16:05 Cork

Sunday 2 August 2020

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0516:3517:05

Fermoy Handicap Hurdle (80-109)

Off time: 16:06 | Winning time: 4m 52.4s

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Selected odds by:

Antimatter³⁰¹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: E Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: Donncha Duggan| OR: 109

33/1

2m Listowel winner last autumn but below that level in next two outings and a few question marks now aged 11 after 301 days off.

Form: 984106-

Broder¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: A McCurtin⁽⁵⁾| T: J J Walsh| OR: 109| C| D

9/2

Ballinrobe winner last summer and ran well latest when third at Limerick beaten less than 2L. Up 2lb but looks ready to make another bold bid with conditions to suit.

Form: 1084-03

Chief Of Police^t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 104

9/1

Won over fences at Limerick in March and ran well on the level there a couple of weeks back. Hurdles probably suit best of all so reasons for optimism here.

Form: 55P381-

Kingdom Brunel^b¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: D E Mullins| T: T O'Brien| OR: 104

25/1

6-race maiden over timber and hard to take any encouragement whatsoever from any of his efforts over hurdles pre-lockdown. Very little to be positive about on return after his Kilbeggan return latest either.

Form: 75460-8

Knock On Steel⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: B Jordan| OR: 104| BF

7/2

Killarney winner over fences early last month flopped when a well-backed 7/2 favourite over timber at Tramore. There were excuses there so bounce back expected and danger to all if he gets an uncontested lead.

Form: 223-310

Whereyounow^b1²⁸⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Sweeney| OR: 103| CD

9/1

Won twice last spring before bowing out with a trio of sixths suggesting handicapper was on top. Layoff to overcome here, blinkers tried.

Form: 11/4666-

Important Message¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: D J Hand⁽⁷⁾| T: D P Dunne| OR: 100| D

11/1

Off the mark for connections at the 11th attempt earlier this month landing a 2m4f handicap hurdle at Bellewstown before another gallant effort to finish third of 13 runners four days later. Unseated over fences latest but claims back over timber.

Form: 630-13U

Epsilon Indi^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: A J McNamara| OR: 98

9/1

Second over fences latest and third over hurdles at Sligo earlier in the year so has positives here albeit others are slightly preferred.

Form: 23P/3-02

Youngnedofthehill^h,t²⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 11-3| J: Paul Townend| T: S Nolan| OR: 98

13/2

Had hit the frame five times on the spin before sixth placed finish at Bellewstown latest after four-month gap. Bounce back expected and big player again here.

Form: 23222-6

Severus Alexander^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: C D Timmons⁽³⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 102

12/1

Inconsistent sort pulled up with a circuit to race after jumping poorly at Tipperary over fences latest. Hurdles may aid confidence but others still preferred.

Form: B7044-P

Westernerona^t1¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: S D Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: G J Power| OR: 96

16/1

Handicap debutante showed glimpses of ability in maidens but ultimately not enough to make the shortlist here.

Form: 3/056-60

Da Big Fella^p1¹⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: J J Slevin| T: Eamon Courtney| OR: 94

28/1

Four-race maiden on handicap bow but shown little to suggest him so far.

Form: 4706-

Moghram^b⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: L P Dempsey| T: G Elliott| OR: 99

28/1

10-race maiden hard to ignore due to yard he represents but ultimately his form just doesn't come up to scratch here.

Form: 47076-

Mister Thriller³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: R P Treacy⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Y Dunleavy| OR: 89

25/1

Little better after a layoff latest and remains one to avoid after four forgettable efforts.

Form: 009-8

Recommendation^p¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: C J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss A Mooney| OR: 84

22/1

Midfield on the Flat latest but failed to complete last twice over obstacles so remains a risky proposition.

Form: 0/65PF-

Non-Runners

Rare Conor³

Weight: 11-11| Age: 9

T: T Gibney J: O R Brown

Megara¹⁷⁸

Weight: 9-13| Age: 8

T: P J Rothwell J: Reserve 1

Forecasts

Knock On Steel (7/2), Broder (9/2), Youngnedofthehill (13/2), Chief Of Police (9/1), Whereyounow (9/1), Epsilon Indi (9/1), Important Message (11/1), Severus Alexander (12/1), Rare Conor (14/1), Westernerona (16/1), Recommendation (22/1), Mister Thriller (25/1), Kingdom Brunel (25/1), Moghram (28/1), Da Big Fella (28/1), Antimatter (33/1), Megara (33/1)

A wide-open contest with any number of likable contenders can go the way of BRODER who ran his best race since his last win when third at Limerick latest suggesting another success now imminent. Youngnedofthehill may have needed his last run but generally is ultra-consistent. Also on the shortlist is versatile Chief Of Police who looks primed for a big run.