20:00 Dundalk

Friday 20 October 2017

All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:3021:00

Al Basti Equiworld Mercury Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 20:01 | Winning time: 58.55s

(8)

Hit The Bid^t²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 10-2| J: L F Roche| T: D Bunyan & G O'Leary| OR: 107| D

16/1

Not disgraced when beaten 7¾L in the Group 3 World Trophy Stakes at Newbury last month. Listed winner at Cork in June the three-year-old finished 2¾L behind Caspian Prince in the Group 2 Sapphiire Stakes at the Curragh in July.

Form: 681240

(1)

Take Cover²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: D Allan| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 113| CD

8/11

Popular veteran who has won his last two starts winning the Beverley Bullet and the World Trophy at Newbury. Winner of this race two years ago and go well again in current frame of mind.

Form: 514011

(12)

Ardhoomey^t¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 106| CD

6/1

C&D winner who has had a super-consistent season without winning and finished 11th of 14 in this race 12 months ago. Should be there or thereabouts but others preferred.

Form: 033636

(4)

Confrontational⁶³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-13| J: S Foley| T: J J Murphy| OR: 90| D

50/1

Just a maiden win to his name and he's been struggling in handicaps so difficult to imagine him making it in this company.

Form: 14550-7

(2)

Duplication^b²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-13| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 88| CD

22/1

Lightly-raced colt, won maiden over 5f here in December and showed improved form to score again in August before disappointing over 6f in a competitive contest last time out.

Form: 812-310

(14)

Moviesta^v²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-13| J: R P Downey| T: E Lynam| OR: 112| BF| CD

8/1

Twice a winner in Group 2 company and has won over this C&D in the past too, won here over 5f in July and finished second of 14 in this race 12 months ago but may struggle from stall 14.

Form: 951403

(10)

Annie Fior¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: J A Heffernan| T: T P O'Connor| OR: 76

80/1

Slightly disappointing on debut for this yard at Listowel last month over a mile, before fourth of 11 last time out here over 7f earlier this month. Big task on here.

Form: 694394

(5)

Intense Starlet^b1,t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Gavin Brouder| T: T P O'Connor| OR: 45| D

100/1

Ran her best race for sometime when 3¼L behind Count Of Carabass in a Listowel handicap on heavy ground last month but has been generally out of form over the summer and hard to fancy here.

Form: 060480

(7)

Love On The Rocks^h⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: C O'Donoghue| T: C Hills| OR: 90| D

16/1

British raider that finished second of seven last time out in a 5f Epsom handicap on good ground. Worth a market check if taking to the surface.

Form: 109102

(3)

Optionality

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: M A Gallagher| T: D Bunyan & G O'Leary

100/1

By Bated Breath out of a Pivotal mare related to multiple winners Ekhitiyaar and Red Sabor. Big shock if making presence felt here.

Form:

(11)

Declarationofpeace^t¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 8-9| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 107| CD

9/2

Appeared to be going places having justified odds of 1/4 to win maiden over C&D in May, but sup-par effort having been well backed at Royal Ascot following month. Won here two weeks ago and possibly expected to follow up here.

Form: 310771

(6)

Blue Uluru¹²

Age: 2| Weight: 8-4| J: Chris Hayes| T: G M Lyons| OR: 93| D

20/1

Winner of a valuable Navan event on handicap debut before well beaten 16L last time out in Navan Listed contest over 6f. May struggle in this company.

Form: 1518

(13)

Mrs Hitchcock¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 8-4| J: N G McCullagh| T: Miss K Brown| OR: 56

100/1

Well beaten and no impression in two career starts before finishing 7¾L behind Declarationofpeace here two weeks ago and more of the same expected tonight.

Form: 505

Non-Runners

(9)

Go Kart⁵⁰

Weight: 9-8| Age: 4

T: P J Prendergast J: Ronan Whelan

Forecasts

Take Cover (8/11), Declarationofpeace (9/2), Ardhoomey (6/1), Moviesta (8/1), Go Kart (14/1), Hit The Bid (16/1), Love On The Rocks (16/1), Blue Uluru (20/1), Duplication (22/1), Confrontational (50/1), Annie Fior (80/1), Intense Starlet (100/1), Mrs Hitchcock (100/1), Optionality (100/1)

The popular veteran TAKE COVER is the selection to land the spoils from a plum draw to make all and continue his fine form in the twilight of his glittering career. Speedsters, Moviesta, Go Kart and Declarationofpeace will be sure to be making life difficult late on in proceedings.