13:25 Navan

Saturday 9 December 2017

All12:2012:5013:2514:0014:3015:0515:35

John Lynch Carpets Handicap Hurdle (80-109)

Off time: 13:27 | Winning time: 6m 2.1s

Floramar¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: C O'Dwyer| OR: 107| D

22/1

Distance and class winner but struggled following his maiden win at Downpatrick in September. Tough ask and others preferred.

Form: 8-47516

Vanellope³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr H D Dunne⁽⁵⁾| T: P Croke| OR: 106

16/1

Will need to improve a good chunk on handicap debut following three below par performances in maiden hurdles this season. Others preferred.

Form: 510-457

Master Ruffit¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Robbie Colgan| T: N McKnight| OR: 104

50/1

Well beaten 84L in two seasonal handicap hurdles here last month. Vast improvement needed to figure in this company.

Form: 0123-00

Whatsinthecorner¹³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Brian Hayes| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 103

33/1

Drop in trip for new connections failed to reap any benefit last time out at the Galway festival in July. Others make more appeal.

Form: 4-24380

Wee Small Hours^t³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: D J Hand⁽⁷⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 97

10/1

Not unfancied last time pout when finishing fourth of 16 beaten over 2L in a Thurles chase. Best hurdle performance came in September here when second of 22 over this trip. One for the each way bettors.

Form: 0-16254

The Church Gate^p,t⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: A E Lynch| T: M J Smith| OR: 96| D

11/2

Raised 8lb for a win last time out at Thurles over a similar distance on soft ground last month. Can go well again.

Form: 20-P351

Skellig Rocks^p³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: A L T Moore| OR: 95

8/1

Promising run last time out over 3m puts the gelding firmly in the mix here following a 3½L defeat at Down Royal. Worth a market check.

Form: 437U-53

There Was A Time²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: J S McGarvey| T: E P Harty| OR: 95

25/1

Not sighted at long odds on all eight career starts. Handicapper is cautiously cutting him some slack but there is probably a way to go yet.

Form: 0-09000

Russian Regent³⁷

Age: 13| Weight: 10-11| J: C D Meehan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 94

25/1

128-rated chaser who seems to have lost his way over the larger obstacles where the return to hurdles has hints of desperation. Tough ask and others preferred.

Form: 56-5370

Kickham¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 93

7/1

Presenting gelding who is yet to fire in three maiden hurdles including a heavy defeat last time out at Punchestown. Very little to be positive about.

Form: 00-6

Rossmore's Pride²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: C D Maxwell| T: Christian Delcros| OR: 92

25/1

Beaten a total of 92L in three career maiden hurdles starts before a 66L defeat last month and hard to fancy until he starts to show some signs of ability.

Form: F2/750-5

Foreign Bay⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: D F O'Regan| T: S J Mahon| OR: 91

20/1

Well beaten in three maiden hurdles to date including last time out when forth of 12 but 12L behind the winner Highandmighty at Thurles over 2m last month.

Form: 6670-64

Glenabo Bridge^t⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 90| BF

6/1

Steadily improving in three consistent performances in handicap hurdles last month including a promising display at Thurles when second of 18. One for the each way thieves.

Form: 007-432

Pack Your Bags^p1³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Mark Walsh| T: R Tyner| OR: 88

7/2

The step up to 3m miles seemed to suit last time out when second of 20 beaten 1¾L at Down Royal last month. Worth a market check in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 6837-02

Western Goose¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: J J Slevin⁽³⁾| T: V C Ward| OR: 88| D

12/1

Gallant veteran who is still showing plenty of determination proved by finishing third of 11 beaten 2L last time out at Punchestown last month. Could be on a dangerous mark.

Form: 600753

Goodthynemilan²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: M Browne⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 87

16/1

Well beaten and no impression in five handicap hurdles running between 2m and 2m4f since February and will need to improve here.

Form: 5449-68

Honest Robber³¹²

Age: 12| Weight: 10-3| J: Danny Mullins| T: M Torrens| OR: 86

20/1

Veteran not seen since winning a Down Royal handicap chase for trainer-Joseph Hanlon in January over 3m. May need the run on return to hurdling for new connections.

Form: 044691-

Vellutato⁹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: M J Bolger| T: W J Martin| OR: 89

50/1

Beaten 108L at Tramore in a maiden hurdle in August before being pulled-up at Wexford when losing his action over 2m4f. Conditions a concern and others preferred.

Form: 0040P

Hawk Eye Down^t⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-13| J: Miss J M Cook⁽⁷⁾| T: Paul Power| OR: 82

9/1

In and out form in the point-to-point field before finishing 4L behind Dromore Lad when third of seven at Limerick earlier this month. Worth a market check on second stable start.

Form: 0/F2-313

Vodka Society^h⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-13| J: J M Moore| T: D P Dunne| OR: 82

50/1

Beaten 70L on handicap debut in a Wexford 3 miler on heavy ground in October. Hard to fancy until he shows a hint of ability.

Form: U0-0809

Glen's Dd^h¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: G J Power| OR: 80

33/1

Handicap mark reaching an attractive level but still a maiden after 13 previous attempts and hard to see that statistic being altered even if she does get a run this time.

Form: P-7P606

Mystic Embarr^p⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: A W Short⁽⁷⁾| T: D Broad| OR: 80

25/1

Highlight in a pitiful run of form came at Fairyhouse last month when third of 13 over 2m4f on soft ground. Looks vulnerable in this company.

Form: 699837

Oh'herewego^p⁶⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-11| J: S J Gray⁽³⁾| T: V T O'Brien| OR: 80

25/1

Fifth of 22 over C&D in September beaten just over 9L to Let's Twist Again. Looks a tall order from current mark.

Form: 7R0550

Non-Runners

Turfmans Daughter⁷

Weight: 11-8| Age: 7

T: N Meade J: Sean Flanagan

Forecasts

Pack Your Bags (7/2), The Church Gate (11/2), Glenabo Bridge (6/1), Kickham (7/1), Skellig Rocks (8/1), Hawk Eye Down (9/1), Wee Small Hours (10/1), Western Goose (12/1), Goodthynemilan (16/1), Vanellope (16/1), Honest Robber (20/1), Foreign Bay (20/1), Floramar (22/1), Mystic Embarr (25/1), There Was A Time (25/1), Oh'herewego (25/1), Rossmore's Pride (25/1), Russian Regent (25/1), Turfmans Daughter (25/1), Glen's Dd (33/1), Whatsinthecorner (33/1), Vellutato (50/1), Master Ruffit (50/1), Vodka Society (50/1)

The early pace of Master Ruffit and Wee Small Hours with Glenabo Bridge chasing the leaders could set the race up for the like sof the Gordon Elliott-trained Kickham and the last time out eye-catcher PACK YOUR BAGS who can continue his improvement here in first-time cheekpieces.