15:35 Downpatrick

Monday 28 August 2017

All15:0015:3516:1016:4517:1517:5018:20

Ulster Carpets Handicap Hurdle (80-95)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 4m 37.80s

Alterno^b¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: D McDonogh| OR: 95| BF

7/2

Beaten favourite last time out when second of 12, beaten 6L behind the winner, Youngnedofthehill. Usually seen at Ballinrobe or Wexford.

Form: 336932

Wee Small Hours^t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: D J Hand⁽⁷⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 92| D

5/1

Won over distance on seasonal debut last time out in Kilbeggan handicap hurdle over an extended 2m3f on good ground. Raised 4lb for the win, off-set by 7lb claimer.

Form: 20530-1

Ben Rumson²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: A E Lynch| T: T G McCourt| OR: 91

5/1

Second of 16 on his last spin over hurdles in a Bellewstown 2m4f handicap hurdle, beaten 3L. Harshly raised 2lb for that defeat.

Form: 970-062

Zagnzig⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr N Gault⁽⁷⁾| T: H Smyth| OR: 90

20/1

Failed to complete in his last four starts in point-to-points and well held seventh of nine on his return to rules racing here. Better at Sligo last time out but still 10L behind the winner and remains one to leave.

Form: FPUP-74

Loughnavalley⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny Mullins| T: M L Fagan| OR: 88

20/1

Well beaten in all five starts so far including over hurdles at Kilbeggan beaten 47L and last time out at Roscommon, 54L behind the winner.

Form: 769-00

Slaney Craiglegacy^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Flanagan| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 87

11/1

Wears cheekpieces for the second time, but first-time fitting brought about no improvement last time out when 20th of 24, beaten 73L.

Form: 6-6P640

Marino Marvel³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: C D Maxwell| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 90

25/1

Hard to begin to even look making a case for the gelding, beaten a total of 109L on three maiden hurdle starts.

Form: 709

Maureen's Star¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: A W Short⁽⁷⁾| T: L Lennon| OR: 90

9/1

Light at the end of the tunnel when only beaten 3¾L last time out here in 2m6f handicap hurdle. May struggle again on the good ground as figures are not positive.

Form: 068755

Glasson Lad^b¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: M F Mooney| T: Mrs A Mooney| OR: 83

16/1

Third of 16 in a handicap hurdle here in May, not beaten far. Probably best to leave aside for this one, as figures on ground are not good.

Form: 82-4360

Aurora's Dream^b⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: M P Flanagan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Keane| OR: 81| C

8/1

Wore blinkers for the first time when she won this last year from a 2lb higher mark - her only win from 21 previous starts.

Form: 040-075

Eric The Third¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 80

8/1

Figures look better than they are as the gelding was third, though beaten 18L last time out and no reason to expect any improvement in this contest.

Form: 74-0893

Personal Shopper^t¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Miss A O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 80

14/1

Failed to finish at Down Royal and at Ayr at the end of 2016, before suffering three heavy defeats, including here, earlier this month.

Form: 5PP-303

Tortueuse^p³²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Robbie Colgan| T: R Hennessy| OR: 80

50/1

Sole win in 38 starts came on the AW at Dundalk in December 2015. Well beaten over hurdles of late and pulled-up last time out on chase debut.

Form: 0-0700P

Non-Runners

Canova¹⁵

Weight: 10-11| Age: 6

T: G Elliott J: S Perry

Forecasts

Alterno (7/2), Wee Small Hours (5/1), Ben Rumson (5/1), Eric The Third (8/1), Aurora's Dream (8/1), Maureen's Star (9/1), Slaney Craiglegacy (11/1), Personal Shopper (14/1), Glasson Lad (16/1), Canova (16/1), Zagnzig (20/1), Loughnavalley (20/1), Marino Marvel (25/1), Tortueuse (50/1)

The race usually produces a winner from those racing prominently or on the lead throughout the race. Slaney Craiglegacy, Eric The Red, Auroras Dream are regularly up with the pace, as is the selection, ALTERNO, who look for his spark again at an unfamiliar track.