

Age: 11| Weight: 8-11| J: S Foley| T: P J F Hassett| OR: 45| C

33/1

Hasn't placed in a race since winning in January 2013 and his best days would seem to be firmly behind him on the basis of his recent performances.

Form: 400000/

Loughderg Princess³

Age: 10| Weight: 8-11| J: Karen Kenny⁽⁷⁾| T: F Costello| OR: 45

33/1

Hasn't finished in the first three in a race since September 2012, and has seemed in effective on both the Flat and over hurdles recently. Definitely best avoided here. Second reserve.

Form: 84000/0

Non-Runners

(11)

Mostawfee⁴¹

Weight: 9-9| Age: 4

T: J Feane J: D M Simmonson

(14)

Mosman¹⁶

Weight: 8-11| Age: 7

T: P W Flynn J: D E Sheehy

Mzuri³

Weight: 10-3| Age: 5

T: A McGuinness J: Reserve 1

Forecasts

Dressednblack (4/1), Cool Artist (5/1), Sleepy Head (6/1), Double Fast (13/2), Mostawfee (8/1), Lightening Stricks (10/1), Shepherds Crook (10/1), Apache Gold (12/1), Lady Ranger (12/1), Avalanche (14/1), Gold Struck (20/1), Mzuri (20/1), Tamara Love (25/1), Kilteery Pier (25/1), Mosman (25/1), Loughderg Princess (33/1), Thats A Fret (33/1), Aussie Bound (33/1)

A chance is taken on LIGHTENING STRICKS. This veteran won at Killarney last May off a very similar weight to this, and he is at risk of being underestimated in the betting here due to his recent form figures, when in reality he hasn't run badly at all despite the impression they create. He shades preference ahead of Dressedinblack, who ran very well despite being denied a clear run last time, and Apache Gold, who unlike many of these has shown he is capable of winning races of this nature in the past.