14:15 Navan

Wednesday 23 October 2019

All13:1013:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3017:05

Arkle Bar Handicap (45-65)

Off time: 14:16 | Winning time: 1m 4.73s

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(7)

Enter The Red^b¹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-13| J: T P Madden⁽³⁾| T: A A Howard| OR: 64| CD

8/1

Landed a better-class C&D handicap just over 12 months ago, and back to form when third at the Curragh on Tuesday having fallen in the weights. Quick turnaround, but he's a player if recovered from those exertions.

Form: 030063

(2)

Merited^p²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: C P Hoban| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 64

33/1

Sole win in 19 Flat starts on turf came in a Ballinrobe handicap in June. Has regressed alarmingly since, however, and makes precious little appeal on recent evidence.

Form: 760000

(11)

Polly Douglas¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: C T Keane| T: K P Cotter| OR: 62| CD

10/1

Winner of two of her six starts over C&D. Scored at Down Royal in May, but has been below form of late, including back here last time. May do better with an experienced rider back on board, and well treated now, but risky enough.

Form: 707000

(15)

Face Off¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: D P McDonogh| T: C O'Brien| OR: 60| CD

9/2

Won over C&D in June, and got back to her best when third of 23 to Doonard Prince in an apprentice handicap here recently. Pretty reliable on the whole, and respected having gone up just 1lb for that effort.

Form: 130653

(8)

Mi Esperanza¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: A J Slattery⁽⁵⁾| T: A Kinsella| OR: 58

6/1

Goes well here, and stepped up on earlier efforts when ¾L second of 23 to Doonard Prince under this rider over C&D last time. Still fairly unexposed, and given a chance to build on that encouraging showing.

Form: 02-0062

(6)

Noirvento^t¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: R P Whelan| T: T Collins| OR: 58

7/1

Produced a career-best effort to score at Cork in August, having run well on her two previous starts. Not in quite the same form since, and remains 4lb above her winning mark, but claims if reproducing from of that win.

Form: 132175

(16)

May Remain¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: C D Hayes| T: P J F Murphy| OR: 57| D

10/1

Suited by the turning track when runner-up at Sligo in June, but not so good otherwise, for all he was a creditable fourth of 23 to Doonard Prince here last time,

Form: 402084

(12)

Rego Park Lady^p³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: N G McCullagh| T: A Murray| OR: 57| D

33/1

Took advantage of a much reduced mark to score in a Hamilton 0-55 (5f, good) in August, and not disgraced there last time, but plenty of these have more solid form on home soil, and she's passed over.

Form: 091084

(4)

Doonard Prince^b¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 9-2| J: W J Lee| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 53| CD

7/1

Has now won twice in four C&D starts, bouncing back out of the blue when beating several of these in an apprentice handicap last time. Remains well treated on old form, although an 8lb rise for a ¾L win looks stiff in isolation.

Form: 000001

(14)

Pillar¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: S Foley| T: A McGuinness| OR: 53| CD

16/1

Gained a fourth career win in a 6f Fairyhouse handicap last month off a 6lb lower mark, beating Rag Tatter. In nothing like the same form over C&D last time, however, and his overall record is decidedly patchy.

Form: 003310

(10)

Teddy Boy¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁵⁾| T: E Lynam| OR: 51

14/1

Well treated on the pick of this season's efforts, but he's essentially a regressive maiden, and his recent efforts don't inspire confidence.

Form: 645075

(3)

Rag Tatter^e/s¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: R P Cleary| T: Joseph Murray| OR: 48

12/1

Back to form when 1L second to Pillar at Fairyhouse last month, but neither of them could match that form when racing over C&D last time, and the percentage call is to oppose him again.

Form: 930729

(17)

An Cait Dubh⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: K J Leonard| T: F Costello| OR: 45

33/1

Has some ability, but that is trumped by temperament, and he can't be backed with any confidence having refused to race at Cork last month.

Form: 079-R

(13)

Bonnie Park^t¹²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: N M Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: M J Smith| OR: 45

20/1

Better effort this season when fourth in a C&D handicap on her return, but she flopped last time, and even her earlier form would leave her with something to find here.

Form: 0090-48

(1)

Boughtinthedark^p1¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: James J Doyle| T: D Hogan| OR: 45

16/1

Showed a bit in maidens, but has not gone on as hoped since going handicapping, and needs cheekpieces to sharpen her up markedly here.

Form: 086008

(5)

D K Travel^b⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: A C Persse⁽⁷⁾| T: R P Rath| OR: 45

50/1

Poor form in this sphere, and a run over hurdles (pulled up both starts over timber) in August is unlikely to have unlocked any latent ability.

Form: 000/0-70

(18)

Straffan¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Karen Kenny⁽⁷⁾| T: Francis Casey| OR: 45

10/1

Fourth to Pillar at Fairyhouse last month, and not discredited when sixth to Doonard Prince here last time, but she's as low as she can go in the handicap, and hard to see her winning.

Form: 805046

Non-Runners

(9)

Harry Speed¹

Weight: 8-8| Age: 6

T: G Donnelly J: L F Roche

Forecasts

Face Off (9/2), Mi Esperanza (6/1), Noirvento (7/1), Doonard Prince (7/1), Enter The Red (8/1), Straffan (10/1), May Remain (10/1), Polly Douglas (10/1), Rag Tatter (12/1), Teddy Boy (14/1), Pillar (16/1), Boughtinthedark (16/1), Bonnie Park (20/1), Harry Speed (25/1), Rego Park Lady (33/1), Merited (33/1), An Cait Dubh (33/1), D K Travel (50/1)

Plenty of these finished behind Doonard Prince last time, but there is plenty to recommend runner-up MI ESPERANZA, and she is taken to turn the tables. Face Off, third that day, is also preferred to the veteran winner, with Enter The Red also considered if lining up on the back of a good third at the Curragh on Tuesday.