17:00 Cork

Thursday 21 March 2019

All14:1014:4515:1515:5016:2517:0017:30

UCC Don't Step On The Crest Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 6m 16.4s

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Selected odds by:

Rooster Byron⁷⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: K Brogan⁽⁷⁾| T: P Nolan| OR: 130| C| D

8/1

Landed a hat-trick from March to May with a chase and two subsequent hurdle wins. Not as good this winter, including over 2m4f (soft) here in January and handicapper may have his measure for now.

Form: 11-13U0

Lord Of The Island²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: C Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 129

8/1

UK raider is a lightly-raced 11-year-old. Winner of Grade 3 Kempton handicap in February 2017 off this mark but run only twice since. Not disgraced last month at Exeter and could have a say with that form boosted since.

Form: 3F31/04

Mary Frances¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean Flanagan| T: M Hassett| OR: 126

7/1

Mare has plenty form in the book to suggest she can play a hand in this, including third of 18 in handicap here (2m4f, soft) on penultimate start. Not as good since at Naas but return to softer ground may assist.

Form: 541P-39

Forever Gold⁸³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: E Cawley| OR: 124| D

28/1

Unconvincing profile, with a 4-47 record under rules. Runs as many poor races as good ones and remains hard to trust following latest tame effort at Leopardstown in December.

Form: P3U-000

Elwood¹⁰²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 125

16/1

Martaline gelding, represents Gordon Elliott/Gigginstown but has failed to complete in two starts over C&D this far and has to show some positives before warranting support.

Form: 644-1FP

Ronald Pump^h,t⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Paul Townend| T: M J Smith| OR: 123| BF| C| D

5/1

Course winner over 2m4f (soft to heavy) in December and followed up at Fairyhouse over 3m on New Year's Day. Credible fourth at Navan (2m4½f, good to yielding) since showed this mark is not beyond him.

Form: 049114

The Gatechecker^b¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: M Hourigan| OR: 122| D

12/1

3-11 this season so far, capable of going well despite below-par effort most recently at Thurles over 2m6f. Deserves consideration.

Form: 130017

Sonny B^t⁸³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-1| J: A McCurtin⁽³⁾| T: J J Walsh| OR: 121| CD

40/1

Former C&D winner but losing sequence dates back to 2016 and was poor at Limerick in December on previous start. Others appeal more.

Form: 40/5-705

Champagne Harmony²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: J J Slevin| T: S J Mahon| OR: 119| C

33/1

Winner of a Kilbeggan novice chase in May 2017 but has toiled over fences/hurdles since and very tough to recommend on recent form.

Form: PP-P0PP

Uaintseenothingyet^t1⁹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: E P Harty| OR: 116

12/1

Chasing career interrupted by series of absences. Returns to hurdling from what might be a workable mark and one to pay attention to in first-time tongue-tie.

Form: 9/44F-43

Bitsandpieces⁹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: D J McInerney⁽³⁾| T: M Winters| OR: 112| BF| C| D

5/1

Lightly-raced 10-year-old, won his previous hurdles start over 2m (yielding) here in December. Has done ok in two chase outings since and stays this longer trip. Should be in the firing line.

Form: 300-132

Force Of Forces⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: B J Cooper| T: I Madden| OR: 111

50/1

Failed to build on a Fairyhouse maiden win for Willie Mullins last season in four subsequent starts. Poor efforts on first three starts for new connections and other preferred off short break.

Form: P-55U07

Getaday⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: D E Mullins| T: T J Nagle-Jr| OR: 108| BF

3/1

Placed in a soft ground maiden hurdle over C&D in January, and positive efforts in two of three runs since included second in Limerick novice event over 2m3f (heavy) on Sunday. Respected back up in distance.

Form: 532952

Riverdene^t¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: E Griffin| OR: 108

14/1

Eight-year-old has had his setbacks, shaped better at Gowran Park (2m4f, soft) earlier this month in first-time tongue tie (retained), though still needs to offer plenty more up in journey.

Form: 352-5P8

Forecasts

Getaday (3/1), Ronald Pump (5/1), Bitsandpieces (5/1), Mary Frances (7/1), Lord Of The Island (8/1), Rooster Byron (8/1), The Gatechecker (12/1), Uaintseenothingyet (12/1), Riverdene (14/1), Elwood (16/1), Forever Gold (28/1), Champagne Harmony (33/1), Sonny B (40/1), Force Of Forces (50/1)

Lord Of The Island is an intriguing challenger from the UK and the form of his recent Exeter fourth has already been advertised. Any market support behind him would be notable. A chasing career didn't quite work out for UAINTSEENNOTHINGYET, with absences barring any progress. He goes handicap hurdling from a workable mark and might go well under in-form Mark Walsh now. Bitsandpieces and Getaday, second here in C&D maiden in January, are both capable of getting in the scrap for honours.