15:25 Gowran Park

Saturday 30 September 2017

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

Kilkenny Racing Festival Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)

Off time: 15:28 | Winning time: 6m 8.70s

Plinth^b,t¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: D J McInerney⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 138

40/1

Frequent winner over hurdles (9-40), most recently at Tipperary (2m, good) in July off a mark of 135. Well below that form in three runs since and must bounce back to get involved.

Form: 131858

Ben Button¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136| D

2/1

Made it three on the spin with comfortable success over 3m in testing ground at Listowel this month, he's been hit with another 10lb hike on the back of that win but is likely to take all the beating again.

Form: 0/4-2111

Mine Now³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: R Deegan⁽⁷⁾| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 136| C| D

13/2

Runner-up in previous two starts at Galway (2m7f) and Killarney (2m6f) and won here in February over much shorter trip, can give another good account but doesn't win as often as seems probable (3-27).

Form: 210-422

Rathpatrick¹⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Mark Walsh| T: E Griffin| OR: 132| D

33/1

Winner of 2m3f at Naas in March off a mark of 127 before being brought down early on in valuable 3m Punchestown handicap the following month. Off since, one of the more likely sorts in this field if ready to go.

Form: PU051B-

Ballyegan Hero⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: A McCurtin⁽⁵⁾| T: J J Walsh| OR: 129

12/1

All out to hold off Mine Now at Galway last month over 2m7f, goes up 7lb for that slender success and this looks a tougher proposition.

Form: 31-6351

Ned Stark^t1⁵⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 125

25/1

Grade 2 winner over fences in 2015, rather lost his way last year and had left Alan King to join this trainer. No shock if bounces back in the not too distant future. Back over hurdles on return from 546 days off, watch betting.

Form: 868P52/

Snugsborough Benny⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: D J Mullins| T: L P Cusack| OR: 121| D

16/1

Has won three from four starts this year, latest being a handicap hurdle at Ballinrobe over 2m5½f on yielding ground last month from a mark of 113. Must improve to have a chance in this field.

Form: 58-1411

Kilcarry Bridge^t¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-3| J: Danny Mullins| T: J P Ryan| OR: 117| C| D

16/1

Winner over fences at Killarney last month, well held at Listowel a fortnight ago over 2m4f off much lower hurdles rating and again likely to play bit-part role in this.

Form: 5431P3

Tay Lane⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 117| BF

33/1

20L winner of a Tipperary maiden hurdle for Niall Madden in May (2m good), has been disappointing in three runs since joining champion trainer and now tackles 3m for the first time. Others more likely.

Form: 7-U1368

Blixt²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 116| D

12/1

Mare is closely related to Hurricane Fly but lacks for consistency. Landed a Clonmel handicap over 3m last time at 16/1, no certainty to show same enthusiasm from 5lb higher rating and likely playing for places with Walsh preferring Ben Button.

Form: 4-24171

Without Limites¹⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Sean Flanagan| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 114| BF

5/1

Has shown some promise in four maiden hurdles at up to 2m3f, makes handicap debut now over this longer trip and doesn't appeal as a likely winner in waiting.

Form: 11/3524-

Magic Of Light¹⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: Jack Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 113

12/1

Career-best effort to win 3m handicap hurdle at Punchestown in April, off since and this look to be a good deal tougher.

Form: 742431-

High Nellie⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: C A Landers⁽⁷⁾| T: M J Bowe| OR: 110| D

33/1

Winner over 3m at Wexford this month, well held over shorter trips at Galway and Navan since and seemingly up against it again in this contest.

Form: 242142

Sir Jack Yeats^b¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: Miss Ellmarie Holden| OR: 110

9/1

Has won three times in nine runs this year, latest success come over 2m6f at Tramore last month over fences. Couple of tame efforts in that sphere since, but back over hurdles off much lower rating could bounce back.

Form: 21514P

Forecasts

Ben Button (2/1), Without Limites (5/1), Mine Now (13/2), Sir Jack Yeats (9/1), Magic Of Light (12/1), Ballyegan Hero (12/1), Blixt (12/1), Kilcarry Bridge (16/1), Snugsborough Benny (16/1), Ned Stark (25/1), High Nellie (33/1), Tay Lane (33/1), Rathpatrick (33/1), Plinth (40/1)

BEN BUTTON has thrived since joining the champion trainer and while the winning margin last time at Listowel wasn't that big as he completed the hat-trick, he certainly was not fully extended to achieve it. He can defy his latest ratings hike to score under the champion jockey. Of his stablemates in the field, the mare Blixt looks the more likely although she isn't the most consistent. Mine Now has hit the crossbar a couple of times recently and can go well again while Snugsborough Benny is in good heart but likely must improve to register another win in this field. Ned Stark, off a long layoff, is an interesting runner first time out for Gordon Elliott while Sir Jack Yeats could get involved off his much lower hurdles rating.