18:50 Bellewstown

Saturday 8 July 2017

All16:5017:2017:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:20

Fast Shipping Bellewstown Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:50 | Winning time: 3m 57.3s

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Selected odds by:

Wakea^h,t⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D Meyler⁽³⁾| T: K Thornton| OR: 142| D

13/2

Led his rivals a merry dance before fading in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham and fell at Aintree next time after leading again for a long way. Races off the same mark and probably needs some respite from the handicapper.

Form:

Jarob²⁷²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: R A Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: A Lynch| OR: 130| C

33/1

Capable hurdler and chaser who boasts a decent record of four wins from 15 starts in this sphere. Well beaten on his last hurdles outing at Cork, but has been dropped 2lb and should not be written off.

Form:

Tudor City^t⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Ruby Walsh| T: A J Martin| OR: 130

10/1

Shed his maiden tag over hurdles at Fairyhouse two starts ago, but failed to build on that when ninth of 11 in a quite valuable Punchestown handicap hurdle next time. That said, he was beaten under 7L, is 2lb lower and represents leading trainer/jockey combination.

Form:

Light That¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 129

8/1

Had Tudor City behind when second at Punchestown in April and bounced back to winning form on the Flat at Ballinrobe last time. Has to enter calculations for respected connections.

Form:

Copy That²⁰²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: J S McGarvey| T: E P Harty| OR: 128

25/1

Three wins from nine starts over hurdles, but last two starts have resulted in heavy defeats. Needs to bounce back and is high enough in the handicap, but cannot be ruled out.

Form:

Colla Pier¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: R T Dunne| T: D P Dunne| OR: 126

20/1

Back to hurdling after a chasing campaign which saw her break her duck at Down Royal last time. Rated 1lb higher than over fences, but has been competitive off this mark in the past and should be thereabouts again if chasing has not blunted her speed.

Form:

Timiyan^t²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 125

7/4

Won a Listowel maiden hurdle for Dermot Weld and first start for his new yard saw him scrape home in a Roscommon handicap. A 6lb weight rise seems slightly harsh, but he may strip fitter this time and is sure to be a leading fancy.

Form:

Elusive Ivy¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: J B Kane⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 117| D

9/1

Won a handicap chase at Leopardstown in January and has had two recent runs on the Flat. She is rated 9lb lower over hurdles than fences so has to be a threat assuming chasing has not blunted her speed.

Form:

Top Othe Ra³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-13| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: T Mullins| OR: 115

9/1

Still without a win in nine starts over timber, but has run some decent races in handicaps and is 1lb lower than when fourth of 10 at Punchestown on his last start. More needed if he to win a race such as this.

Form:

Mr Antolini^h1¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: D E Mullins| T: G J Power| OR: 114| BF

10/1

Got off the mark over hurdles in maiden company at Gowran Park in September, but has struggled in three handicaps since that success. Handicapper has been slow to react and he may need some respite to be more competitive unless the first-time hood proves a positive.

Form:

Usa¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-10| J: J M Moore| T: S J Mahon| OR: 110| D

16/1

Experienced hurdler/chaser who has been campainged on the Flat and over fences this year. Reverts to hurdling off a feasible handicap mark and is worth a check in the market.

Form:

King's Wharf²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: R C Colgan| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 109| D

8/1

Winning hurdler/chaser for Willie Mullins, and made a successful debut for current yard when winning a Kelso handicap chase in May. He has been beaten in another chase and two Flat contests since then, so hard to know what to expect on this return to hurdling.

Form:

Forecasts

Timiyan (7/4), Wakea (13/2), King's Wharf (8/1), Light That (8/1), Top Othe Ra (9/1), Elusive Ivy (9/1), Mr Antolini (10/1), Tudor City (10/1), Usa (16/1), Colla Pier (20/1), Copy That (25/1), Jarob (33/1)

One or two of these have been trying their luck on the Flat, but Timiyan has stuck to hurdling and will be a popular choice following his reappearance victory at Roscommon. He is much respected, along with Light That, who showed his well being on the level last time. Preference, though, is for TUDOR CITY, who may have more to offer in handicaps and is clearly fancied given his jockey booking. Elusive Ivy and King's Wharf are interesting back over hurdles.