17:15 Navan

Sunday 8 October 2017

All14:0014:3515:0515:4016:1016:4517:1517:45

Irish Cesarewitch (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 17:15 | Winning time: 3m 51.80s

Travertine^v1³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: T P Madden⁽⁵⁾| T: N Madden| OR: 98

66/1

No win on the Flat since April 2015 (and no run on the Flat this season); much more needed in a first time visor off top weight.

Form: 73/3900-

Snow Falcon²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Colin Keane| T: N Meade| OR: 97| BF| C| D

5/1

Not the most consistent of performers but at his best has some of the better form on offer here, though most of that has come over hurdles. Also a capable Flat performer, however, but disappointed at Leopardstown last time out.

Form: 145-10

Ted Veale²³

Age: 10| Weight: 9-11| J: D W O'Connor⁽⁵⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 97| D

16/1

Dual-purpose performer who won over 1m4f on heavy when last seen, but is trip and ground versatile and could go close if able to shoulder this new higher mark.

Form: 319/2-21

Benkei^b1²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: J J Burke| T: H Rogers| OR: 94| C| D

33/1

Losing run on the Flat starting to build up but has mostly been aimed at classier contests than this and the return to handicap company should suit, as well as the addition of first time blinkers.

Form: 304839

Felix Mendelssohn^t⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: S Corby⁽³⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 93| C

40/1

Hasn't won since his second start but has been showing plenty of promise this year across both codes, including in some fairly high-quality contests. Needs to bounce back from a disappointment at Dundalk last time, however.

Form: 034-308

Bhutan⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 87| D

14/1

Useful dual purpose performer who hasn't been at his best over the summer but remains lightly-raced; a return to his best form would have to give him a chance off his current mark.

Form: 1-3

Western Boy²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: Fran Berry| T: P A Fahy| OR: 87| D

12/1

Useful form in less classy Flat affairs this as well as in more valuable races over hurdles; tough to fancy following his last run on the Flat when well beaten by Snow Falcon.

Form: 1124/0-5

Nietzsche^h²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Ben Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 86| D

11/1

Ran as his odds suggested when beaten 12L into fifth at 20/1 at Doncaster last time out. Step back up in trip a positive but hasn't achieved enough on the Flat for him to recommended here.

Form: 47411-5

Sea The Lion^p1²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Ronan Whelan| T: J P Fahey| OR: 86| C

18/1

Out of his depth in a very valuable Leopardstown handicap last time out and could find himself out of his depth here; first time cheek pieces an interesting addition.

Form: 0/31130

Tara Dylan^b1,t¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: R P Downey⁽³⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 86

50/1

Hinted at a revival the last twice but generally better over shorter than this and needs to hope first time blinkers play their part here.

Form: 365495

Wonder Laish^p1²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: N G McCullagh| T: C Byrnes| OR: 86| D

16/1

Not at his best on the Flat since returning from a break recently. More encouraging when winning over hurdles latest but hard to be bullish about his chances back on the level.

Form: 2118/00

Miles To Memphis^t³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: Billy Lee| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 85| BF| CD

14/1

Useful dual-purpose type, hasn't been at his very best the last twice and less likely to improve than some of his rivals here; career-best needed here.

Form: 1154

Artful Artist^t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-12| J: O J Orr⁽³⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 84

8/1

Beaten less than a length on his last two starts (one over hurdles), and arrives here looking like a fourth career victory could be on the way. Respected apprentice claims 3lb and he should be capable of a big run.

Form: 52248-4

Sir Ector³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 8-12| J: Killian Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: Nicole McKenna| OR: 84| D

33/1

No win on the Flat since November 2013; has been running well over hurdles lately but difficult to fancy back on the level against some younger, less exposed rivals.

Form: 770-030

St Stephens Green²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Shane Foley| T: E Mullins| OR: 84| D

16/1

Not disgraced on last start at Leopardstown, having been in good form at a lower level prior to that. Not ruled out from placing but might find it a stretch to win.

