15:45 Gowran Park

Saturday 16 September 2017

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:3018:00

Jumps Racing Returns To Gowran Park September 29th Handicap (45-65)

Off time: 15:47 | Winning time: 1m 48.21s

(2)

Il Piccolo Grande^h¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: E T Daly⁽⁷⁾| T: G M Lyons| OR: 65

10/1

Just one win from 17 starts, all the way back in 2015, has shaped with some promise on occasions this year but comes into this having finished last of nine at Laytown (7f) recently. May bounce back on turf.

Form: 053059

(11)

Harvey Specter¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: D P Linehan⁽⁵⁾| T: R Donohoe| OR: 60| D

11/2

Lost his way since leaving the care of Ger Lyons in six runs, marginally better effort last time over 1m2f at Navan when ridden prominently before fading late on. Down in trip but hard to trust.

Form: 0000-07

(10)

Sea Of Hope³¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Gary Carroll| T: A Keatley| OR: 60

25/1

Showed some promise in maidens, well beaten on handicap debut at Redcar in November (6½f, good to soft) and off since. Market check needed on return from layoff going up in trip.

Form: 45/50-

(16)

Bo Bridget¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Colin Keane| T: A Murray| OR: 55

6/1

Remains a maiden after 13 starts but has run well in three of four starts since joining current handler, including over this mile trip. Feasibly weighted, though heavy ground an unknown.

Form: 40-2373

(5)

Latchet⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 58

12/1

Lightly-raced filly, didn't get run of the race at Down Royal last week (7f, heavy) when beaten just over 8L. Needs to improve but too soon to suggest she won't do that.

Form: 3307-06

(13)

Miss Opportunity^t²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: D E Hogan⁽⁷⁾| T: E O'Connell| OR: 54

20/1

Well beaten in all four career starts, including last month's handicap bow at the Curragh (5f, yielding to soft). Upped in trip significantly now.

Form: 8900

(15)

Sleepy Head^h1¹⁰⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: P J Smullen| T: P J Flynn| OR: 53

6/1

Lightly-raced filly has caught the eye in two handicaps over a mile at this term, could be capable of further improvement here and retains the services of leading rider to boot on return from 104 days off. Sports first-time hood.

Form: 760-82

(6)

Dignified Air²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: N G McCullagh| T: G O'Leary| OR: 56

8/1

Just failed in bid to cause 40/1 shock over 1m at Killarney last month on yielding ground. That was a much-improved showing and has to gain respect having switched to this yard since.

Form: 0-98982

(8)

Dont Quit²⁵⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Rory Cleary| T: J T Gorman| OR: 52| CD

16/1

C&D winner off a mark of 49 in October when last out on the Flat, well beaten off in 2m maiden hurdle at Punchestown on New Year's Eve sole outing since. Not especially well handicapped on return, but worth a look.

Form: 42/7701-

(9)

Truly Genius^p⁹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-1| J: Shane Foley| T: C P Donoghue| OR: 52

40/1

Now 16lb lower than his last winning handicap mark. Cheekpieces back on following three heavy defeats with a tongue tie. Difficult to feel any excitement at the moment.

Form: 0538/07

(14)

Annie Irish³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Ross Coakley⁽³⁾| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 51| CD

7/1

Mare is a former C&D winner (good) and has run fair races in three visits here this summer to merit consideration off this ever-decreasing mark.

Form: 186-685

(12)

Bert Leaf^v¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Sean Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: S Fahey| OR: 51| D

10/1

Mare returned from 319-day absence with career-best effort to win 1m Bellewstown handicap late last month on good ground. She carries a 6lb penalty for that success but could be in the mix again if progressing.

Form: 65080-1

(7)

Accladora⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁷⁾| T: T G McCourt| OR: 54| D

16/1

Turned corner in spectacular fashion when winning 7f claimer at Bellewstown last month at odds of 66/1, went well enough last week over 7f on heavy ground when third off this new mark to gain respect in this field back to the mile.

Form: 700013

(3)

Modern Tutor¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-10| J: Killian Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: Nicole McKenna| OR: 47| D

20/1

Winner over 7f on heavy ground at Down Royal this time last year, has gone 17 runs without a win since, but is now 5lb below previous winning mark if able to put things together on this testing surface.

Form: 093095

(1)

Takeachanceonme³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: Gary Halpin⁽³⁾| T: P Martin| OR: 47

12/1

A 17-race maiden, run just fair races in two starts off a 336-day layoff at Bellewstown and Tipperary over this sort of trip. Can be given a chance on best form off this lowly rating.

Form: 3390-87

(4)

Kates Doll^h¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Leigh Roche| T: P A Fahy| OR: 45

25/1

Poor maiden who is 0/14 now. Hard to make a case for a filly who has been beaten a long way in most of recent starts. Raced prominently over 1m4f at Roscommon late last month, before weakening 2f out and came home at walking pace.

Form: 404000

Non-Runners

Iftikaar¹⁰

Weight: 9-1| Age: 7

T: D Hogan J: Reserve 1

Ebony Princess⁵⁶

Weight: 8-10| Age: 7

T: K P Cotter J: Reserve 2

Tildas Icon¹⁴

Weight: 8-5| Age: 3

T: T Mullins J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Harvey Specter (11/2), Sleepy Head (6/1), Bo Bridget (6/1), Annie Irish (7/1), Dignified Air (8/1), Il Piccolo Grande (10/1), Bert Leaf (10/1), Latchet (12/1), Takeachanceonme (12/1), Ebony Princess (14/1), Accladora (16/1), Dont Quit (16/1), Modern Tutor (20/1), Miss Opportunity (20/1), Sea Of Hope (25/1), Kates Doll (25/1), Iftikaar (25/1), Tildas Icon (33/1), Truly Genius (40/1)

Sleepy Head returns from a break and is one to note having caught the eye in two handicaps over this trip, with in-form Smullen staying faithful today. Dignified Air almost caused a shock at Killarney last month and will be involved if repeating that effort having since moved to this yard while 66/1 Bellewstown winner Accladora has shown since she can compete off this increased mark. Likewise Bert Leaf is respected under a penalty having produced a career-best on return at Bellewstown but BO BRIDGET has been going close since joining this handler and is feasibly weighted for the breakthrough if handling the conditions.