14:10 Navan

Saturday 20 January 2018

All12:2513:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:50

Thank You For Your Service Johanna McGarry Handicap Hurdle (80-109)

Off time: 14:11 | Winning time: 5m 48.8s

Smokey Joe Joe^t¹⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-10| J: D F O'Regan| T: S J Mahon| OR: 107| D

6/1

Wonderful servant to the yard that bounced back to form over fences when successful at Cork last time. Better in that sphere, hence the reduced mark here, but hard to rule out in such good nick, and conditions fine.

Form: P-7P0F1

Tornado Watch¹³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: D J Mullins| T: E Mullins| OR: 104

8/1

First run for new yard, had found some form for previous trainer with runner-up spots at Cartmel and Hexham but hardly thrown in here and although he acts on soft, questionable he wants in this deep. Others make more appeal.

Form: 6000-22

Lisclogher Lad²³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: D P Holden⁽⁷⁾| T: S G Walsh| OR: 103

20/1

Conditions fine and straws to cling to are that he ran well over C&D here (fences) last April and is well handicapped, but form has taken a major turn for the worse and he's hard to fancy at present.

Form: 2-67UUP

Swingbridge^b,t¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 103

8/1

Normally attracts plenty of money (gone off fav 5 of last 6 runs) and did win back-to-back handicap chases in the summer last year, but handicapper does look in charge at present and change of headgear again today.

Form: 112463

Fruits Of Glory^h,t²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: C D Timmons⁽³⁾| T: E Cawley| OR: 102

20/1

Coming down the handicap after series of moderate efforts but hard to see where the necessary improvement is coming from today.

Form: 570-7F9

Chesterfield King²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 104

11/1

Not disgraced in a couple of maiden hurdles but some moderate efforts surround them, and he pulled up no trees on his handicap debut last month. Upped in trip here and although early days, he needs some improvement from somewhere.

Form: 528548

The Comediologist^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 100

14/1

Beaten twice at short prices in bumpers, only moderate form over hurdles so far although did a little better last time and is on a fair handicap mark for debut in the sphere today. Likely improver and as such, given plenty of respect here.

Form: 4/478-3

Carrigeen Acebo^h⁴⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Miss E A Lalor⁽⁵⁾| T: R H Lalor| OR: 99

16/1

Multiple point-to-point winner, lightly raced for his age and did run well in a better race (over fences) than this here last year. Not totally disgraced last time and this is a low-looking mark, so may go better than odds likely to imply.

Form: 46-0494

Wee Small Hours^t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: D J Hand⁽⁷⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 97| D

6/1

Has been running with a degree of consistency, which counts for something here, and hit the frame in a similar contest at Fairyhouse last time. Ground fine, drop back in trip no great problem and could be taking a medal of some colour home again.

Form: 625443

Glenabo Bridge^t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 95| C

9/2

Can be a bit keen, but did nothing wrong when a winner here in December, beating a big field. Handicapper reacted to that and wasn't so good latest, so needs to bounce back, but course form gives hope he can.

Form: 7-43215

Black Ice^h²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: I J McCarthy| T: J Feane| OR: 94

33/1

Going nowhere quickly at present and well beaten off most recent starts. Hard to make any sort of case for and others readily preferred.

Form: P446-00

Irish Mustard^p²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: D J McInerney⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Colville| OR: 87

8/1

Lightly raced, wasn't showing much until doing better when runner-up at Limerick latest, although still well beaten at the finish. Stayed on over 3m there, so drop back in trip possibly not ideal, but chances if going forward all the same.

Form: 00007-2

Pump Road^p¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: J G Lonergan| OR: 87

10/1

Did the job nicely at Tramore on New Year's Day, traveling well and winning with a bit in hand. Cheekpieces on there seemed to do the trick, so every chance of more improvement, and with conditions fine, looks a big player again.

Form: 006541

Rock On Barney^p⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: E T Daly⁽⁷⁾| T: G T Lynch| OR: 87

12/1

Put a run of dreadful efforts behind him when equipped with cheekpieces at Clonmel last time, winning with a bit in hand (not unbacked). Heavy ground fine and if he can repeat the dose, 7lb rise won't stop him.

Form: P0PPP1

Spancil Hill²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: M A Enright| T: M J McDonagh| OR: 85

12/1

Just the one win in 22 starts. recent form nothing to write home about either and all in all looks an unlikely winner.

Form: P1-44P6

Boston Babe^t²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: D J Barry| OR: 83

33/1

Getting beaten big distances at the moment and hard to see where the necessary improvement is coming from here.

Form: P078-00

Pitore^v1¹⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: C A Landers⁽⁷⁾| T: I Madden| OR: 80

50/1

The visor is reached for after some dreadful efforts and he's hard to construct any sort of case for in current frame of mind.

Form: P00-UPP

Forecasts

Glenabo Bridge (9/2), Wee Small Hours (6/1), Smokey Joe Joe (6/1), Swingbridge (8/1), Tornado Watch (8/1), Irish Mustard (8/1), Pump Road (10/1), Chesterfield King (11/1), Spancil Hill (12/1), Rock On Barney (12/1), The Comediologist (14/1), Carrigeen Acebo (16/1), Fruits Of Glory (20/1), Lisclogher Lad (20/1), Boston Babe (33/1), Black Ice (33/1), Pitore (50/1)

Not many come into this with much of a solid profile. Down the foot of the handicap, last time out winners Pump Road and Rock On Barney would both hold solid chances if able to reproduce their latest efforts, but a flyer is taken on CARRIGEEN ACEBO, who has little recent form to speak of but might be on a very good mark on his handicap hurdle debut today. If he can translate some of his chase form then he is capable of causing a surprise, with conditions in his favour. Irish Mustard and Tornado Watch both have question marks over the trip but do bring some decent form into the race.