14:25 Naas

Sunday 5 November 2017

All12:2012:5013:2513:5514:2515:0015:3016:00

Kildare Post Handicap

Off time: 14:27 | Winning time: 2m 22.82s

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Selected odds by:

(4)

No Education⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: Paul J Jones⁽¹⁰⁾| T: J Feane| OR: 96

14/1

Has some smart form in the book but unable to show it in two runs back from 436 days off. Tough ask conceding lumps of weight here.

Form: 5/938-60

(16)

Slaney Street⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 86| D

6/1

Found only one too good in valuable Leopardstown handicap recently (1m4f, yielding), carries an additional 5lb now but capable of being in the mix.

Form: 412632

(3)

Rickrack²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 84

4/1

Winner at Cork last time over extended-mile on soft ground but this trip poses a different question and has more on having been raised 9lb.

Form: 3-32721

(1)

Wexford Opera⁴⁹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Rory Cleary| T: J S Bolger| OR: 81

12/1

Has been off the track for the best part of 500 days and done most of his racing over shorter trips. Would require a masterful piece of training from Bolger to snare this.

Form: 828015-

(9)

Gentil J^t¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: W J Lee| T: H Rogers| OR: 80

14/1

Was in fine form last autumn, winning twice, but has not managed to get her head in front since then. Appears likely to have stamina stretched to breaking point by this trip.

Form: 839824

(6)

Maudlin Magdalen²³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: G Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: D Kinsella| OR: 79| D

14/1

No luck over hurdles this year but ran fine race in valuable Curragh handicap in September (1m2f, soft) and is rated 4lb lower now. On the pick of Flat form would have sound claims.

Form: 080-560

(13)

Lucky Mistake¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁵⁾| T: A Keatley| OR: 81

6/1

Has been round the houses but performer very well since arriving with this trainer from France. Latest winning a mile handicap at Leopardstown last month in good style. Career-best needed off new rating.

Form: 071U41

(5)

The Last Indian¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: P J Smullen| T: A A Howard| OR: 78| BF| D

9/2

Lightly-raced and progressive filly, narrowly denied a four-timer at Leopardstown last month (1m4f, soft) and won't be inconvenienced over this shorter trip. Looks a contender under Smullen.

Form: 00-1112

(2)

Vastonea²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-2| J: M L Melia⁽¹⁰⁾| T: K Prendergast| OR: 78| CD

16/1

C&D winner who has regressed steadily over the summer in succession of runs over various trips. Hard to find the positives and others preferred.

Form: 529778

(7)

Inscribe²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 78

8/1

Ex-Sir Michael Stoute inmate, left previous form behind to make winning handicap start at Gowran Park over a mile last month. Raised 9lb for that but has the newly-crowned champion jockey on board and should progress again.

Form: 7-551

(11)

Storm Ranger²³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Chris Hayes| T: P J Flynn| OR: 74| D

16/1

Winner over this trip at the Curragh in August off a mark of 69, has rather struggled in three runs since off increased rating and overall profile suggests he'll find this tough going.

Form: 071578

(15)

Stoked³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: K J Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: L Comer| OR: 70

14/1

Swapped around a few stables but generally is a reliable enough type to give it a good go. Has been doing just that in four starts for this yard, without winning, and likely will continue the trend here.

Form: 01-2344

(12)

At Your Service¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: T P Madden⁽⁵⁾| T: S Donohoe| OR: 72

25/1

Lightly-raced Frankel colt, yet to win in seven starts and opening handicap mark appeared to be issued on breeding rather than ability shown. Tailed off on recent stable debut at Navan on heavy ground and up against things for now.

Form: 248700

(8)

Raven Banner³⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: S Foley| T: Christian Delcros| OR: 69| D

20/1

No run for 345 days and has joined this yard in the interim, this would require a career-best from the filly on reappearance in order to take the spoils.

Form: 151664-

(10)

Excelli^b¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-5| J: L F Roche| T: A A Howard| OR: 67| D

8/1

Best effort for some considerable time came 11 days ago over 1m at Navan (heavy) when 4L second of 18. Mark remains untouched for that effort and is capable of plenty better at best, though will need extra for this.

Form: 85-0092

(14)

Clementina²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: C P Hoban| T: A J Martin| OR: 66

25/1

Filly was unplaced in succession of maidens and beaten the thick end of 20L on handicap debut over this C&D last month. Leap of faith required to see how she might win this.

Form: 898D06

Niven^t⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: Reserve 1| T: N Meade| OR: 66| D

8/1

Dual purpose performer has been strutting his stuff over hurdles to decent effect without a win in two starts for Noel Meade. Pick of Flat form for previous yard would throw him in the mix on these terms (First Reserve).

Form: 5-07408

Bay Hill⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-4| J: Reserve 2| T: C Roche| OR: 66

20/1

Fair performer on the Flat in the right company, winning 5-14 turf races, very poor in three runs since switching back from hurdles and tough ask - even at best (Second Reserve).

Form: 113090

Total Demolition^t1⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: Reserve 3| T: J Larkin| OR: 64| D

50/1

Five-time winner but has been slowly away in recent starts and best form this year has come on quicker ground than he's forecast to encounter today (Third Reserve).

Form: 066990

Forecasts

Rickrack (4/1), The Last Indian (9/2), Lucky Mistake (6/1), Slaney Street (6/1), Inscribe (8/1), Niven (8/1), Excelli (8/1), Wexford Opera (12/1), Maudlin Magdalen (14/1), Stoked (14/1), No Education (14/1), Gentil J (14/1), Vastonea (16/1), Storm Ranger (16/1), Bay Hill (20/1), Raven Banner (20/1), Clementina (25/1), At Your Service (25/1), Total Demolition (50/1)

The race to be champion jockey didn't last until the final day but there could still be a Smullen v Keane battle on here. The Last Indian has progressed rapidly of late and while denied the four-timer last time out, the filly should be right at home back down in trip and could have more to give. It might be worth siding with INSCRIBE however, a former inmate of Sir Michael Stoute who left his previous efforts behind when winning on handicap bow at Gowran Park recently. This is tougher and the assessor has taken a dim view with 9lb more to carry, but he's open to progress and has the hottest pilot in Ireland for assistance. Slaney Street, Rickrack, Maudlin Magdalen and Lucky Mistake are all worth of consideration for places.