20:55 Tipperary

Thursday 4 July 2019

All17:0517:3518:1018:4519:2019:5020:2520:55

Follow tipperaryraces.ie Handicap Hurdle (80-95) (Div 2)

Off time: 20:56 | Winning time: 6m 13.1s

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Selected odds by:

Hickey's Rock^t³⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: A Ring| T: M F Morris| OR: 94

25/1

Tailed off or pulled up in last five starts and has been off the track since last year; unlikely to get competitive though a check on the market is advised.

Form: P9P/UP5-

Naturally Blond^p,t³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: A McCurtin⁽⁵⁾| T: Patrick Cronin| OR: 94

11/1

Front-running tactics seemed to improve him last time out at Tramore. Probably needs to drop a few more pounds in the handicap to get competitive again.

Form: 54P-067

Subset³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: S A Shortall| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 93

16/1

Struggled on his seasonal reappearance run at Fairyhouse before improving when stepped up in trip at Clonmel in May. Needs to put a poor run last time out at Listowel behind him but possibilities.

Form: 9960-4P

Simple Steps⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: C J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: R Tyner| OR: 90| D

7/1

Won a chase at Limerick in April in good style before struggling over fences when upped in class next time out at Punchestown. Reverted to hurdles last time out but weakened over the closing obstacles. Chance if things fall his way.

Form: 8041-85

Watching Brief³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul Townend| T: P A Fahy| OR: 90

7/2

Was staying on well in the closing stages on his last racecourse appearance at Ballinrobe in May after a few months break. Had previously struggled at Fairyhouse and Punchestown. Watch Brief advised this time.

Form: 06800-4

Pass Cross³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: T Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: L Young| OR: 89

33/1

Well beaten in all his racecourse appearances this season and unlikely to be good enough on his handicap debut.

Form: 0-937

Stolen Moment⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: R A Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: S Aherne| OR: 86

33/1

Difficult to make a case for on all known racecourse form including two tries at this track. Step up in trip seems only hope of recording some prize money.

Form: 757-00

Jiving Jerry²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: J S McGarvey| T: D A Kiely| OR: 93

10/1

Fair effort at Tramore over two miles in May before disappointing when stepped up in trip last time at Punchestown. Lightly-raced enough to be given another chance but unlikely winner.

Form: 559

Ahgetawayoutadat^b1¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean Flanagan| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 84

7/1

Ran well over course and distance on his seasonal reappearance in May before disappointing next time at Kilbeggan. Needs to put that run behind him but definite chance on best of form.

Form: 0598-3P

Focus Well^t³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: A M King⁽⁷⁾| T: B T Murphy| OR: 84

40/1

No real form on his two handicap runs to date which suggest he needs to drop a few more pounds to get competitive and still looking for first racecourse win.

Form: 768/9-P8

Hughies Bay^t³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: D Howard| OR: 83

11/1

Still looking for his first win in 29 attempts over hurdles. Generally finishes all his races and would not be a surprise if he runs into a place but an unlikely winner.

Form: 3353-67

Megara^t⁶⁰⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 83

20/1

Has been off the racecourse for nearly two years; has one bit of useful form when third at Thurles over 2m7f. Fitness not guaranteed after such a long absence but has possibilities.

Form: 098439/

Musical Ava¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: J M Burke| OR: 83

7/1

Had slight lead but strongly challenged when falling at the final flight at Downpatrick last month. Had previously run well at Limerick and Down Royal. Obvious chance if reproducing that form.

Form: F3F-33F

Courtin Bb¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: P J Duffy| OR: 82

11/2

Generally a consistent sort who can win races. Now on a reasonable mark and has shown his well being with fair efforts at Clonmel and Kilbeggan this season. One for the shortlist.

Form: 9-83242

Call His Bluff¹²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: D J Mullins| T: N P Hennessy| OR: 80| D

16/1

Not the most consistent and has failed to complete his last two point-to-point races since winning in January. Hurdles form overall is not great and others preferred.

Form: P/071FP-

Ticaticatee^t³¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: D E Mullins| T: Ian O'Connor| OR: 80

25/1

Well beaten on all his racecourse appearances and only hope is new connections have found the key. Unlikely scorer.

Form: P00000-

Non-Runners

That's My Dubai¹⁵

Weight: 11-6| Age: 6

T: J R Barry J: B J Cooper

Bombay Basil²⁷

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: Joseph Hennessy J: Darragh O'Keeffe

Forecasts

Watching Brief (7/2), Courtin Bb (11/2), Musical Ava (7/1), Ahgetawayoutadat (7/1), Simple Steps (7/1), Jiving Jerry (10/1), Hughies Bay (11/1), Naturally Blond (11/1), That's My Dubai (12/1), Subset (16/1), Call His Bluff (16/1), Megara (20/1), Ticaticatee (25/1), Hickey's Rock (25/1), Stolen Moment (33/1), Pass Cross (33/1), Bombay Basil (33/1), Focus Well (40/1)

If MUSICAL AVA can put a last hurdle fall behind her last time out at Downpatrick then she has plenty in her favour to land this tricky handicap. Ahgetawayoutadat is another who needs to get over a poor last time out run but she has the ability to win a race at this level while Naturally Blond could run a big race if allowed to dictate from the front.