17:05 Gowran Park

Wednesday 17 June 2020

All13:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

MansionBet's Paid As A Winner If Your Horse Finishes 2nd In The First Race At Royal Ascot Handicap (Div 2)

Off time: 17:05 | Winning time: 2m 2.38s

Settings

Selected odds by:

(9)

Multamis³¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: N G McCullagh| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 86| BF| D

15/2

Been sold to new connections and makes debut for this yard. Still 4lb above last winning mark and looked a hard one to predict throughout last season. Tough task off top-weight in a race full of potentially well-treated sorts.

Form: 1/61615-

(7)

Aared⁴⁰⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-13| J: N J Ryan⁽¹⁰⁾| T: K Prendergast| OR: 82

14/1

Looks as though he has been difficult to train of late, and he only managed the one run throughout the whole of 2019. Does go well fresh though, and evidently has the ability so could be well in off this mark. Considered.

Form: 44150/0-

(14)

Aussie Valentine^p,t⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-12| J: G M Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 81| D

17/2

Posted a promising effort when a gallant fifth at Navan (1m; good to firm) on his comeback last week. That was his best run for some time and he could be well handicapped if able to back it up.

Form: 4720-95

(15)

Roibeard^t³⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: D P McDonogh| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 81| CD

28/1

C&D winner who only had the two starts last year (both of them in June). Still managed to register a victory despite that when successful in a competitive race at Leopardstown (1m2f; good). Never won off a mark as high as this before though.

Form: 55470/1-

(6)

Hazran^t¹⁹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: M A Enright| T: E M O'Sullivan| OR: 78| BF

40/1

Sole effort over hurdles when pulled-up at Cork (2m; soft) in December can be forgiven. Hit the crossbar in maiden company on a number of occasions last year, which suggests he should be able to make his mark in handicaps sooner rather than later.

Form: 3/22224-

(5)

Ideal Pal^t1²²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: G F Carroll| T: M Mulvany| OR: 78| D

12/1

Yard/jockey partnership are yet to get going since racing resumed but he has gone well at this track before. Endured a long campaign in 2019 and remained largely consistent throughout. Still 8lb above last winning mark which leaves him vulnerable.

Form: 328644-

(3)

Isotope¹⁰³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: S M Crosse⁽³⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 78

22/1

Form has tailed off since he broke his duck in handicaps last year. Stooped to a new low when last of seven at Dundalk (1m4f; standard) in March. May have had excuses (first time running over the trip) for that, but he still has enough to prove.

Form: 82140-7

(2)

Spruce Meadows^p¹⁸⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: B M Coen⁽³⁾| T: J Feane| OR: 78

33/1

Won off higher marks in the past but his efforts when last seen suggested he wasn't capable of taking advantage of being well handicapped. Holds a modest strike-rate on turf (2-30), and there are more appealing propositions in the line-up.

Form: 162070-

(10)

The Names Jock³⁹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: W J Lee| T: J E Kiely| OR: 78

3/1

Made good progress for this yard last year, and although he hasn't been seen since winning at Sligo (1m2f; good) by four-and-a-half lengths in May, that was a career-best. 10lb higher in a more competitive affair and he may just lack for fitness.

Form: 57/2181-

(16)

Art Of America^b¹²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: C T Keane| T: N Meade| OR: 76| CD

16/1

Started 2020 in opposite form he showed when securing a quick double at Dundalk (1m2f; standard) at the end of 2019. Failed to beat a single rival when last seen finishing 10th of 10, and off the same mark he is vulnerable to improvers.

Form: 0511-70

(1)

On The Balcony^t1¹⁹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: R P Cleary| T: Mrs D A Love| OR: 75| D

50/1

Snapped up by new connections for €20,000 at the Arqana sale in France after breaking her duck at the eighth attempt at Le-Croise-Laroche (1m1f; heavy). Intriguing contender as she looks to be improving with experience. Market check advised.

Form: 7/66331-

(13)

Pepperoni Pete^p⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 74

7/1

Been in quiet form for a short while now which was summed up by his low-key reappearance on seasonal debut at Navan (1m; good to firm) a week ago. Yard/jockey combo are going well, but he has plenty to prove off an unchanged mark.

Form: 68340-0

(12)

Queen Amidala¹⁹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: J A Heffernan| T: J G Murphy| OR: 74

14/1

Showed she has the ability in two of her four handicap starts last year, but signed off 2019 on an underwhelming note. Subsequently needs to bounce back off an unchanged mark, but she is lightly raced and still has potential in this company.

Form: 310328-

(8)

Qaabil¹⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: O J Orr| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 73

20/1

Posted a trio of solid efforts when switched to handicap sphere for former stable. Been sold and switched yards since which is a slight concern, but on form he is right up there. Interesting to see what the market makes of him.

Form: 7/7624-3

(11)

Darkened¹⁰⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: James J Doyle| T: D Hogan| OR: 72

9/1

Campaigned over jumps during the Winter which yielded very little. Consistent on the level in five starts without winning, and held some smart pieces of form to his name including when second to Lancaster House at Galway (1m; good). Handicap debut.

Form: 32543-

Non-Runners

(4)

Khafaaq²²²

Weight: 9-2| Age: 5

T: A Slattery J: Reserve 1

Forecasts

The Names Jock (3/1), Khafaaq (13/2), Pepperoni Pete (7/1), Multamis (15/2), Aussie Valentine (17/2), Darkened (9/1), Ideal Pal (12/1), Aared (14/1), Queen Amidala (14/1), Art Of America (16/1), Qaabil (20/1), Isotope (22/1), Roibeard (28/1), Spruce Meadows (33/1), Hazran (40/1), On The Balcony (50/1)

A devilishly competitive finale in which despite his patchy record of late it would be no surprise to see Aared make a winning reappearance given he goes well fresh. He has a bit too much to prove though, and there are safer alternatives such as the consistent Hazran who was expensive to follow last season but makes his handicap debut. The French import On The Balcony is one of the more intriguing runners in the field given his progressive profile. However, given he was far from disgraced in some hot maidens last year, DARKENED is fancied to appreciate this ease in grade and make a winning handicap debut for his yard who had a winner at this track last week.