19:30 Dundalk

Friday 10 February 2017

All16:5517:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Bulmers Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 19:32 | Winning time: 1m 27.83s

(8)

Guanabara Bay⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: O J Orr⁽²⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 71

7/1

Needed every yard to get up for victory last week over 6f, ratings hike is softened by presence of a good claimer and has strong claims again now upped in trip.

Form: 700590

(1)

Lily's Prince^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-13| J: D P Linehan⁽⁴⁾| T: G Donnelly| OR: 71

3/1

Climbing the ratings of late but still very competitive last time off 3lb lower mark when beaten half-length over 6f. Winner at this trip and should go well again.

Form: 322418

(14)

Pyla^b1,t1²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: D O'Brien| T: L Comer| OR: 71

50/1

Mare had previously run well in low grade Chelmsford affair and didn't appear to see the mile out stable debut and first visit here in early December. Off since and should find 7f more to her liking.

Form: 724102

(11)

Bainne^h³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Anastasia O'Brien| T: J F Levins| OR: 69

50/1

Seven-time winner on turf, including at the Curragh in October. Far from same level of ability on this surface and has been struggling in five recent runs here.

Form: 806333

(3)

Complicit^h³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: D W O'Connor| T: J F Levins| OR: 68

6/4

Been toiling in sprints at this venue over the winter, step up in trip ought to help but still has plenty to find on form.

Form: 00-5465

(4)

Atlas⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: T P Madden| T: D Hogan| OR: 67

25/1

Eight-race maiden but wasn't beat all that far on sole previous visit to this track in September and has dropped 8lb since. First run for new yard and worth market check.

Form: 530-762

(12)

Dont Have It Then^h1²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Sean Kirrane⁽⁷⁾| T: J F Levins| OR: 66

50/1

Quite a while since he's won and all successes have come over 6f but has dropped to a workable mark on just second start for this yard.

Form: 40-0000

(13)

Fastidious²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: Sean Davis⁽⁴⁾| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 66

20/1

Ran a better race here early last month when dropped to this trip than had been case of late, dropped 1lb subsequently but remains hard to fancy on form.

Form: 60-5963

(6)

Reddot Express^t³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: K J Leonard| T: F Birrane| OR: 66

12/1

Made a decent start for this trainer before unseating rider coming from stall in December, then ran a poor race back here last month. Has plenty to prove now as a result.

Form: 331724

(5)

The Lords Walk³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: D M Redmond⁽²⁾| T: J P Fahey| OR: 66

6/1

Eye-catching late progress into close-up third over the mile on handicap debut here seven days ago, not harshly treated if progressing from that run now dropped in trip.

Form: 008

(10)

Eleuthera^h¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: R Coakley| T: J F Levins| OR: 65

50/1

Should be better suited by this trip than recent runs over 5f at this track, has the ability to get involved but willingness to show it is a matter of trust right now.

Form: 308089-

(9)

Anania^h²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁴⁾| T: A McNamara| OR: 63

50/1

Struggled in handicaps over 5f and 7f at this track already this year, likely to find this tough as well.

Form: 524/05-9

(7)

The Ice Meister¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: E T Daly⁽⁴⁾| T: E Doyle| OR: 62

40/1

Never a threat over the mile here last month, drops 2lb and goes down in trip but others have more ready claims.

Form: 43346-7

Arbourfield^v¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: R P Downey| T: Mrs P Dobbs| OR: 62

9/2

C&D winner last month, not disgraced off this mark in follow-up attempt since and entitled to get involved if gaining a run as first reserve.

Form: 541644

Non-Runners

(2)

Almoner³⁰

Weight: 10-0| Age: 5

T: T Collins J: Gary Halpin

Jan Steen¹⁴

Weight: 9-1| Age: 4

T: J F Levins J: Reserve 2

Oor Jock³⁵

Weight: 8-11| Age: 9

T: A McGuinness J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Complicit (6/4), Lily's Prince (3/1), Arbourfield (9/2), Almoner (5/1), Oor Jock (5/1), The Lords Walk (6/1), Guanabara Bay (7/1), Reddot Express (12/1), Fastidious (20/1), Atlas (25/1), Jan Steen (33/1), The Ice Meister (40/1), Bainne (50/1), Eleuthera (50/1), Pyla (50/1), Anania (50/1), Dont Have It Then (50/1)

Lily's Prince has been a model of consistency recently and should run another strong race but is perhaps just too high in the ratings now. Almoner shed the maiden tag in impressive style on a recent visit to Kempton but he may be forced to settle for minor honours on this handicap debut by the in-form GUANABARA BAY. He was flying at the finish over 6f when winning here last Friday and with his handy claimer on board now isn’t unfairly treated ahead of this step up in trip. Atlas is an interesting contender on just his second start here having previously shaped with some promise while The Lords Walk was an eye-catching third a week ago on handicap debut and is respected with potentially more up his sleeve still over a furlong shorter. 1. Guanabara Bay 2. Almoner 3. The Lords Walk