16:10 Killarney

Wednesday 23 August 2017

All15:1015:4016:1016:4517:1517:5018:20

Celtic Steps Handicap

Off time: 16:11 | Winning time: 1m 46.36s

(7)

Aussie Valentine^b1,t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: D W O'Connor⁽⁵⁾| T: P D Deegan| OR: 88| D

8/1

Now 5lb lower than his last win in a Leopardstown handicap over 1m1f, but that was in April 2015. Once rated 100, now runs off a mark of 88.

Form: 423330

(4)

Cash In Mind³²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Colin Keane| T: D Donovan| OR: 78

16/1

Three from 20 starts on the flat but still without a win in handicap company. Significant jockey booking, but hard to see him winning.

Form: 8-83504

(12)

Sorelle Delle Rose¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: P J Smullen| T: D K Weld| OR: 84| BF

11/2

Improved on debut run at Naas, when winning a 6f maiden at the same track. Dropped 1lb from initial handicap mark. Yard has a 23% strike-rate at this meeting.

Form: 3-16

(2)

Fiscal Focus⁸⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 77| CD

25/1

Not seen since his last of 11 career starts when, something clearly amiss in the Grade 1 Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle at Punchestown in May 2015. Interesting now back in the hands of his original connections.

Form: 219010/

(9)

Atlas^b⁶^{(ex 6)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: L F Roche| T: D Hogan| OR: 70| BF| D

2/1

Will have his supporters following 5L win, beaten 15 rivals in a Leopardstown handicap on good ground over 1m, earlier this month.

Form: 762431

(11)

Avalanche¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: K J Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: T J O'Mara| OR: 74| CD

8/1

CD winner at this meeting 12 months ago and revved up for this race with a second of 15, beaten a head on his second run in four days at the Galway festival.

Form: 118242

(6)

The Mcgregornator^b1,t²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁷⁾| T: A Keatley| OR: 80

33/1

Put in some consistent performances in, during the spring, with a win at Naas over 7f on yielding ground. But his weight height has restricted progress.

Form: 324190

(10)

Northern Surprise¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: W J Lee| T: T Doyle| OR: 71| D

16/1

Winner over distance in a Bellewstown handicap on soft ground in August last year, running of a mark of 65 and is still 6lb higher today.

Form: 934005

(5)

Beau Satchel^t¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Declan McDonogh| T: A McGuinness| OR: 70| D

8/1

Very well touted for two runs at the Galway festival, when beaten on both occasions over 7f. His last win came in a Leopardstown handicap over 1m and is now 8lb below that win. Distance winner on four occasions.

Form: 084667

(8)

Nevsky⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 70

33/1

From a yard that is five wins from 46 runners at this meeting in the last four years. Well beaten on handicap debut over 1m2f at Navan last time out. Could be interesting, dropping in trip.

Form: 6507

(3)

Empress Lyla¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Gary Carroll| T: S Lavery| OR: 75| D

8/1

Distance winner, last time out at the Galway festival, when beating 16 rivals, by 3½L on soft ground. Up a mighty 10lb for that win, but cannot be discounted.

Form: 142351

(1)

Rosin Box¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: S Foley| T: J J Murphy| OR: 69| CD

14/1

From a yard that likes a winner at this meeting, boasting 28% win and place strike rate. CD winner in three-year-old handicap in July 2016.

Form: 179-030

(13)

Hurricane Twister^e/s1,t¹³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 8-4| J: Rory Cleary| T: V Clifford| OR: 56| D

66/1

Comes here off the the back of three very heavy defeats and is best watched with first-time eye-shield/tongue tie combo.

Form: 3670-00

Forecasts

Atlas (2/1), Sorelle Delle Rose (11/2), Avalanche (8/1), Aussie Valentine (8/1), Beau Satchel (8/1), Empress Lyla (8/1), Rosin Box (14/1), Cash In Mind (16/1), Northern Surprise (16/1), Fiscal Focus (25/1), Nevsky (33/1), The Mcgregornator (33/1), Hurricane Twister (66/1)

Aussie Valentine, once rated 100, now runs off a mark of 88, with fire along here in the early stages from stall seven. The early pace though may be the front-runners undoing, as, Beau Satchel, last win came in a Leopardstown handicap over 1m and is now 8lb below that, while a distance winner on four occasions and EMPRESS LYLA, up 10lb for a win at the Galway festival, can go past in the closing stages.