18:50 Wexford

Friday 5 April 2019

All15:3516:1016:4517:2017:5018:2018:5019:20

Boolavogue Novice Handicap Chase

Off time: 18:50 | Winning time: 5m 11.9s

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Selected odds by:

Ellie Mac^p1⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: D P Holden⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 126| D

5/1

Landed a couple of good ground novice chases late last year before taking a giant step up in class. Beat the now 130-rated Monatomic at Fairyhouse so potentially well-treated if running to that form after a break.

Form:

Peacocks Secret^b²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr T Hamilton⁽⁵⁾| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 124| CD

9/1

Highly tried on last two outings but has solid claims judged on his last three starts in this sort of company. They have yielded successes over this trip on decent ground at Punchestown, Naas and here so he ought to have a big say.

Form:

Stowaway Forever^b¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: S W Flanagan| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 123

4/1

21-race maiden continues to move up the weights following some good efforts in defeat. Nevertheless, others appeal as being better treated.

Form:

Mill Quest^t²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 121| D

20/1

Won four of her first seven after joining this yard but the handicapper has been in charge since. Satisfactory effort on return from a five month break, but she is prone to the odd error and there is little margin for mistakes off this mark.

Form:

You Can't Catch Me^t¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Slevin| T: K Purcell| OR: 121| D

14/1

Gained a first chase success two weeks ago to add to his victories on the Flat, in bumpers and over hurdles. Needs quick conditions but today's mark is 12lb higher than that over hurdles and that looks demanding.

Form:

Crazyheart^p¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: B J Cooper| T: P Nolan| OR: 116| C

5/1

Jumped impressively to score over 2m here last month. Has the stamina to stay the extra half-mile and the 9lb rise in the weights seems fair given the improvement shown. However, the forecast quicker ground may be more of an issue.

Form:

The Jam Man⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: D E Mullins| T: R McNally| OR: 108| D

7/2

Has a 5-20 record and enjoyed a productive summer in 2018. Latest efforts less promising and his last four runs over fences have been disastrous.

Form:

Cloudy Morning^v¹⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-5| J: D J O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: D Queally| OR: 107| BF| C| D

4/1

Has a good record here and returned from the point-to-point fields to finish an eyecatching second over an inadequate trip last month. Did not jump well at Clonmel but makes some appeal back here. Effective from 2m4f-3m and handles any ground.

Form:

Runyon Rattler^b¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 105| C| D

16/1

Form has deteriorated lately and he looks held by a Ellie Mac and Crazyheart on recent showings. Had not looked in love with the chasing game prior to refusing last time and he has to be hard to fancy.

Form:

Non-Runners

Battling Spirit²⁹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 12

T: Jonathan Sweeney J: Mr J J Codd

Thekingofconnemara⁴⁰

Weight: 9-10| Age: 12

T: John G Carr J: John J Fitzpatrick

Forecasts

The Jam Man (7/2), Cloudy Morning (4/1), Stowaway Forever (4/1), Battling Spirit (4/1), Crazyheart (5/1), Ellie Mac (5/1), Peacocks Secret (9/1), You Can't Catch Me (14/1), Thekingofconnemara (14/1), Runyon Rattler (16/1), Mill Quest (20/1)

Crazyheart was highly impressive last time and a similar round of jumping would expose the flaws that many of his rivals have in that department. However, the prospect of quicker ground tempers enthusiasm. Preference is for CLOUDY MORNING who always gives a good account here and who looks better handicapped than most as he meets Crazyheart on 5lb better terms than when chasing him home over an inadequate trip here last month. Battling Spirit and You Can't Catch Me are veterans who won last time and the former looks the better treated of the pair, whilst Ellie Mac and Peacocks Secret will appreciate the drop in class.