13:20 Gowran Park

Thursday 25 January 2018

All12:5013:2013:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle (80-102)

Off time: 13:22 | Winning time: 4m 32.80s

Ard Na Carraig^t,v1⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr J W Reilly⁽⁷⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 99

8/1

Improved performance last time out when finishing second of 18 beaten 2L in a Thurles handicap hurdle over this trip. Worth a market check in first-time visor.

Form: 350062

Peculiar Genius²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: D Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: P Nolan| OR: 99| D

7/1

Well beaten and no impression looking one-paced in last three hurdle efforts and can continue improvement again here.

Form: 475-6P1

Wings Like Arion^p1²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 97

7/1

Not a lot to shout about in three maiden hurdles since December but the mare is better than those performances. Market check advised on handicap debut in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 692056

Pound A Stroke^p³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: K J Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: E McCarthy| OR: 94| D

15/2

Has produced a number of solid and consistent efforts in recent months winning a Thurles handicap hurdle in November before a game effort at Down Royal next time out over this trip on St Stephens Day.

Form: 070012

The Ballyboys^b²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: B J Foley⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hackett| OR: 93

15/2

Put a string of gloomy performances behind him when winning a Limerick handicap hurdle when not unfancied last month. May struggle off a 6lb higher mark but the market may once again be the best guide.

Form: 045701

Belle Helene^t²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: J J Slevin| T: T J Taaffe| OR: 92

20/1

Failed to get within 30L of the winner in each of her maiden hurdle starts before another heavy defeat on handicap debut finishing 60L behind Urbanist at Punchestown last month. Another torrid time looks on the cards here.

Form: 109-09

Miracle Cure¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Robbie Colgan| T: P T Flavin| OR: 91

33/1

Distance winner who is slipping down the ratings but has suffered a number of heavy defeats since October and difficult to make a case for in this contest.

Form: 833087

Wild Sam¹¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: A E Lynch| T: S Ryan| OR: 91

16/1

Not seen since finishing third of 13 beaten 14L at Gowran Park in September following a couple of heavy defeats. Will need to improve to figure.

Form: 0/5280-3

Coole Craft^b¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Brian Hayes| T: R Donohoe| OR: 89| D

11/1

Experienced hurdler who has been solid and consistent in his last two starts without winning including finishing second of 10 last time out earlier this month. Deserves a change of luck.

Form: 076832

Getaway Rose^b³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: D J Mullins| T: Ms M Mullins| OR: 88

7/1

Improving type who was in the process of running a big race when parting company with the rider two out at Fairyhouse before running a disappointing race at Leopardstown over 2m2f. Takes another drop in trip here.

Form: 6906U7

Dundeedy Lad¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Tyner| OR: 86

7/1

Well beaten and no impression in four starts this season, including a fall last time out and looks to be below of what is required in this.

Form: 90-700F

Ballea Fox⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: D E Splaine| T: S Spillane| OR: 85

33/1

Tailed off on last two starts over hurdles and needs to step up considerably now sent handicapping. May find this a tough assignment.

Form: 7-00

Glen's Dd^h¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: D P Holden⁽⁷⁾| T: G J Power| OR: 81

10/1

Big improvement on last start when second of 11 beaten 4¾L in a Punchestown handicap hurdle over 2m on St Stephens Day before well beaten 14½L last time out despite finishing third of 14 but has place claims.

Form: 606023

Streak⁶⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: B J Cooper| T: T Mullins| OR: 81

25/1

Made a winning debut over 1m at Lingfield as a two-year-old but failed to score since and rated just 45 on the Flat at present. Modest hurdler.

Form: P08P08

Analyse That^p⁵⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 10-5| J: Miss S Ahern⁽⁷⁾| T: S Aherne| OR: 80

33/1

Has failed to finish his last two starts on a lenient mark but a very risky option when the full picture is considered.

Form: 7P85PP

Shantelle^b⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: A W Short⁽⁷⁾| T: R Donohoe| OR: 80

33/1

Maiden after 13 starts but put in one of her better efforts when finishing sixth over 2m at Thurles in November before a 41L defeat last month. Requires a chunk of improvement to figure here.

Form: 590P69

Callthebarman^t²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: J B Kane⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 93

16/1

Not a lot to shout about in two maiden hurdles at Gowran Park and Fairyhouse earlier this month before a second-rate effort on handicap debut at Limerick over Christmas.

Form: 6078

Forecasts

Wings Like Arion (7/1), Peculiar Genius (7/1), Dundeedy Lad (7/1), Getaway Rose (7/1), The Ballyboys (15/2), Pound A Stroke (15/2), Ard Na Carraig (8/1), Glen's Dd (10/1), Coole Craft (11/1), Wild Sam (16/1), Callthebarman (16/1), Belle Helene (20/1), Streak (25/1), Shantelle (33/1), Miracle Cure (33/1), Ballea Fox (33/1), Analyse That (33/1)

Pound A Stroke could be the one to take the field along at a steady pace in the early stages of this competitive contest with Ard Na Carraig and Coole Craft for company. The early leaders could well set the race up for a prominent type in the shape of PECULIAR GENIUS from the Paul Nolan stable or the last time out third Glenn's DD.