19:30 Dundalk

Friday 26 January 2018

All17:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Racing Post Apprentice Maiden

Off time: 19:33 | Winning time: 1m 26.07s

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Selected odds by:

(3)

Alfirak³⁷³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: S M Mooney⁽⁷⁾| T: D English

16/1

Finished fifth of 10 on sole start in France for John Hammond and powerful connections. Deemed surplus to requirements market likely to reveal chances.

Form: 5-

(2)

Althib²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: A M Glynn⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan

66/1

Well beaten and no impression on first start for over two years when beaten 22L here earlier this month. Others hold stronger profiles.

Form: 6/0

(7)

Five Gems^t⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: D Robinson| T: S J Mahon

66/1

Gelding by Ansiei out of an Orpen mare. slowly away and always towards rear on dull debut here over 1m last month. Very little to be positive about.

Form: 0-

(14)

Jimmy Governor²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: D E Sheehy⁽²⁾| T: R O'Sullivan

66/1

Cheap yearling by Bushranger out of a Night Shift mare related to Group 2 winner in Australia Now Or Later. Struggled on debut when 10th of 14 beaten 15½L behind Zaofu. Another torrid time looks on the cards.

Form: 0

(9)

Luna's Luck³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: K J Leonard| T: M Halford

7/1

Vale Of York newcomer wasn't sold at the sales as a yearling. Half-brother to a 5f & 6f winners and promising start on debut when sixth of 13 beaten 4¼L last month over C&D. Place claims.

Form: 6-

(5)

Nigg Bay^h⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: D W O'Connor| T: J F Levins| OR: 63

9/4

Fair efforts in three outings in maiden company so far including when fifth over C&D on debut for yard before a 4L defeat here last month. May appreciate step up in trip.

Form: 3856-

(11)

Shamad³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: R P Downey| T: D K Weld| OR: 72

3/1

Had disappointed connections in a number of drab performances in September and October last year before a promising effort here last month when fourth of 13 beaten 4¼L. Could be capable of having his say.

Form: 553094-

(10)

Stormy Air

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: K K Hennessy⁽²⁾| T: D Hogan

16/1

Cheap 4,000gns three-year-old by Bated Breath out of a Rainbow Quest mare related to Lifting Cloud, Quenched and Thursday Southwell winner Mr Carbonator.

Form:

(1)

The Phantom Punch⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: C J McGovern| T: A Oliver| OR: 68

4/1

By Canford Cliffs out of a Fantastic Light mare related to Sweet Lightning, Roshani and recent Lingfield winner Cliffs Of Capri. Beaten favourite earlier this month behind Zaofu over 7f. Worth a market check taking big drop in trip.

Form: 3-43

(13)

Above Us Only Sky²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: G Brouder⁽⁴⁾| T: C O'Brien| OR: 63

8/1

Running well here in December without winning before a little disappointing last time out when seventh of 14 earlier in the month over 1m. Place claims on December form.

Form: 67933-7

(6)

Dash D'Or³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: M L Melia⁽⁷⁾| T: K P Cotter

20/1

11th of 13 on debut but only beaten 5L and never nearer under tender enough riding before a promising second start finishing seventh of 13 beaten 4¾L over C&D last month. Improvement looks to be on the cards.

Form: 07-

(4)

Hawthorn Echo⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Dylan Hogan⁽²⁾| T: P McCreery

66/1

Not much to shout about in four bumper starts in career and hard to make a credible case for on what she has displayed to date.

Form:

(12)

Maysonette^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Ben Coen⁽⁴⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 64

8/1

Has produced a number of rock-solid performances here over C&D including finishing third of 14 beaten 2½L behind Gunmaker earlier this month. Will look to improve again.

Form: 6029-73

(8)

Spanish Dawn^h1²¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: S Corby| T: J C McConnell| BF

33/1

Helmet filly is closely related to 2yo 6f winner Rosy Morning and half-sister to useful 2yo 6f winner Risen Sun. Well beaten favourite on Tipperary debut in June for Godolphin. Worth a market check on stable debut in first-time hood.

Form: 0-

Non-Runners

Wicket⁷

Weight: 9-7| Age: 4

T: D Hogan J: Reserve 1

Hanrai⁷⁷

Weight: 9-7| Age: 4

T: W J Martin J: Reserve 2

Bobs Bud¹⁴

Weight: 9-7| Age: 5

T: G Ahern J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Nigg Bay (9/4), Shamad (3/1), The Phantom Punch (4/1), Luna's Luck (7/1), Above Us Only Sky (8/1), Maysonette (8/1), Alfirak (16/1), Stormy Air (16/1), Dash D'Or (20/1), Wicket (25/1), Spanish Dawn (33/1), Bobs Bud (50/1), Althib (66/1), Five Gems (66/1), Hawthorn Echo (66/1), Jimmy Governor (66/1), Hanrai (66/1)

In a difficult race to access it is probably best to use the market as the best guide with plenty of inexperienced runners up against the more experienced sorts in poor form. Preference is for the Andrew Slattery-trained MAYSONETTE who has proved his liking for this C&D. Nigg Bay, The Phantom Punch and Dermot Welds Shamad can all go well here and fight for the minor honours.