14:40 Gowran Park

Sunday 16 June 2019

All13:3514:0514:4015:1515:4516:2016:5517:30

Lengthen The Odds With BetVictor Handicap

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 1m 24.2s

Settings

Selected odds by:

(5)

Freescape^b²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: O J Orr| T: D Marnane| OR: 95

7/1

Two-time winner on the AW but without success in 10 starts on turf. Has been running well in defeat on a couple of occasions in Meydan over the winter and not disgraced at the Curragh following a slow start. Seems to prefer quicker ground.

Form: 1-03498

(7)

Guessthebill⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: S Foley| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 93| D

9/1

Won a maiden at Navan and minor event at Roscommon in 2017. Raced just three times since and much better than two poor runs when fourth on season reappearance. More needed and would only come into the argument if there is significant rain.

Form: 124/0-04

(4)

Spanish Tenor⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: W J Lee| T: T Doyle| OR: 91| D

6/1

Hasn't won since 2017 and paid the price at the weights for his Group 3 third in the Concorde Stakes that year. Finally coming down in the weights after struggling in two runs this year but needs testing conditions to be at his best.

Form: 8304-08

(11)

Tony The Gent^b¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: C T Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 88| CD

5/1

C&D winner gained a second course win when scoring well over a mile last month. Has been remarkably consistent over the last year and 4lb rise still sees him on a competitive mark. First run at this distance since 2016 does provide the one query.

Form: 326641

(3)

Ice Cold In Alex^t³¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: N G McCullagh| T: K J Condon| OR: 82| D

8/1

In great form last year winning two of his final three and arguably posted a career best over this trip at Leopardstown on the last of them. Returns just 1lb higher and a reliable performer. Can go well fresh but wouldn't want any rain.

Form: 636121-

(1)

Ahlan Bil Zain^b²³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: R P Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 79| D

11/2

Returned to turf this campaign having won three of his last five AW starts but has been well below that in two runs since. One third in 12 turf starts came in six-runner contest and hard to fancy in these conditions.

Form: 41-1309

(2)

Fit For Function¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: A J Slattery⁽⁷⁾| T: J G Murphy| OR: 76| BF| CD

2/1

Made it five career wins when scoring over this C&D last month and matched that form when third over a half furlong shorter at Listowel. Up another 1lb and weighted to his best in a tougher race, with 7lb claimer taking over.

Form: 0-50913

Non-Runners

(10)

Wentwood⁵⁰

Weight: 9-3| Age: 4

T: D K Weld J: C D Hayes

(9)

Geological²⁸

Weight: 9-2| Age: 7

T: D English J: K J Manning

(8)

Make A Challenge²

Weight: 8-7| Age: 4

T: D Hogan J: K J Leonard

(6)

Western Dawn³

Weight: 8-7| Age: 3

T: J S Bolger J: R P Cleary

Forecasts

Fit For Function (2/1), Make A Challenge (3/1), Tony The Gent (5/1), Ahlan Bil Zain (11/2), Spanish Tenor (6/1), Wentwood (6/1), Freescape (7/1), Ice Cold In Alex (8/1), Guessthebill (9/1), Geological (10/1), Western Dawn (14/1)

Make A Challenge was very impressive in his recent success and should have plenty more to offer but the concern' along with the returning and consistent Ice Cold In Alex, would be any easing in the surface away from quicker ground. Geological didn't fare badly following his win two starts back and a quick drop back in the weights should see him go close again. TONY THE GENT is so consistent and although he's dropping in trip, he's fared well over it earlier in his career and can be relied upon to go close again off this competitive mark.