18:25 Down Royal

Friday 28 July 2017

All17:5518:2518:5519:2519:5520:2521:00

Apple Orchard Handicap (45-65)

Off time: 18:25 | Winning time: 1m 1.24s

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(9)

Duncan Of Scotland^b¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: S B Kelly⁽³⁾| T: L Smyth| OR: 64| BF

9/2

Holding his form well since 6f wins at Ayr (good to firm) and Dundalk (AW) in May, runner up back at Ayr off this mark last time out and has to be on the shortlist tackling this trip for the first time.

Form: 117322

(11)

Pillar⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: R P Whelan| T: A McGuinness| OR: 58| D

13/2

Just one win from 33 career starts, that came over this 5f trip at Navan in April from a mark of 52. Has knocked on the door a few times since but this will be a fifth run already this month and form has tailed off a bit recently. Others more appealing.

Form: 322009

(3)

Sweetest Taboo¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: W J Lee| T: W McCreery| OR: 57| D

5/1

Mare registered only win in Tipperary maiden in 2014, she was well beaten over this trip in two recent outings at Navan and has a bit to find on that evidence despite dropping 2lb in the weights.

Form: 338368

(1)

Intense Starlet^p,t²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: G Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: T P O'Connor| OR: 53| D

33/1

Beaten 32L in 7f Fairyhouse claimer recently on return from a break and first start for new yard. Drops in distance now but has it all to prove seemingly.

Form: 80-6960

(10)

Seaforth^b⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: G P Halpin⁽³⁾| T: J Feane| OR: 53

8/1

A 19-race maiden, mostly over longer trips than this, he was beaten 6½L on the AW at Dundalk in January on sole previous attempt at 5f having been sent off second favourite. Is now rated 6lb lower but has work to do on recent form.

Form: 9-87999

(6)

Mr Michael⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: S Foley| T: A B Joyce| OR: 50

6/1

Yet to gain a victory in 17 starts, eight of them on turf, but has been running well enough over longer trip off this mark to merit some respect. Previous form over this trip is not inspiring and may get caught for toe.

Form: 760793

(12)

Red All Star^p,t⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁷⁾| T: G Keane| OR: 50| D

7/1

Won off a mark of 79 over 6f at his best, has struggled in runs at Naas and Fairyhouse recently over that trip off current mark however. Drops down in distance here needing to find a spark from somewhere.

Form: 332408

(8)

Suburban Sky^b,t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: D P McDonogh| T: H Rogers| OR: 50| D

7/1

Mare returned from a layoff to deny Pillar by a neck over 5f at Bellewstown this month, before finishing ninth of 19, beaten 3¼L in 5f Navan handicap a fortnight ago under 6lb penalty.

Form: 2746-19

(7)

Fast Kar¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: C D Hayes| T: Barry J Murphy| OR: 51| D

16/1

Winner in France when trained by Matthieu Palussiere but only limited signs of promise for this stable. Handicap mark is falling following string of poor runs including last day, beaten 10L over 7f at Roscommon. Drops significantly in trip.

Form: 797709

(5)

Molans Mare²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: R P Cleary| T: K H Clarke| OR: 46

11/1

Remains a maiden after 18 attempts but ran well last time when 2L runner-up over 6f at Naas, has gone well over this trip in the past but may be fighting for place money at best.

Form: 690352

(4)

Blockstar Girl²⁵²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: M A Gallagher| T: J Feane| OR: 45

25/1

Poor in three AW maidens last years, including on debut over this trip, and has been off since. Fitness to prove on handicap debut, market check advised.

Form: 800-

(2)

Miss Florence¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: K J Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: T M Walsh| OR: 45

33/1

Poor in maidens and well beaten on handicap debut over this trip at Naas a fortnight ago, was 6lb wrong at the weights for that and beaten 8L. Needs to improve to have a chance in this.

Form: 5-0000

Non-Runners

Jamington³⁶

Weight: 8-6| Age: 3

T: D Marnane J: Reserve 1

Annagassan²¹

Weight: 8-8| Age: 4

T: D Kinsella J: Reserve 2

Calm Bay¹⁴

Weight: 9-2| Age: 11

T: H Rogers J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Duncan Of Scotland (9/2), Sweetest Taboo (5/1), Mr Michael (6/1), Pillar (13/2), Suburban Sky (7/1), Red All Star (7/1), Seaforth (8/1), Molans Mare (11/1), Calm Bay (14/1), Fast Kar (16/1), Blockstar Girl (25/1), Annagassan (25/1), Intense Starlet (33/1), Miss Florence (33/1), Jamington (33/1)

DUNCAN OF SCOTLAND carries top weight and is dropping to 5f but he is still expected to take the beating. He's held his form nicely since recording back-to-back wins in May and faces a lot of rivals with questions to answer here so appeals as the most solid option. Mr Michael has been going well of late and can get involved if the pace of this doesn't catch him out while Suburban Sky and Molans Mare rate amongst the more likely contenders in a field that doesn't have great appeal.