14:15 Gowran Park

Saturday 30 September 2017

All13:4514:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

Thomastown Handicap Hurdle (80-109)

Off time: 14:17 | Winning time: 4m 1.4s

Theatre Dreams^t1²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: D J Mullins| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 103

8/1

Hasn't exactly been consistent in maiden hurdles, but best efforts over this sort of trip would entitle him to some claims now going handicapping for the first time if producing it.

Form: 3-92849

Alterno^b³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: D N Russell| T: D McDonogh| OR: 102| D

4/1

Clear cut winner of a 2m2½f handicap hurdle at Downpatrick in August, having knocked on the door a couple of times previously. Is 7lb higher now and drop to 2m not certain to suit but clearly in good form.

Form: 369321

Caridadi³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: R Loughran| T: J Morrison| OR: 102

10/1

Record reads 0-18 over timber, has ability but may remain a bit high in the weights for now and needs some assistance.

Form: 40493-6

Effernock Lad¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: M P Flanagan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Keane| OR: 101| D

6/1

Three runs this year have produced mixed results, may have needed it first time out at Sligo in August and was then a good second at that track over 2m off mark of 101. Poor since at Galway and questions to answer as such.

Form: 215-929

High School Days⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: D J McInerney⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 105

7/1

French import has made the frame four times in maiden hurdles over this sort of trip this season already. Makes handicap debut here and entitled to be in the mix, with useful claim to assist.

Form: 8-2233

Dixie Highway¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: M A Enright| T: P J Flynn| OR: 99| D

12/1

Well held in trio of outings over timber this summer, most recently by 16L over 2m at Cork in early August. Well held in two Flat runs since and faces stiff task here it seems.

Form: 900-547

Icelip^t³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean Flanagan| T: D M O'Brien| OR: 97| D

11/1

Is rated 4lb higher than when winning 2m Tramore handicap in May, very testing surface likely here could pose some problems and hasn't run as well recently in any case.

Form: 561-557

Bag of Diamonds⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: R M Power| T: M J Smith| OR: 97

11/1

Ex-Richard Hannon inmate on the Flat, unplaced in four maiden hurdles for this yard and similar tale last week in 2m Navan handicap hurdle when beaten 23L. Plenty work to do.

Form: 90700

Ted^t⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: B T O'Connell| T: L Kenny| OR: 91

6/1

Well held in all three starts over hurdles this year, has to improve to stand a chance here dropping back significantly in distance.

Form: 064-356

Wild Sam²⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: A E Lynch| T: S Ryan| OR: 91

25/1

Hasn't set the world alight so far in six runs over hurdles, returns here from an eight-month layoff and probably best watched unless market vibes are positive.

Form: 50/5280-

Calipso Collonges¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: K J Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: T Cooper| OR: 90

14/1

An unlikely winner on the evidence of four runs over hurdles to date, latest being a 16L defeat over 2m4f at Listowel this month. Drops in trip and has to improve (previous 2m effort was poor).

Form: P6/7-707

Streak^t⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Danny Mullins| T: T Mullins| OR: 84

25/1

Has been kept busy over the spring and early part of the summer without success. Hard to fancy until she shows some ability and others make more appeal in this. Beaten 38L over longer trip at Downpatrick eight days ago.

Form: 8-06P08

Coral Pearl^p⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-13| J: C A Landers⁽⁷⁾| T: S M Duffy| OR: 81

33/1

Modest form in six starts over timber, beaten just under 10L last month at Tramore on latest outing. That was an improvement but likely will need another good step forward to get involved in the finish.

Form: 80-0859

Forecasts

Alterno (4/1), Effernock Lad (6/1), Ted (6/1), High School Days (7/1), Theatre Dreams (8/1), Caridadi (10/1), Bag of Diamonds (11/1), Icelip (11/1), Dixie Highway (12/1), Calipso Collonges (14/1), Wild Sam (25/1), Streak (25/1), Coral Pearl (33/1)

The drop to 2m is not certain to be a positive but ALTERNO was impressive when scoring last time out at Downpatrick over a longer trip. He goes up 7lb for that effort but had plenty in hand and with the ground set to be testing, he's given the nod to go in again. Handicap debutant High School Days tops the list of dangers having gone close on more than one occasion in maidens hurdles. Effernock Lad's run at Sligo in August would give him a solid chance while Theatre Dreams is another that can have a say if putting his best foot forward.