20:00 Dundalk

Friday 24 February 2017

All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:3021:00

Monasterboice Inn Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 20:00 | Winning time: 2m 34.16s

(8)

Brokopondo¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: D W O'Connor| T: J F Levins| OR: 76

7/1

Previous C&D winner, hasn't won for a while but ran a solid race over two-miles here a fortnight ago and looks to have a role in this now dropped in trip.

Form: 431664

(6)

Maknificent^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: R A Smithers⁽⁷⁾| T: M Halford| OR: 73

20/1

Remains a maiden after seven starts on the AW and two starts for this trainer haven't suggested that is on the verge of changing.

Form: 150588-

(14)

War Goddess¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Anastasia O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 71

6/1

Delivered on the promise she'd shown when scoring narrow success over C&D a fortnight ago, 5lb more to contend with now but could well have more to offer.

Form: 328090

(2)

Black Label^b²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: O J Orr⁽²⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 67

8/1

Winner over C&D in November, best effort since when fourth of 14 a fortnight ago at this trip. Should be in the mix.

Form: 664447

(3)

New Direction¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: D M Hannigan⁽⁷⁾| T: J S Bolger| OR: 66

3/1

Three wins from seven runs in 2016, two of them round here including at this trip. Foiled in bid for four-timer before Christmas, but only just run down close home a fortnight ago and ready to play a part again.

Form: 368111

(12)

Wither Hills^h⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 9-5| J: T P Madden| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 66

16/1

Not getting any easier to predict with age, won here over 1m2f last February off 3lb higher mark but C&D effort earlier this month was a poor one.

Form:

(4)

Bittern¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: R P Downey| T: E Mullins| OR: 65

14/1

Handicap mark continues to drop and while recent form is nothing to write home about, dangerous to write the mare off completely. She should get competitive soon.

Form: 076967-

(13)

Dalaki^b⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁷⁾| T: D Donovan| OR: 64

25/1

Previous Flat form is just moderate, scored low grade win over hurdles in England in December, since unseated rider chasing at Fairyhouse. Would be a shock should he take this contest.

Form: 594360-

(10)

No Biggie^p,t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: K K Hennessy⁽⁴⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 65

25/1

Ran well enough in 1m2f claimer here early in the month, but efforts around that have been poor including at this trip a fortnight ago when a long way behind New Direction.

Form: 1000-40

(5)

Carraigin Aonair^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: D Robinson⁽²⁾| T: J J Murphy| OR: 62

12/1

Career-best effort when winning over C&D in November by a short-head, subsequent efforts however leave him with something to find on the likes War Goddess and Black Label.

Form: 1-56070

(7)

Commander Won^p,t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: R Coakley| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 61

8/1

Much-improved effort over C&D a fortnight ago, likely player if in the same mood again

Form: 5-00384

(11)

Next Bend³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁴⁾| T: T Gibney| OR: 61

25/1

First run on the AW, would have some claims on best form but previous Flat run was poor and recent record over jumps isn't inspiring.

Form: 4590/10-

(1)

Multiviz^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Sean Davis⁽⁴⁾| T: Ms S Lavery| OR: 58

13/2

In and around the placings two starts over C&D this year, behind War Goddess recently and has a bit to do to turn that around but on a workable mark clearly.

Form: 456800-

Candle Rocks^b,t³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: K J Leonard| T: L Comer| OR: 53

66/1

Lightly raced maiden and has the potential to do significantly better now handicapping if getting in as first reserve.

Form: 00

Non-Runners

(9)

Park Row⁷

Weight: 9-3| Age: 7

T: J Feane J: Gary Halpin

Rubenesque²⁸

Weight: 8-4| Age: 5

T: J J Murphy J: Reserve 2

Any Time²⁸

Weight: 8-4| Age: 4

T: J J Murphy J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

New Direction (3/1), War Goddess (6/1), Multiviz (13/2), Brokopondo (7/1), Black Label (8/1), Commander Won (8/1), Any Time (11/1), Carraigin Aonair (12/1), Park Row (12/1), Bittern (14/1), Wither Hills (16/1), Maknificent (20/1), Dalaki (25/1), No Biggie (25/1), Next Bend (25/1), Rubenesque (25/1), Candle Rocks (66/1)

WAR GODDESS had been showing signs she was ready to win before obliging over C&D a fortnight ago and, while the margin of victory was a slender one, there's every possibility the filly will have more to offer and so a 5lb rise isn't certain to halt her. Multiviz wasn't too far behind her on that occasion and is fairly weighed to give this a crack if getting a clean passage while previous C&D scorer Brokopondo ran eye-catchingly over two-miles recently and merits respect now dropped in trip. New Direction clearly enjoys this place and having been caught close home last time out, he looks sure to build on his strong record at this venue. Black Label and Bittern are others that might have a say in the home straight. 1. War Goddess 2. New Direction 3. Brokopondo