14:25 Down Royal

Friday 3 November 2017

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Allianz Handicap Hurdle (80-102)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 6m 26.3s

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Selected odds by:

Clondaw Farmer⁸²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: D E Mullins| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 102| C

25/1

Lightly raced eight-year-old who won on his only hurdle start in August 2014. Fifth of 12 in Galway chase on return after 764-day lay-off in July. Looks vulnerable in this company.

Form: 22115/

Drummullagh Rocky^t²³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: C D Maxwell| T: S McParlan| OR: 102

25/1

Won a maiden hurdle at Perth last summer over 2m4f on soft when causing 100/1 shock. Out of sorts in three subsequent starts including being pulled-up when tailed-off in March.

Form: 89/157P-

Swingbridge^t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 102| BF| D

11/4

Won his first three starts for new stable over hurdles and over the larger obstacles. Second of 17 in a competitive handicap hurdle at Thurles last month. Likely to be a warm order here.

Form: 1-31112

Questions Answered³¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-9| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: E McNamara| OR: 99| D

33/1

Veteran who has won five of his 15 races over hurdles. 12th of 14 beaten 54L on return from a three year break last month in a handicap hurdle at Tipperary. Looks a tall order.

Form: 10808/0

No Pressure Pat⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: C M Leonard⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Fahy| OR: 98| D

7/1

Stepped up markedly on his previous form to beat Lockeen Girl in a 3m handicap at Tipperary before defying an 8lb rise beating 13-rivals in a Wexford handicap hurdle over 3m. More progress possible and not dismissed.

Form: P097-11

Mistheatre^t⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: D J McInerney⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 97

14/1

A ten-race maiden over timber but has shown glimpses of promise, including when just over 3L fourth of 17 beaten 3L in a Thurles handicap hurdle before disappointing on yielding ground last month. May find this tough.

Form: 030340

There Was A Time^b1²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: M P Walsh| T: E P Harty| OR: 97

25/1

Not sighted at long odds on all seven career starts. Handicapper is cautiously cutting him some slack but there is probably a way to go yet. Hard to imagine what improvement first-time blinkers will bring.

Form: 40-0900

Alaliya²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr L P Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: G T Lynch| OR: 100

20/1

Built on potential to gain first win at Ballinrobe in August over 3m1f. Never threatened off new mark at Listowel before more encouraging run at Thurles last month over 2m7f. Others hold stronger profiles.

Form: 8P3166

Caerleon Kate⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: P Townend| T: C A McBratney| OR: 95| BF

8/1

Beaten favourite when unseating last time out in a Downpatrick maiden hurdle over 2m5½f. Form in the spring was solid without winning.

Form: B0223U

Walkers Point³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr N McParlan⁽³⁾| T: S McParlan| OR: 95

11/1

Going nowhere quickly at present, well beaten most recent starts and nothing of any note despite finishing fourth of 13 last time out at Clonmel when trying this trip for the first time.

Form: 0-94P74

Tyrone Tiger²³¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: R Loughran| T: Miss S Barkley| OR: 94| C

25/1

Gallant veteran who didn't show anything in four subsequent runs since winning a Fairyhouse handicap hurdle in April 2016. Plenty to find on return to the track.

Form: 21/P70P-

Bronco Bill¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: J D Benson⁽⁷⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 93

14/1

14-race maiden but often on the premises and continues to climb the weights as a result. Runner up to Kilganer Queen at Sligo in August before disappointed last time out when beaten 20L.

Form: 523727

Skellig Rocks¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: D Meyler| T: A L T Moore| OR: 93

20/1

Remains a maiden after 17 starts, and has produced his more promising efforts over fences. Requires a chunk of improvement to figure here.

Form: 0437U-5

Backinthesaddle^h1,t⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Slevin⁽³⁾| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 92| C

20/1

A winning hurdler last year for a different yard he shaped well enough on his chase/stable debut when tenderly handled but was bitterly disappointing this week at Ayr. Difficult to imagine what improvement first-time tongue tie will bring.

Form: 0356-36

Don't Be Hasty²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁷⁾| T: Nicole McKenna| OR: 90

25/1

Had had a terribly disappointing 2017 suffering heavy defeats in five starts and no reason to think improvement is on the horizon.

Form: 0P-8P00

Celtic Monarch²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: P D Kennedy⁽³⁾| T: M M McNiff| OR: 89

33/1

Moderate strike rate of 2-28 over hurdles and recent runs have not been encouraging. Inching down the weights but well beaten last month in a Downpatrick handicap hurdle. Others make more appeal.

Form: 03F067

The Ballyboys³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: R Hackett| OR: 88

20/1

Not much to shout about in six-race spring and summer jumping campaign. Vast improvement needed to figure here.

Form: 800457

Megara^p,t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 87

10/1

Has shown vast improvement on last two starts at Clonmel and Thurles to be under consideration today. Shouldn't be underestimated.

Form: 0-09843

Golden Silence¹¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: R C Colgan| T: V C Ward| OR: 85| D

50/1

Point to point winner who has failed to land a blow under rules in 24 starts and not seen since July. Hard to fancy.

Form: 7090-09

Mountmellick Girl^b¹⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: A E Lynch| T: B W Duke| OR: 85

20/1

Third of 14 in May on seasonal debut in a Ballinrobe handicap hurdle. Requires a chunk of improvement to play a role here.

Form: P0/67P-3

Pack Your Bags¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Reserve 1| T: R Tyner| OR: 85| D

20/1

First Reserve: Dungarvan point-to-point winner (3m) in January 2015, but barren since despite tackling both hurdles and fences.

Form: 06837-0

Gertoni^p1,t²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Reserve 2| T: Mrs C O'Leary| OR: 83

50/1

Second Reserve: Tailed off on all five starts over hurdles and hard to fancy even in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 0-96000

June Carter^b⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Reserve 3| T: M M McNiff| OR: 83

25/1

Third Reserve: Below par on all spring and summer starts including a 56L defeat last time out. Others make more appeal.

Form: P55568

Forecasts

Swingbridge (11/4), No Pressure Pat (7/1), Caerleon Kate (8/1), Megara (10/1), Walkers Point (11/1), Bronco Bill (14/1), Mistheatre (14/1), Alaliya (20/1), Pack Your Bags (20/1), Skellig Rocks (20/1), Mountmellick Girl (20/1), Backinthesaddle (20/1), The Ballyboys (20/1), Don't Be Hasty (25/1), Clondaw Farmer (25/1), There Was A Time (25/1), Tyrone Tiger (25/1), June Carter (25/1), Drummullagh Rocky (25/1), Celtic Monarch (33/1), Questions Answered (33/1), Gertoni (50/1), Golden Silence (50/1)

Misstheatre and Megara look the likely front runners here with Walkers Point possibly close up. No Pressure Pat can continue his progress here with another solid run and Caerleon Kate can put a last race unseat behind her to be looking to hit the frame, while likely warm order SWINGBRIDGE could take some beating.