13:20 Gowran Park

Thursday 26 January 2017

All12:5013:2013:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle (80-102)

Off time: 13:22 | Winning time: 4m 6.20s

All About Alfie^p⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore⁽⁵⁾| T: T Foley| OR: 102

14/1

Has been struggling since joining this yard and top weight here is tough but dropping towards a winnable mark again.

Form: 034F00-

Ardera Cross²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Donagh Meyler⁽³⁾| T: E Doyle| OR: 100

6/1

On good terms with himself in two recent runs at Tramore, including when half-length winner over two-miles last month. Just held since and up another 4lb, this requires more.

Form: 645731

Dylrow²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: B M Cash| T: R Hennessy| OR: 100

20/1

Went close twice in the autumn of 2015 in maiden hurdles but off over a year before being pulled up at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day, questions over him now.

Form: 4/P5153-

Might Be Magic^p³⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr P T Foley⁽⁷⁾| T: T Foley| OR: 100

16/1

Admirable veteran plugged on without threatening the places in two starts lasts month, hasn't won since January 2015 and hard to fancy currently.

Form: 1040/5-6

One Can Cally²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: J J Slevin⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 100

20/1

Returned from a break at Tramore on New Year's Day over fences, entitled to be fitter here and should be competitive on ratings switched to hurdles.

Form: 50U430-

Tethra^p²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: D J Hand⁽⁷⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 99

10/1

Mare showed an improved effort to score over this trip at Punchestown on New Year's Eve, 4lb rise seems fair and can get involved if in the same mood.

Form: 000-493

Tidy Zag^h,t³⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-9| J: A W Short⁽⁷⁾| T: R Hackett| OR: 99

14/1

Limerick effort last month on second start back from break suggests he can be competitive of current mark.

Form: 1P50/U-0

Adreamstillalive^p²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: D J Mullins| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 98

9/2

In flying form since returning from 611 days off at this venue in November, gaining deserved success at Tramore earlier this month. Goes up significantly in ratings, but could well merit the rise.

Form: 221111

Notification^t²⁹

Age: 13| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr W T Cronin⁽⁷⁾| T: William Cronin| OR: 98

50/1

Not the most consistent of performers, did run well over three-miles at Tipperary in October though less encouraging in two runs since and this drop to two-miles not guaranteed to suit.

Form: 240-628

Pixie Lane³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Mark Walsh| T: C Bowe| OR: 97

11/1

Generally tends to struggle over hurdles, including last month at Limerick when challenge faded rapidly over this trip.

Form: 737-477

Conna Cross³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: P F Mangan| T: J J Mangan| OR: 95

12/1

Behind a couple of these having been sent off favourite at Limerick last month, heavy ground may not have helped. Gets 1lb back and shouldn't be written off yet.

Form: 936232-

Backinthesaddle^t¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: N M Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: B Arthey| OR: 93

6/1

Down Royal scorer last month, subsequent third at Naas looks good as winner and fourth have since come and won, leading claims again here.

Form: 295/57

Ciankyle²³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: M J Bolger| T: P Cluskey| OR: 93

33/1

Has won over hurdles but was struggling when last seen at Clonmel in June. Tough to assess on first start for 230 days.

Form: 20/P0-U0

Clounts Meadows²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: B J Foley⁽⁷⁾| T: M Winters| OR: 92

25/1

Formbook suggests he'll have his work cut out to make an impact now dropped back to two-miles once again.

Form: 003517-

Alamgiyr²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: B T O'Connell| T: E Doyle| OR: 93

33/1

Remains lightly raced over hurdles but two starts in handicap company at this trip suggest this is going to prove tough.

Form: 878960-

Constable Buckley⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: R Loughran| T: J Morrison| OR: 90

40/1

Effort faded quickly on handicap hurdle debut at Clonmel in October, been off the track since and doesn't make much appeal on return.

Form: 0580

Ormskirk⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: J B Kane⁽⁷⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 102

10/1

Wasn't disgraced in C&D maiden hurdle in November, makes handicap bow this time and wouldn't be a shock to see him going well.

Form: -0667

Peculiar Genius²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: J M Moore| T: P Nolan| OR: 100

9/1

Beat Ardera Cross at Tramore earlier this month, that was a career-best effort and has been upped in the ratings for his trouble but is open to further progress.

Form: 878

Auntie Chloe¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 99

12/1

Filly has run ok without setting the world on fire in three maiden hurdles so far, handicap debut here but others make more appeal.

Form: 087950-

Azure⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Robbie Colgan| T: C P Donoghue| OR: 90

50/1

Another making handicap debut in this, opening mark isn't especially taxing if finding some improvement on fourth start over timber.

Form: 090

Non-Runners

Rebel Ace³⁰

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: W J Burke J: Reserve 1

Wind And Reign⁵⁵

Weight: 10-13| Age: 6

T: M Winters J: Reserve 2

Pajomi²⁸

Weight: 10-10| Age: 8

T: D Hogan J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Adreamstillalive (9/2), Ardera Cross (6/1), Backinthesaddle (6/1), Peculiar Genius (9/1), Ormskirk (10/1), Tethra (10/1), Pixie Lane (11/1), Conna Cross (12/1), Auntie Chloe (12/1), Tidy Zag (14/1), All About Alfie (14/1), Might Be Magic (16/1), Dylrow (20/1), One Can Cally (20/1), Wind And Reign (20/1), Rebel Ace (20/1), Clounts Meadows (25/1), Ciankyle (33/1), Alamgiyr (33/1), Constable Buckley (40/1), Notification (50/1), Azure (50/1), Pajomi (50/1)

A few in form runners will collide in this but last month's Down Royal scorer BACKINTHESADDLE makes most appeal. The form of his subsequent Naas third has worked out very well and he can get back in the winner's circle now. Ardera Cross has been in good form of late and should battle with Tramore conqueror Peculiar Genius once again in this, although the latter perhaps has more scope for improvement. Ormskirk is an interesting contender out of those taking a first step into handicap company while the mare Adreamstillalive has been in fine fettle since returning from a long layoff and could still have more to offer. Tethra can be a big threat if reproducing last month's Punchestown effort. 1. Backinthesaddle 2. Peculiar Genius 3. Adreamstillalive