16:30 Naas

Sunday 24 September 2017

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:0017:30

Joe McGrath Handicap

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 1m 1.26s

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Selected odds by:

(3)

Spirit Quartz¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: D E Hogan⁽⁷⁾| T: Barry J Murphy| OR: 103| D

20/1

Enjoys slower ground and won a Group 2 in his pomp but well beaten in the Group 2 Sapphire stakes at the Curragh, before below-par performance last time out when ninth of 11 and yet to get his head in front for this yard.

Form: 449459

(7)

Tithonus^b,t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: K K Hennessy⁽⁵⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 95| D

5/1

Distance winner has hit the frame but has largely struggled since winning at the Curragh in July off a 5lb lower but not out of it winning on three occasions in this company.

Form: 011054

(10)

Magic Bear²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: O J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: E Lynam| OR: 93| D

9/2

Dual 5f winner including a win at Tipperary last month. Looked to find the rise in the weights and a run in the Listed Abergwaun beyond her last time out. Can go well back in handicap company.

Form: 21-1416

(8)

Maarek¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 9-5| J: J A Heffernan| T: Miss E McCutcheon| OR: 91| CD

10/1

C&D winner who has been running okay of late despite the fact he's not won for over two years. Handicap mark is starting to look lenient and acts with cut in the ground.

Form: 590840

(9)

Imagine If¹⁰⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: C T Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 89| D

7/1

Winner at Navan over 5f in October on his second outing since being gelded. Has run some solid races in handicaps so far this year without really seriously impressing, but was only 2¾L behind Spanish Tenor at Leopardstown in June.

Form: 21-4544

(5)

Monsieur Joe¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 9-2| J: P J Smullen| T: P T Midgley| OR: 88| D

5/1

Sprinting veteran who is a 10-time distance winner and is now a full 21lb below his last winning mark back in July 2016 when winning a Newmarket conditions stakes.

Form: 020595

(6)

Ducky Mallon¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: N G McCullagh| T: D Kinsella| OR: 83

12/1

Failed to land the hat-trick when well beaten at the Curragh last time out over 6f on soft ground. Could struggle racing 11lb higher than his win last month.

Form: 465110

(1)

Tylery Wonder^v¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-8| J: L F Roche| T: P T Midgley| OR: 80| D

10/1

The four-time distance winner has been out of luck in seven efforts on soft ground and could struggle still 4lb higher than his win at York in July.

Form: 010700

(12)

Enter The Red^b¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-4| J: C D Hayes| T: A A Howard| OR: 76| D

8/1

Running solidly and consistently in the spring, the gelding has frustrated in his most recent starts including being well beaten in his last two starts and others preferred.

Form: 212270

(13)

A Few Dollars More¹⁰⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: K J Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 75| D

16/1

Last win came in March of 2016, when beating 10 rivals over 5f in a Cork handicap, off a mark of 69. Disappointed on last two starts at Gowran Park and the Curragh.

Form: 5-25388

(2)

Sahreej^b²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: R P Cleary| T: A Keatley| OR: 75| D

16/1

Last in the winners enclosure in August 2015 and out of luck in 13 races for current yard. Frustrating in his last two starts and now 8lb lower than last win.

Form: 327278

(11)

Polly Douglas²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: A J Breslin⁽⁷⁾| T: K P Cotter| OR: 71| C| D

12/1

Course winner that has won over this trip and has put in some consistent performances since winning a 5f Navan handicap on good to firm ground.

Form: 171822

Non-Runners

(4)

Voge²⁴

Weight: 8-4| Age: 3

T: E Lynam J: W M Lordan

Forecasts

Magic Bear (9/2), Monsieur Joe (5/1), Tithonus (5/1), Imagine If (7/1), Enter The Red (8/1), Voge (8/1), Tylery Wonder (10/1), Maarek (10/1), Polly Douglas (12/1), Ducky Mallon (12/1), Sahreej (16/1), A Few Dollars More (16/1), Spirit Quartz (20/1)

Plenty of speed from the lower part of the draw with Tylery Wonder, Sahreej and Spirit Quartz all expected to be up with the pace in the early part of the race with Tithonus and A Few Dollars More showing plenty of early dash. The early tempo could be beneficial to the improving MAGIC BEAR who will be doing her best work at the business end of the race.