16:25 Naas

Saturday 10 February 2018

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:2516:55

Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (80-109)

Off time: 16:25 | Winning time: 4m 32.6s

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Selected odds by:

Wade Harper¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: J P O'Sullivan| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 109

20/1

Game 132-rated hurdler two years ago for David Dennis winning two of his seven hurdle starts for the yard. Well beaten and no impression in two starts for this yard. May struggle in this company.

Form: 223780

The Mooch⁴³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: E T Daly| T: P Nolan| OR: 107| D

14/1

Tailed off here on St Stephens Day beaten 44L before another second-rate display at Leopardstown three days later. Very little to be positive about. Others preferred.

Form: 7U7200

Back Bar⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Liam McKenna| T: G Elliott| OR: 104

7/1

Placed in a bumper and in the process of running his best race since prior to unseating on heavy ground at Cork before finishing fourth of 15 beaten 8L last month. From leading stable and worth a market check.

Form: U23-9P4

Mister Hotelier⁵⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: John J Fitzpatrick| T: M J McDonagh| OR: 104| D

25/1

Winner of four races from 45 starts but held in all nine starts since joining this yard 15 months ago. Looks a tall order on form shown.

Form: P7-P777

Tornado Watch²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: T N Brett⁽²⁾| T: E Mullins| OR: 103| D

8/1

Found some form for previous trainer David Loughnane with runner-up spots at Cartmel and Hexham but disappointed on debut for new surroundings when finishing 10th of 17 beaten 69L. Will need to improve here.

Form: 000-220

Ard Na Carraig^b,t¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: C M Leonard⁽²⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 99

11/2

Second of 18 beaten 2L in a Thurles handicap hurdle in November before finishing third of 17 beaten 24L at Gowran Park last month over this trip. Place claims at best.

Form: 500623

Roja Dove⁵⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: R M Short⁽²⁾| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 99| BF| C| D

6/1

Genuine and tough mare who failed to land a hat-trick of wins last time out when finishing sixth of 10 beaten 13L in a Tramore handicap hurdle in December. Could possibly find this tough on current mark.

Form: 344116

Archie Meade^b,t⁹⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 11-0| J: C A Landers| T: D Howard| OR: 97

25/1

Record of 4-43 and winless since September 2015. Tailed of in three of his last four starts and has work to do on latest form.

Form: 089-U59

Thereisnodoubt⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: E O'Connell| T: A Leahy| OR: 96

7/1

Promise in bumpers, but out of the frame in three starts in maiden hurdles before a 24L defeat on handicap debut in December. Looks opposable.

Form: 062394

Easy Pass^t¹³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Mr L P Gilligan| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 95

8/1

Beaten a total of 75L on his last two maiden hurdle starts at Kilbeggan and Clonmel and although capable of a big run the gelding looks vulnerable in this company.

Form: 500-497

Pound A Stroke^p¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: K J Brouder⁽²⁾| T: E McCarthy| OR: 94| D

8/1

Won a Thurles handicap hurdle in November before a second of 17 on St Stephens day at Down Royal. Clearly better than his last start when pulled up at Gowran Park and has place claims on best form.

Form: 70012P

Wild Sam¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: T Ryan| T: S Ryan| OR: 90

5/1

Has been left toiling in a number of recent starts and even his best form would possibly leave him short of what is required here.

Form: 5280-34

Non-Runners

Sizing Titanium³⁴

Weight: 11-12| Age: 10

T: J T R Dreaper J: D J Hand

Forecasts

Sizing Titanium (7/2), Wild Sam (5/1), Ard Na Carraig (11/2), Roja Dove (6/1), Thereisnodoubt (7/1), Back Bar (7/1), Tornado Watch (8/1), Pound A Stroke (8/1), Easy Pass (8/1), The Mooch (14/1), Wade Harper (20/1), Archie Meade (25/1), Mister Hotelier (25/1)

The eager Pound A Stroke can be expected to set the pace here albeit in the soft to heavy ground with possibly Back Bar, The Reisnodoubt and Easy Pass chasing behind. SIZING TITANIUM is clearly capable of holding his own on his return to hurdling here with Ard Na Carraig and the Peter Fahey-trained Roja Dove hitting the frame.