16:15 Cork

Thursday 22 March 2018

All14:0014:3515:0515:4016:1516:5017:20

CIT Cream Of The Crop (Q.R.) Handicap Hurdle (80-102)

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 5m 43.7s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Star Counsel^b²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 12-4| J: Mr Guillaume Viel⁽⁵⁾| T: E Kent| OR: 102| D

33/1

All three of her career victories have come on better ground than this and she is without a win since July 2016.

Form: 950445

Winter Breeze¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 12-4| J: Mr N George⁽⁷⁾| T: M Winters| OR: 102

20/1

Landed a maiden and a handicap hurdle last summer but not in great form in five runs over timber this term. Looks opposable.

Form: 89-5959

Nicat's Benefit³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: Mr M A Galligan⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss E Lalor| OR: 99

16/1

Winner twice at Clonmel last year, but has struggled of late and remains opposable despite a mark that continues to drop.

Form: 556P99

Bee A Beneficiary^h³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr R W Barron⁽⁷⁾| T: D Queally| OR: 98| BF

4/1

Runner-up in his last three starts including last time out in a Fairyhouse novice handicap hurdle finishing second of eight. Has moved higher up the weights again, however she is in better form than most and this will take little winning.

Form: 934222

Naturally Blond^t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr M C O'Donovan⁽⁷⁾| T: Patrick Cronin| OR: 97

16/1

1-28 record hardly inspires confidence. However he has posted a couple of runs this season that would be good enough to take this and he will better for his first run following a break.

Form: 358827

Time And Times²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr J C Barry⁽⁵⁾| T: D McNamara| OR: 95| CD

7/2

Took this 12 months ago off 7lb lower and produced his best run since last month. Has ideal conditions and the scope to defy a further rise in the weights.

Form: 00UPP3

Victoria Bay²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr J P O'Rourke⁽⁷⁾| T: C Bowe| OR: 96

20/1

Landed a point-to-point on good ground so every possibility we are yet to see the best of her under rules. Makes handicap debut, but probably best watched until her mark and underfoot conditions improve.

Form: 1-74860

Danse Away^p²^{(ex 6)}

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: T J Nagle-Jr| OR: 88

5/4

Easy winner at Clonmel on Tuesday on a day when positive tactics were highly effective. Cheekpieces obviously helped too and no surprise if he followed up under a penalty which should be more lenient than his reassessed mark.

Form: 502551

Auction Reminder^p1²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr Darragh Allen⁽⁷⁾| T: Donncha Duggan| OR: 91

66/1

Improved last time on his first two starts of the current campaign, but he still has a fair bit to find. Cheekpieces may help but he remains one for the optimists.

Form: 508-P98

Rebel Ace^p⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr R O Harding⁽³⁾| T: W J Burke| OR: 88| BF

16/1

Produced a couple of runs in February 2017 which would be good enough. Has failed to approach that form in three starts this term and was soon in trouble last time.

Form: 033-00P

Epsilon Indi⁸⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: R Deegan⁽⁵⁾| T: R P McNamara| OR: 87

20/1

Lightly raced type but has only hinted at ability so far and needs to show more before winning of this handicap mark.

Form: 780579

Forecasts

Danse Away (5/4), Time And Times (7/2), Bee A Beneficiary (4/1), Rebel Ace (16/1), Naturally Blond (16/1), Nicat's Benefit (16/1), Winter Breeze (20/1), Victoria Bay (20/1), Epsilon Indi (20/1), Star Counsel (33/1), Auction Reminder (66/1)

Time And Times took this last year and appears to be coming to hand for the first time since judged on his latest effort. Bee A Beneficiary was an expensive failure last time, but deserves to win a race soon. She may have to play second fiddle again as she faces DANSE AWAY who dotted up on Tuesday and makes a quick reappearance having hardly needed to exert himself . The handicapper will be hitting him with a lot more than the 6lb penalty he shoulders here and that makes him worthy of the selection with a good amateur booked.