13:35 Navan

Sunday 26 November 2017

All12:3513:0513:3514:0514:3515:0515:35

Davis Civil Engineering Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:35 | Winning time: 4m 14.70s

Balbir Du Mathan^p1,t²²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: D F O'Regan| T: S J Mahon| OR: 118

14/1

Decent chaser, rated 137 at best, has joined new handler since last season and reverts to hurdles now. Just two previous runs in this sphere (Listed win in France) and on a potentially generous mark sporting first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 26/8P33-

Admiral Brian^h,t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: E O'Connell⁽⁷⁾| T: E O'Connell| OR: 117| CD

7/1

Both wins have come on heavy ground, including over C&D, but now 12 races since his last win and he remains 6lb above that mark. Place claims despite losing run now totaling 13.

Form: 3-24576

Amaulino¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Mark Walsh| T: C Bowe| OR: 117

5/1

Winning hurdler in France (2m2f, soft) who hasn't quite made the impact expected for this yard, attempted to make all in 2m soft-ground Grade 3 at Naas earlier this month, faded to 9½L last of five.

Form: 536-205

Snugsborough Hall⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: D J Mullins| T: L P Cusack| OR: 113

8/1

Winner over 2m4½f at Punchestown on good ground in May off a mark of 96. Ran well again at Sligo in August to be second in novice contest, this is plenty tougher however.

Form: 004-1P2

Edification^h³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: R M Power| T: R P McNamara| OR: 113

25/1

Fairly useful Flat winner is a thrice-raced maiden over hurdles. Fit from recent outing on the level and booking of Robbie Power is eye-catching on return to this sphere.

Form: 448

Master Ruffit¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Robbie Colgan| T: N McKnight| OR: 108

33/1

Capable of going well on a testing surface but was well down the field in a handicap hurdle over this C&D (heavy) a fortnight ago having gone off a 50/1 poke. Others preferred.

Form: 00123-0

Balinaboola Steel¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: B J Foley⁽⁵⁾| T: G J Power| OR: 107

20/1

Ran better than 50/1 odds suggested he might in 2m3½f maiden hurdle at Clonmel 10 days ago. Switches to handicaps now and may improve.

Form: 282085

The Mooch¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: D Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: P Nolan| OR: 105| D

10/1

It has been a long time since we have seen the best from him under either discipline and hard to fancy despite a dropping mark having been well held over C&D a fortnight ago.

Form: 464-7U7

Lex Talionis^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 107| D

11/4

Winner at Punchestown in October and then a good second of 15 in handicap hurdle over C&D a fortnight ago having gone up 5lb. Up another 3lb here and will have to improve to win in all probability.

Form: 74F412

Cardhu²⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Tyner| OR: 103

14/1

Runner-up over C&D in March 2015 on handicap debut, then absent 722 days before running credible fifth of nine behind Sanibel Island here in March. Off again since, but not dismissed out of hand.

Form: 77002/5-

Dixie Highway¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: M A Enright| T: P J Flynn| OR: 103| D

8/1

Winless streak out to 13 now but didn't run badly at Thurles (2m, yielding) earlier this month and wouldn't require a leap of faith to see him in the finish.

Form: 0-54724

Howluckycanwebe¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: A E Lynch| T: D McDonogh| OR: 102

10/1

Competitive at a lowly level in the early part of 2017 (twice placed) and ran well enough in Fairyhouse novice contest this month. Makes handicap debut and could find something extra.

Form: 033-556

Roi De Dubai²²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: M J Bolger| T: J C McConnell| OR: 93

16/1

Moderate promised in maiden hurdles, then well held on handicap bow at Punchestown (2m, good) in April off 95. Returns from summer break with improvement to find.

Form: 219060-

Forecasts

Lex Talionis (11/4), Amaulino (5/1), Admiral Brian (7/1), Dixie Highway (8/1), Snugsborough Hall (8/1), The Mooch (10/1), Howluckycanwebe (10/1), Balbir Du Mathan (14/1), Cardhu (14/1), Roi De Dubai (16/1), Balinaboola Steel (20/1), Edification (25/1), Master Ruffit (33/1)

Balbir Du Mathan is an interesting runner here, going in a handicap hurdle for the first time. He is a smart chaser, and a Listed hurdle winner in France in his youth. His new connections could exploit a lenient mark with new headgear in play and any market support would catch the eye. Lex Talionis, winner at Punchestown last month, continues to be in decent form and should give his running while Admiral Brian shaped well for a long way over C&D recently and could mount a bid with a useful 7lb claimed off his back. AMAULINO attempted to make all in a graded Naas contest recently and is respected back in this company. A winner on soft in his native France, he's given the nod to collect.