18:40 Bellewstown

Friday 6 July 2018

All17:0017:3518:1018:4019:1519:5020:2520:55

Meath Farm Machinery Handicap (45-65)

Off time: 18:41 | Winning time: 1m 0.56s

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Selected odds by:

(14)

Haqeeba¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Declan McDonogh| T: L Lennon| OR: 63| CD

11/2

Sole win in 20 handicap outings came over C&D last August, and back to form when close second of 17 to Blastofmagic in apprentice event at Naas last time. Every chance if building on that.

Form: 3-30802

(6)

Ancient Astronaut⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Robbie Colgan| T: K Thornton| OR: 59

10/1

Goes well fresh and won on last year's return at Thirsk for John Quinn. Running respectably at present for current yard, but not really looking like taking advantage of declining mark.

Form: 700595

(2)

Blastofmagic^p,t⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: S Foley| T: A B Joyce| OR: 59| BF| D

9/1

Both wins for current yard have come after a break, latest at Naas last month. Below form at Tipperary last time, but couldn't get involved from poor position, and likely to bounce back.

Form: 241719

(4)

Sweetest Taboo⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: C J MacRedmond⁽¹⁰⁾| T: W McCreery| OR: 56| D

9/1

Just 1lb higher than when winning under this rider at the Curragh last summer, and back to form when head fourth of 12 to Jenniechild at Tipperary last time. One to bear in mind despite modest strike-rate.

Form: 305804

(13)

Gopsies Daughter^p⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: J A Heffernan| T: D Hogan| OR: 55| D

12/1

Runner-up twice before landing low-grade handicap at Navan last month, but she has struggled off higher marks on both starts since, and balance of form leaves her with a bit to find.

Form: 022100

(10)

Jenniechild⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: R P Downey| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 54| D

9/1

Took advantage of reduced mark when holding on gamely at Tipperary last time. All out to hold on there, but fairly handicapped on last season's best efforts.

Form: 640-651

(12)

Pillar^b³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Colin Keane| T: A McGuinness| OR: 54| D

10/1

Placed five times on the bounce earlier in the year, but has been below his best on last three starts. Fairly handicapped if he did bounce back.

Form: 242079

(5)

Catwilldo^b¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: K J Leonard⁽³⁾| T: G Donnelly| OR: 49| CD

9/1

Struggling for form at turn of the year, but 3¼ lengths fourth of 8 to Soffia at Down Royal last time after a break, and she goes well here, with a couple of C&D wins to her name, including this contest in 2015.

Form: 6009-04

(8)

Elegant Emmeline^t⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: L F Roche| T: J G Coogan| OR: 47

14/1

Not the most consistent, but she stepped up on her reappearance when close second of 12 to Jenniechild in handicap at Tipperary last time. Needs to prove she can build on that now.

Form: 5800-72

(1)

Guiding Star^p,t1⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁷⁾| T: P J McKenna| OR: 45

40/1

Won at Fairyhouse in 2017, but struggling for form of late, and tongue tie added to usual cheekpieces in attempt to halt the slide.

Form: 043969

(15)

Madam Bounska^b1,t1³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Chris Hayes| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 45

33/1

Fair form in 2016, but seemingly hard to train since, and well beaten after another break at Navan last time.

Form: 7067-80

(9)

Nightflight^b1,t⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁷⁾| T: Joseph Murray| OR: 45

11/1

Established as a modest maiden at best, but has found his level in handicaps, and not disgraced despite starting slowly on last couple of starts. Claims if first-time blinkers can get him to jump on terms, but risky.

Form: 4-80754

(3)

Nora Batt⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: A C Persse⁽¹⁰⁾| T: J W Nicholson| OR: 45| CD

4/1

Winner of a C&D handicap on previous stint with this yard, and best effort in a while when narrow third to Jenniechild at Tipperary. Bit unlucky there, and one to bear in mind given she won this in 2016.

Form: 70-0593

(11)

Red All Star^b,t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: S P Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: G Keane| OR: 45| D

33/1

Ran well when placed in handicaps at Dundalk and Navan in May/June, but form has dipped on last two starts, and only his best will do here.

Form: 933200

(7)

Dandy Sue^h1⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Wayne Lordan| T: G Keane| OR: 45

20/1

Maiden who tends to travel well, but hasn't been getting home in her races; now tried in a hood instead of usual blinkers, and possible that will make a difference.

Form: 687-067

Non-Runners

Lavinuela⁹¹

Weight: 8-9| Age: 4

T: R O'Sullivan J: Reserve 1

Split The Atom²⁶⁶

Weight: 10-1| Age: 6

T: D English J: Reserve 2

Ahundrednotout⁹

Weight: 9-8| Age: 4

T: J Feane J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Nora Batt (4/1), Haqeeba (11/2), Sweetest Taboo (9/1), Blastofmagic (9/1), Jenniechild (9/1), Catwilldo (9/1), Ancient Astronaut (10/1), Pillar (10/1), Nightflight (11/1), Gopsies Daughter (12/1), Elegant Emmeline (14/1), Ahundrednotout (16/1), Dandy Sue (20/1), Split The Atom (25/1), Lavinuela (25/1), Red All Star (33/1), Madam Bounska (33/1), Guiding Star (40/1)

CATWILLDO and Nora Batt are previous winners of this race, and both produced encouraging recent efforts which suggest they will be firing on all cylinders here. The former gets the nod with Haqeeba and Jenniechild completing the shortlist.