Form: 1310

Mr Everest²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Wayne Lordan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 82

33/1

Made a winning start to his career in June but held since; probably still too high in the handicap to land a blow, particularly in a race as tough as this.

Form: 1636

San Remo⁵³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: M C Hussey| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 91| BF

22/1

Form generally falls short of what will likely be required here, with stamina to prove over this far as well, but as one of the few three-year-olds here he is also capable of further improvement.

Form: 5-12734

Grand Partner²³

Age: 9| Weight: 8-8| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁷⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 80| CD

33/1

Primarily a hurdler, not disgraced on the Flat this year but still has plenty to find with the best of these and seems vulnerable to being outclassed.

Form: 1-8283

Here For The Craic^p¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 8-8| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁵⁾| T: D Budds| OR: 80| C| D

33/1

Not at his best so far this season and possible his age is catching up with him; would be on an attractive mark if able to replicate his better form here though.

Form: 932724

Neverushacon^p³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Scott McCullagh⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 79| BF| D

20/1

Generally better over jumps but has won over shorter than this on the Flat; fair effort at Down Royal last time out and apprentice's 10lb claim will obviously help.

Form: 20/9-533

Gustavus Vassa⁹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Chris Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 86| BF

9/2

Very lightly raced and takes on this challenge for only his second handicap start, but makes his first start for a top trainer and has shown plenty of ability so far with the promise of more to come over this longer trip.

Form: 123

Ibsen^p,t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 8-5| J: Sean Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 77| C

12/1

In good form this season, and has form on all types of ground. Rider's 7lb claim brings him down to a workable-looking weight and he has to be included on the shortlist here.

Form: 6/431-12

Lord Erskine²³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-5| J: C P Hoban| T: H Rogers| OR: 77

25/1

On a hat-trick having won twice on heavy ground on his last two runs. Seems to stay this far but his best form is all on very heavy ground.

Form: 8-80311

Lucca³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: Rory Cleary| T: J P Fahey| OR: 74| C

20/1

Good recent form in much less competitive events tan this and continues to have a progressive profile but this demands a big step up, off another career-high mark.

Form: 011431

Non-Runners

Song Of Namibia²⁹

Weight: 9-9| Age: 6

T: G M Lyons J: Gary Carroll

Abyssinian⁴⁶

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: A P O'Brien J:

Mandatario⁵⁹

Weight: 9-1| Age: 6

T: J S Bolger J: K J Manning

Vigil²⁴

Weight: 8-13| Age: 8

T: D K Weld J: Leigh Roche

Automated⁴⁴

Weight: 8-11| Age: 6

T: G Elliott J: Gary Halpin

Forecasts

Gustavus Vassa (9/2), Snow Falcon (5/1), Artful Artist (8/1), Abyssinian (10/1), Song Of Namibia (10/1), Nietzsche (11/1), Ibsen (12/1), Western Boy (12/1), Miles To Memphis (14/1), Bhutan (14/1), Ted Veale (16/1), Wonder Laish (16/1), St Stephens Green (16/1), Sea The Lion (18/1), Neverushacon (20/1), Lucca (20/1), Automated (20/1), San Remo (22/1), Lord Erskine (25/1), Vigil (25/1), Mandatario (25/1), Grand Partner (33/1), Benkei (33/1), Here For The Craic (33/1), Mr Everest (33/1), Sir Ector (33/1), Felix Mendelssohn (40/1), Tara Dylan (50/1), Travertine (66/1)

Gustavus Vassa has shown plenty of promise in his few races so far and could easily be good enough for win this, but lacks experience, while Sam Remo is another three-year-old who could improve to go well. Preference, however, is for ARTFUL ARTIST. This eight-year-old has been running better than his form figures suggest recently and if turning up here on the top of his game should be capable of a very big run on ground which should suit him well. Song Of Namibia rates a danger if staying this far, while Here For The Craic seems well handicapper.