21:00 Dundalk

Friday 15 December 2017

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

Fundraising Made Easy At Dundalk Handicap (45-75)

Off time: 21:02 | Winning time: 2m 14.64s

(10)

Lusis Naturea^p1³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: C D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: Eoin Barry| OR: 73| CD

16/1

Back to back C&D wins early in 2016 but not added to them since. Showed little over hurdles so back on the level now but below par so far. Handicap is of appeal if he retains all ability.

Form: 6559-09

(9)

Trendsetter^t1³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: S Foley| T: B Cawley| OR: 73

28/1

This on the sharp side for this four-time winner at up to 1m6f in Britain on his stable debut.

Form: 596090

(6)

Dancing Doll⁸⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: O J Orr⁽³⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 72| BF| C

4/1

Beaten just a head last time out over 1m4f here yet on a lower mark today. Had a break and probably better over further but too well handicapped to ignore.

Form: 01-3462

(11)

Edification⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: W J Lee| T: R P McNamara| OR: 72

33/1

No surprise he hasn't stayed over hurdles given the pick of his flat form is at 7f. This trip also raises doubts now back on the level.

Form: 2/06-204

(7)

Long Journey Home^p,t⁴⁷⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-11| J: K K Hennessy⁽⁵⁾| T: R Sweeney| OR: 71| CD

33/1

Fell over hurdles in final start and presumably was injured given his subsequent 16 month absence. Enormous leap of faith now required.

Form: 08108/1-

(4)

Vastonea^v²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-11| J: M L Melia⁽¹⁰⁾| T: K Prendergast| OR: 71

20/1

Six-time winner has seen his mark slide heavily of late but his latest fourth here where he charged home for fourth was encouraging and back over more ideal trip he looks a contender.

Form: 977874

(14)

Sharjah^b⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: A J Slattery⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 70| CD

25/1

Good record here but out of form of late even at this his favourite venue and drawn on the extreme outside.

Form: 736609

(13)

Specific Gravity^b¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: Ronan Whelan| T: A McGuinness| OR: 70| CD

16/1

Six-time course winner but recent form below par. Handicap mark is now well within his compass if he retains most of his ability but draw makes life tougher.

Form: 616538

(3)

Bay of St Malo⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Rory Cleary| T: L Comer| OR: 68

66/1

Only two runs over 1m2f were in 2016 but she appeared not to stay so that a big worry. Well beaten on return here latest over 1m so enough doubts to look elsewhere.

Form: 34755-0

(8)

Tropic Thunder^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: C J McGovern⁽⁵⁾| T: A McCann| OR: 68| CD

2/1

Won both starts for this yard, both over C&D. 7lb higher today but could continue to progress so looks the one they all have to beat.

Form: 307011

(5)

Try Again⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁵⁾| T: P W Flynn| OR: 68| C

11/1

Ran well latest when fourth here over 1m off the same mark beaten just 1¼L. Previous efforts beyond 1m often looked to stretch him and this farthest he's ever been asked to go.

Form: 536604

(12)

Il Piccolo Grande⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 67

6/1

Worth another go at this trip (mostly raced over 1m) and off this mark any repeat of his Navan win in October would give him an excellent chance. Below par here since however.

Form: 059818

(2)

Sleepy Head^h³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: P J Smullen| T: P J Flynn| OR: 65| CD

4/1

Completed a double latest when beating professional loser Weightfordave over C&D. Only 2lb added to her burden here so looks a leading player once again.

Form: 821311

(1)

Raven Banner⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: C P Hoban| T: Christian Delcros| OR: 62

50/1

Dual Haydock winner was completely tailed-off on stable debut, her lone race of 2017 last month. Hard to fancy at present.

Form: 51664-0

Result Amended

Lusis Naturea - Original Position 11th. Amended Position 10th.

Trendsetter - Original Position 9th. Amended Position 8th.

Dancing Doll - Original Position 5th. Amended Position 13th.

Edification - Original Position 8th. Amended Position 7th.

Vastonea - Original Position 10th. Amended Position 9th.

Bay of St Malo - Original Position 7th. Amended Position 6th.

Il Piccolo Grande - Original Position 13th. Amended Position 12th.

Sleepy Head - Original Position 6th. Amended Position 5th.

Raven Banner - Original Position 12th. Amended Position 11th.

Non-Runners

Dandy Dude¹¹⁷

Weight: 8-13| Age: 4

T: K H Clarke J: Reserve 1

Polymnia⁷

Weight: 8-12| Age: 4

T: E U Hales J: Reserve 2

Cresendo⁴⁹

Weight: 8-12| Age: 4

T: G P Cromwell J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Tropic Thunder (2/1), Sleepy Head (4/1), Dancing Doll (4/1), Il Piccolo Grande (6/1), Try Again (11/1), Polymnia (12/1), Cresendo (14/1), Specific Gravity (16/1), Lusis Naturea (16/1), Vastonea (20/1), Sharjah (25/1), Dandy Dude (25/1), Trendsetter (28/1), Edification (33/1), Long Journey Home (33/1), Raven Banner (50/1), Bay of St Malo (66/1)

Hat-trick seekers TROPIC THUNDER and Sleepy Head make plenty of appeal with both in great form and open to more improvement. The form of the former keeps working out better and better so he gets the nod. Vastonea is another considered after noted late progress last time over an inadequate trip.