15:50 Listowel

Thursday 14 September 2017

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2016:5017:2017:50

Behans Horseshoe Bar & Restaurant Handicap

Off time: 15:51 | Winning time: 3m 34.13s

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Selected odds by:

(2)

Vigil⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: P J Smullen| T: D K Weld| OR: 87

10/1

All but walked home in Galway Festival contest over this trip last month, that was a first start for 260 days but hard to plead case for dramatic turnaround now. Does represent powerful connections however, so support would be notable.

Form: 21-V9

(5)

Mr Everest²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 84

11/2

Appears at home on a testing surface, winning Curragh maiden (1m4f) on debut and going close again at Killarney (1m3f) on handicap debut last time. Raised 1lb for 1¾L defeat last time, capable of doing better for in-form trainer.

Form: 163

(6)

Oiche Mhaith Boy^t¹⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: K J Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: K Purcell| OR: 76

14/1

Three wins on Flat all came in rapid succession in spring of 2016, latest being off a mark of 76 at Sligo (1m4½f). All those wins came on heavy ground, so likely to relish conditions on return from break and back on that winning mark.

Form: 06/1114-

(8)

Bayan^p,t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: D P McDonogh| T: G Elliott| OR: 75| C| D

7/2

Runner-up behind Snow Falcon at Killarney last month over 1m6f, that is decent form and while without a win since 2014, earns him a spot on the shortlist off a 2lb higher mark in this.

Form: 450/002

(7)

Nelson Road⁶^{(ex 6)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: S Foley| T: J J Murphy| OR: 67

4/1

Just nine starts so far taking advantage of plummeting mark to be runner-up at Killarney (1m6f) last month and then scoring over 2m2f at Down Royal last week on testing ground. Dropped in trip but up 6lb for narrow success.

Form: 43-6821

(1)

Highland Fling^t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: R P Cleary| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 67| BF

9/2

Been campaigned exclusively over hurdles for this yard (twice won this year) until last month when ½L runner-up over this trip at Galway on soft to heavy. Since run well over shorter at the Curragh off this rating and can go close back up in trip.

Form: 7175-25

(4)

Touch Of Gold^h⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: S P Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: M Kennedy| OR: 65

7/1

Maiden on the Flat after six starts but twice a winner over hurdles this summer at Killarney (2m1f, good) and Tramore (2m, soft). Needs to improve on last month's Killarney Flat effort over this trip but on a lowly rating if able to do so.

Form: 5/2560-5

(3)

Face Value^p¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 8-4| J: C D Hayes| T: A McGuinness| OR: 63| CD

8/1

Record of 5-38 in Flat turf races but a long time now between drinks, with no win since May 2015. Has dropped another 4lb since 6L defeat over his trip at Galway last month, beaten similar margin at Down Royal over timber this month (2m2f).

Form: 2-08860

Forecasts

Bayan (7/2), Nelson Road (4/1), Highland Fling (9/2), Mr Everest (11/2), Touch Of Gold (7/1), Face Value (8/1), Vigil (10/1), Oiche Mhaith Boy (14/1)

Bayan ran a nice race behind Snow Falcon at Killarney recently and is respected here racing from just 2lb higher in the handicap, with his trainer having won yesterday's feature event. The likes of Face Value and Touch Of Gold could get involved if in the correct mood while Oiche Mhaith Boy will relish these conditions if fit enough to do so and has three-times won over this sort of trip on heavy ground. HIGHLAND FLING ran a blinder at Galway last month over this trip on his return to the Flat, he's 2lb higher here but has run well at the Curragh over shorter since and could grab this prize.