17:50 Listowel

Thursday 14 September 2017

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2016:5017:2017:50

Devon Inn Hotel Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:50 | Winning time: 6m 52.40s

Top Of The Town¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: D J McInerney⁽⁷⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 127| D

20/1

Rather lost his way after winning start over fences in May at Tipperary (2m7f, good), switches back to this game now and, at best, would hold serious claims.

Form: 14-1509

Ben Button³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 126| D

1/1

Easy winner over 3m at Galway (soft) last month and coped with extra weight / drop back in distance to go in again at Sligo (good) four days later. This longer journey again looks just right and strong claims despite rating hike.

Form: 20/4-211

Chain Gang¹⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: D F O'Regan| T: A Fleming| OR: 122| C

10/3

Maiden hurdle winner at Leopardstown in December 2015 over 2m4f, unable to add to tally in five runs since but has run some promising races. Can get involved if stamina holds out.

Form: 14/0737-

Irish Bulletin^p,t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Mark Walsh| T: E McNamara| OR: 121| D

25/1

Finished last year in brilliant form but hasn't really happened in five runs since turn of the year, better on penultimate start when ½L second over fences at Limerick (3m, good) in July but since pulled up chasing at Kilbeggan. Questions to answer.

Form: 114-02P

Seskinane²³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: Phillip Enright| T: B McMahon| OR: 116| D

20/1

Won over just shy of this trip at Navan in April on very testing ground, hasn't been as good since and remains high enough in ratings but goes on the forecast ground.

Form: 0713-66

Mr Champers⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: R Loughran| T: A Keatley| OR: 110| BF

9/1

Winner on handicap debut at Cork in July (2m, good) though was held this month at Clonmel under an 8lb hike. Lightly-raced and has scope for more but unproven over the trip and ground is a question mark.

Form: 550-814

Icantsay¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: P E Corbett⁽³⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 105| D

7/1

One from 18 over timber, coming over this trip on good ground at Cork in July 2016, just one decent effort from six over timber this year and was poor last month fences. Others appeal more.

Form: 507545

Lambs Lane⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Jack Kennedy| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 104

10/1

Bumper winner, unable to get off the mark in four maiden hurdles, stamina is questionable over this trip on testing ground for handicap debut.

Form: 51-403

Forecasts

Ben Button (1/1), Chain Gang (10/3), Icantsay (7/1), Mr Champers (9/1), Lambs Lane (10/1), Seskinane (20/1), Top Of The Town (20/1), Irish Bulletin (25/1)

BEN BUTTON has been going very nicely since joining the champion trainer, he scored with plenty in hand at Galway on penultimate start and then defied a quick turnaround / drop in trip to win at Sligo four days later. This trip is more his thing and he should take plenty beating now. Top Of The Town reverts back from chasing and while out of form lately, would be formidable if recapturing something near his best, with similar sentiments attached to Irish Bulletin. Seskinane has won on this sort of ground which might revive him while the lightly-raced Mr Champers is entitled to get involved if stamina holds out.