17:20 Navan

Wednesday 25 October 2017

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap

Off time: 17:21 | Winning time: 2m 27.56s

(8)

Elm Grove¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Billy Lee| T: W McCreery| OR: 86| CD

14/1

Shot up the weights after winning twice earlier this year and still sits on a mark 9lb higher than for her last success. Usually runs her race and underfoot conditions are not an issue.

Form: 580376

(1)

Ringside Humour^t¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 86| D

16/1

Returned from a break to win at Dundalk in April, but has struggled since and has dropped down the weights. Capable of going close off this mark if she can find a spark.

Form: 179806

(3)

Espoir D'Soleil¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: P J Smullen| T: D K Weld| OR: 85

2/1

Landed a Leopardstown maiden in August and has run well to be second in two handicaps on soft ground. Open to further improvement and warrants plenty of respect.

Form: 5122

(4)

Gentil J^t¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Wayne Lordan| T: H Rogers| OR: 81

12/1

Was in fine form last autumn, winning twice, but has not managed to get her head in front since then. Looked to be on the way back at Cork last time and has each-way claims given her ability to handle the going.

Form: 983982

(9)

Upgraded¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J M Oxx| OR: 85| D

8/1

Handled heavy ground when winning a maiden at Gowran Park on his second start, but was behind Gentil J when fifth of 11 at Cork. Needs to take a step forward off 2lb lower.

Form: 8135

(7)

Byron Beauty^p¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: Chris Hayes| T: H Rogers| OR: 80

16/1

Disqualified after passing the post first in a Killarney handicap in July and, to add insult to injury, she was raised 6lb. Recent displays off this sort of mark suggest she is still paying the penalty.

Form: 127053

(12)

Jeremy's Girl¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: Colin Keane| T: G Keane| OR: 77| D

7/2

Won on her first run for this trainer when successful at Roscommon in June, but went up 11lb and has been well held since. Handicapper is starting to relent, but probably not enough for her to get seriously involved.

Form: 77/1445

(2)

Synopsis^t¹¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Gary Carroll| T: G Elliott| OR: 75

12/1

Won twice when trained by Ger Lyons, but has not been at her best in three hurdles and a Flat race for her current trainer. Needs to show more before being considered.

Form: 60090-8

(11)

Verbosity³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Ronan Whelan| T: J T Gorman| OR: 74

40/1

Only win came in a Cork nursery in October, 2015. Not much to shout about on recent starts, but has tumbled down the weights to a mark off which she ought to be competitive.

Form: 48644-0

(5)

Grey Willow^b¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Killian Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: J G Murphy| OR: 74

10/1

Wore blinkers for the first time when winning a 1m1f handicap at Listowel last month, but was well beaten off this 9lb higher mark next time before finishing in mid-division in a Thurles maiden hurdle. Bit to prove for now.

Form: 530916

(10)

Two For Tea⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 74

5/1

Made all to win a fillies' maiden at Gowran Park in July, but has been held in two 1m4f handicaps since that success. She has been dropped a total of 6lb and races over 2f shorter so there is cause for optimism.

Form: 32168

Non-Runners

(6)

Rosin Box⁴³

Weight: 9-1| Age: 4

T: J J Murphy J: Shane Foley

Forecasts

Espoir D'Soleil (2/1), Jeremy's Girl (7/2), Rosin Box (9/2), Two For Tea (5/1), Upgraded (8/1), Grey Willow (10/1), Synopsis (12/1), Gentil J (12/1), Elm Grove (14/1), Ringside Humour (16/1), Byron Beauty (16/1), Verbosity (40/1)

An open handicap in which cases can be made for several of the runners. Rosin Box has been in good form and is respected despite her rise in the weights, while bottom-weight Two For Tea may do better now that she is dropped in trip off a lower handicap mark. Gentil J is another with decent prospects, but the selection is ESPOIR D'SOLEIL, who may still be improving, handles soft ground and ran well off this handicap mark last time.