17:15 Dundalk

Friday 18 August 2017

All15:4016:1516:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:20

Irish Stallion Farms EBF 'Red God' Handicap

Off time: 17:18 | Winning time: 2m 15.82s

(14)

Le Vagabond¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: W J Lee| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 95| D

8/1

Decent showing recently in competitive soft-ground handicap at Galway (1m4f), no wins in seven starts this year so far but could grab place money.

Form: 7-92563

(3)

Ringside Humour^t²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 91| CD

14/1

Finished stone last in competitive contests at Cork (1m4f, good to firm) and Leopardstown (1m6f, good) recently, this should be easier in theory and has 25% strike rate on the AW.

Form: 68-1798

(10)

Act Of Valour^b²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: P J Smullen| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 97

8/1

Just one maiden win to his name and struggled when upped to pattern level previously. Up against it after a poor run at Leopardstown last time out.

Form: 174293

(5)

Poitin⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: R P Downey⁽³⁾| T: K H Clarke| OR: 88| CD

25/1

Took advantage of reduced rating on turf to score over 1m2f (good) at Leopardstown in June, just getting up in the dying strides. Has been off since but entitled to be competitive back on AW off this mark.

Form: 337-991

(4)

Political Policy^p,t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Ronan Whelan| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 87| CD

12/1

Has been running well on the turf this summer, taking advantage of reduced mark in that sphere. Enjoys this surface but no easy task off current rating, cheekpieces back on and will have to be at his best.

Form: 550123

(8)

Spruce Meadows^p¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Gary Halpin⁽³⁾| T: J Feane| OR: 87| CD

4/1

4yo has won three times from seven starts on the AW, including over C&D. Ran fine race at Galway last time out over a trip much shorter than ideal and should have a say back here.

Form: 622057

(7)

Tonkinese^p,t³⁰⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: S Foley| T: M Halford| OR: 86

20/1

Off the track since October and previous attempts around here suggest this will be a stiff ask on return to action.

Form: 361947-

(6)

De Coronado^t³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 84| C

8/1

Won a mile maiden here a year ago on sole previous visit, most recent effort over 1m5f at Leopardstown last month was poor but is given claims based on previous run over this trip at that same venue, going down ¾L in third behind Poitin.

Form: 91-035

(9)

Vastonea²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: D E Hogan⁽⁷⁾| T: K Prendergast| OR: 84

20/1

Won a 22-runner handicap over this trip on final start of 2016 and still very well-handicapped on old form. Came on for a reappearance at Navan with a respectable second at Ballinrobe last time out and should give another good account here.

Form: 0461-52

(2)

Brokopondo¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: D W O'Connor⁽⁵⁾| T: J F Levins| OR: 82| CD

20/1

Is a previous C&D winner but recent efforts are much less inspiring and hard to be confident in chances at the moment.

Form: 430850

(1)

Harbour Beacon^b1¹⁰⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 88| CD

3/1

Won a C&D maiden in April on seasonal bow and not disgraced next time out at Cork over similar trip (good to firm). Comes here off a break sporting first-time blinkers for handicap debut and is very much one to note.

Form: 22-13

(11)

Power Grid²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁷⁾| T: J Feane| OR: 81| CD

16/1

Dotted up over C&D in December, winning by 6L, but 12lb hike was enough to ground ambitions of follow up. Returned over 7f at the Curragh last month, which should leave him right for this and not discounted with useful claim helping.

Form: 32814-8

(13)

Specific Gravity^b⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 8-11| J: Chris Hayes| T: A McGuinness| OR: 78| CD

16/1

Four-time C&D winner, has scored three times in a dozen runs this year and returns to this venue having taken a claimer at Tipperary (1m1f, yielding) last time out. Capable of giving a decent account.

Form: 723361

Non-Runners

(12)

Presidio¹⁵⁵

Weight: 8-4| Age: 4

T: D English J: C P Hoban

Forecasts

Harbour Beacon (3/1), Spruce Meadows (4/1), Le Vagabond (8/1), De Coronado (8/1), Act Of Valour (8/1), Political Policy (12/1), Ringside Humour (14/1), Specific Gravity (16/1), Power Grid (16/1), Tonkinese (20/1), Vastonea (20/1), Brokopondo (20/1), Poitin (25/1), Presidio (33/1)

Poitin ran well at Cork in June when last spotted and is given a chance back at this venue but DE CORONADO could reverse that form now. The Ballydoyle inmate was poor over a longer trip since but is weighted well for this and won a maiden on his only previous spin around this track over a mile. In what looks a wide open contest, there are plenty for whom cases can be made. The lightly-raced Harbour Beacon is sporting blinkers for this handicap debut and any support would be worth noting while Ringside Humour, Specific Gravity and Political Policy are always respected here.