15:40 Navan
Sunday 8 October 2017
All14:0014:3515:0515:4016:1016:4517:1517:45
Royal County Handicap (45-65)
- 3YO plus | 5f 182y | Soft | 21 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 15:43 | Winning time: 1m 17.66s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Six wins from 42 starts on turf including a C&D win last month and well suited to big fields. Followed up with a respectable effort at Fairyhouse last time but never won off a mark this high and looks vulnerable from a handicapping perspective.
Gained her first win in over five years at Hamilton two starts back and still well-handicapped on old form. May have found the ground too testing at Gowran Park last time but she can compromise her chances with slow starts.
Yet to win in 12 starts and she's only placed once. Has only been seen three times this year and finished well beaten on all of those efforts. Hard to fancy.
Off the mark on 18th start at Downpatrick in July but 10lb rise for that success looks particularly harsh from the handicapper and he's struggled two starts since. First-string on jockey bookings but seemingly in need of relief from the handicapper.
Yet to win in 22 starts but has gone close on several occasions and starting to look very well-handicapped on the best of his form. Stiff nature of this track will suit and can't be ruled out.
Just one win from 37 starts but that did come here, albeit over 5f. Has run well over this trip before but remains 7lb above his last winning mark.
Not won for over four years but has been running consistently well on his recent runs as his form figures suggest. Starts out for a new yard now and still on a workable mark but his finishing effort has been called into question several times.
One win from 11 starts and has struggled in heavy ground on her last couple of runs. Has been dropped 2lb in the handicap and on a workable mark but has often seemed better over 5f. Wears first-time cheekpieces.
Off the mark at the 15th attempt at Tipperary, handling testing conditions best. 8lb rise for that looks steep though and no guarantee he can back that up here.
Course winner who has won eight times in 112 starts but all of those wins have come over 5f. Placed over C&D last time out when fourth of 19 but he'd be of more interest over the minimum trip.
Course winner who won twice last year, latterly off a mark of 63 at Bellewstown over 5f. All her wins have come over the minimum trip and hasn't placed over this trip since 2014. On a nice mark but others preferred.
Has won seven of her 47 starts and below her last winning mark after she was well beaten last time at Tipperary. Has won five races over 6f and sees it out well having also won over further but form for this yard has been a little disappointing.
Finds herself on a career low mark after 11 unplaced starts but signs of a return to form when fourth of 12 at Catterick last time. Not discounted if she can build on that effort and won off a 12lb higher mark last year.
Some promise on debut but well beaten on all five of her subsequent starts and needs to come on for her latest effort after a short break. Step back up in trip probably in her favour but hard to fancy.
Back-to-back winner in April 2016 and while she's not won since, she's improved since joining this yard. Not beaten far in heavy ground on last couple of runs and of interest if there's more rain with an eye-catching jockey booking.
Just one win from 33 starts to date and that came over a mile. Drop back to this trip probably not ideal and needs first-time blinkers to bring about plenty of improvement.
Yet to win in 13 starts but seemingly getting the hang of things lately. Looks well suited to softer conditions and can't be dismissed off a career-low mark.
Not beaten many home in five starts to date and plenty of work to do from 5lb out of the handicap. Wears first-time cheekpieces.
Still a maiden after 20 starts and unplaced on all nine efforts this year. Has run well on heavy ground before so probably needs plenty of rain to have any chance.
Yet to win or even place in 25 starts to date and tailed off on both recent starts. Likely to struggle from 7lb out of the handicap.
Best effort came here when placed over 5f but has failed to build on that subsequently and well beaten on return from a short absence last time at Down Royal. 5lb out of the handicap and plenty of improvement to find.
Non-Runners
1
(22)
Clare Island12
Weight: 10-0| Age: 3
T: E Lynam J: R P Downey
NR
19
(23)
Zircon12
Weight: 8-9| Age: 4
T: S Lavery J: Scott McCullagh
NR
24
Acroleina50
Weight: 8-8| Age: 6
T: H Rogers J: Scott McCullagh
NR
25
Agatha Rose78
Weight: 8-8| Age: 3
T: D Kinsella J: Reserve 2
NR
26
Onchu167
Weight: 8-8| Age: 5
T: P Downey J: Reserve 3
NR
Forecasts
Free To Roam (5/1), Doonard Prince (6/1), D K Travel (7/1), Landline (10/1), Tidal's Baby (10/1), Breezolini (10/1), A Likely Story (10/1), Pillar (12/1), Gifted Lady (14/1), Calm Bay (14/1), Clare Island (16/1), Nora Batt (18/1), Town Ranger (20/1), Gopsies Daughter (20/1), Catwilldo (20/1), Mr Michael (22/1), Full Shilling (25/1), Busy Bush (25/1), Acroleina (25/1), Zircon (25/1), Madam Bounska (33/1), Ai Chan (33/1), Blockstar Girl (33/1), Onchu (33/1), Scobias (50/1), Agatha Rose (50/1)
A LIKELY STORY clearly isn't the most reliable but he's starting to look well-handicapped on old form and he ought to enjoy the nature of this course. Nora Batt hinted at a return to form last time and is another on a fair mark while Breezolini got back on track this summer and is worth considering if she can get away on terms.
- A Likely Story
- Nora Batt
- Breezolini
Prize Money
1st: €6,160.002nd: €1,909.003rd: €910.004th: €410.005th: €160.00
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