16:30 Cork

Saturday 14 October 2017

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:35

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap

Off time: 16:32 | Winning time: 1m 56.46s

(3)

Elm Grove⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁷⁾| T: W McCreery| OR: 87| CD

10/1

C&D winner who has seen her form dip somewhat during the season. May well continue to struggle still carrying 10lb more than last win.

Form: 158037

(11)

Elusive Beauty^v⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Shane Foley| T: K J Condon| OR: 90

11/1

Had had a torrid time of it over the summer with some heavy defeats along the way. Excuses at Tipperary and Leopardstown but still a vast improvement needed to feature.

Form: 780706

(5)

Nanabad¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: D E Hogan⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Fahey| OR: 84

14/1

Never took to the Dundalk Polytrack and has generally struggled during the season. Looks a tall order on form shown.

Form: 296640

(1)

Upgraded²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J M Oxx| OR: 87

6/1

Has made steady and consistent progress over the season finding the filly on a handicap debut mark of 87 for a yard not known for their winners at this meeting in the past.

Form: 813

(4)

Focus On Heaven⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Ronan Whelan| T: J S Bolger| OR: 84

7/2

Has kept her form in three solid career starts including a second of 14 in a Limerick 7f contest a week ago. Dangerous for leading yard who like their winners at this meeting.

Form: 2-12

(10)

Gentil J^t¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Billy Lee| T: H Rogers| OR: 81| CD

12/1

Filly started off very well for this yard, winning twice around this time last year. Not able to reproduce that sort of form off higher marks since and has ran four poor races last month returned from a break.

Form: 898398

(6)

Byron Beauty^p⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: P J Smullen| T: H Rogers| OR: 80

20/1

Flickers of bouncing back to form last time out when beaten 6½L at Roscommon. Better than her figures suggest but still may struggle in this contest.

Form: 212705

(9)

Always Dancing⁶⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 79| D

6/1

Failed to land a hat-trick of wins here in August. Has improved 13lb over the summer but can go well again stepped up in trip.

Form: 445115

(7)

Rickrack¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 75

3/1

Solid and consistent throughout the summer without winning including second of 12 last time out in a Tipperary maiden. Looks a nice mark for handicap debut.

Form: 33-3272

(2)

Grainne's Dream¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-5| J: N G McCullagh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 68| D

14/1

Has largely struggled since winning a Killarney 1m handicap in July being well beaten in five starts since. Tough ask and others preferred.

Form: 4-18650

(8)

Countess Guiccioli^h²⁹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Chris Hayes| T: J L Hassett| OR: 69

25/1

Broke her maiden at the third time of asking over 7f on soft-to-heavy ground at Listowel last September. Well held at Dundalk the following month and makes her seasonal debut here.

Form: 5616-

Forecasts

Rickrack (3/1), Focus On Heaven (7/2), Always Dancing (6/1), Upgraded (6/1), Elm Grove (10/1), Elusive Beauty (11/1), Gentil J (12/1), Nanabad (14/1), Grainne's Dream (14/1), Byron Beauty (20/1), Countess Guiccioli (25/1)

RICKRACK is taken to lead from the front here, eventually seeing off the attentions of the Ger Lyons-trained Always Dancing who is a solid each-way alternative. Focus On Heaven who looks a game sort can give the front two the most to think about.