18:35 Gowran Park

Wednesday 6 September 2017

All16:3517:0517:3518:0518:3519:0519:35

Thomastown Maiden

Off time: 18:38 | Winning time: 2m 11.29s

(9)

Balanced Approach⁵²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger

8/1

Twice-raced maiden returns to the track after 521-days off, market likely the best guide to current expectations.

Form: 6/5-

(3)

Lleyton^t⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁷⁾| T: T J Taaffe

33/1

Eight-race national hunt career has brought with it a succession of heavy defeats, first time racing on the Flat, sports a first-time tongue tie and has plenty to prove.

Form:

(2)

Sheldon Cooper²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Ross Coakley⁽³⁾| T: F J Flood

66/1

Well-beaten off in a Kilbeggan bumper last month on rules bow, hard to fancy on that evidence taking significant drop in trip for first Flat outing.

Form:

(5)

An Fia Francesca⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: E T Daly⁽⁷⁾| T: V Clifford

100/1

Returned from almost 600 days off with couple of runs over a mile in July at Naas and Killarney, failing to convince in either, and looks best watched for now.

Form: 0/70

(15)

Bringthehousedown⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Colin Keane| T: A Oliver| OR: 72

16/1

Best effort in three maidens came over 1m2f at the Curragh in July, going down just under 5L. Has to step up on that level of form to land this.

Form: 0-60

(13)

Motahassen^v1³¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: P J Smullen| T: D K Weld

5/1

Finished tenth of 15 on only career start last year in October at Leopardstown. Makes belated seasonal appearance, with first-time visor, for powerful yard and could prove capable of more.

Form: 0-

(1)

Mr Natural^p¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Sean Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: M O'Callaghan

50/1

Vale Of York gelding doesn't make a great appear on pedigree, did run better race on second start over 1m4f at Tramore last month, having been poor earlier at the Curragh. Down in trip again here.

Form: 04

(11)

Saga Altais¹²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: W T Byrne⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A Mullins| OR: 74

8/1

Promising efforts at Limerick and Cork over the mile lately, back up in trip and 10lb claiming rider set to enhance chances.

Form: 43-945

(10)

Sometimes A Fox⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Shane Foley| T: J J Murphy

7/1

Close second over a mile at Dundalk (AW) in December on debut and went well again on turf last month at Killarney over same trip. Up in journey and worth considering.

Form: 2-4

(16)

The Eagle^b1,t¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 78

8/1

Returned from 317 days off with fair effort over 7f at Dundalk last month, represents top yard and could be a potential improver.

Form: 74-7

(6)

Waterboy¹³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: R Brabazon

4/1

Good start in April when 2¼L fourth of 15 in 1m Navan maiden, hasn't since but must be given a market check here and could prove capable of plenty more.

Form: 4

(12)

Dream Dancing³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Billy Lee| T: W McCreery

14/1

Nicely-related filly shaped with some promise on debut at the Curragh (7f, good) in July. Upped in distance and entitled to improve on that showing here.

Form: 9

(4)

Fidaaha²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Leigh Roche| T: D K Weld

16/1

Filly out New Approach, well beaten in C&D maiden last month, yard going well and may bring more, one of two for trainer and looks second string on jockey bookings.

Form: 8

(8)

Small Bit Of Love

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Chris Hayes| T: W P Mullins

12/1

Newcomer representing the powerful Mullins operation, trainer scoring at 33% strike rate lately and she could have a strong say in this.

Form:

(7)

Upgraded⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J M Oxx

8/1

Beaten just under 8L in 1m Navan maiden on yielding ground at the weekend on debut. Improvement could be on the cards over this slightly longer trip.

Form: 8

(14)

Winona Coppers⁵⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Rory Cleary| T: S G O'Donnell

66/1

Finished a long way last of 14 over 1m2f on debut at Roscommon in July on good to yielding ground. Off since and needs a much-improved showing.

Form: 0

Forecasts

Waterboy (4/1), Motahassen (5/1), Sometimes A Fox (7/1), Upgraded (8/1), The Eagle (8/1), Balanced Approach (8/1), Saga Altais (8/1), Small Bit Of Love (12/1), Dream Dancing (14/1), Bringthehousedown (16/1), Fidaaha (16/1), Lleyton (33/1), Mr Natural (50/1), Sheldon Cooper (66/1), Winona Coppers (66/1), An Fia Francesca (100/1)

Any support behind Motahassen on return from a long layoff must be respected, given his previous maiden form looks solid now and his trainer is going great guns. Likewise, stablemate Fidaaha isn't overlooked while The Eagle could have more to offer on the back of a decent effort at Dundalk last time. Small Bit Of Love is another newcomer to pay attention to but SOMETIMES A FOX has done enough in two runs at Dundalk and Killarney to warrant a suggestion he'll have enough in his locker to win a maiden over this slightly longer trip.