15:50 Down Royal

Wednesday 31 January 2018

All13:0513:4014:1014:4515:2015:5016:25

Bet With The Tote Handicap Hurdle (80-116)

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 5m 37.00s

Westerners Son¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 115

9/1

Reverting to hurdles failed to reignite any spark last time out in a Thurles handicap hurdle earlier this month beaten 70L. Tough ask here.

Form: 13P0-P6

Our Boy Boru²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Robbie Colgan| T: J Woods| OR: 114

5/1

One from eight over timber the sole win coming in September 2016 but he is better than his 36L defeat last time out earlier this month in the Munster hurdle at Clonmel. Looks a tall order on form shown.

Form: 132-463

Seskinane³⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr E Mahon⁽⁷⁾| T: B McMahon| OR: 112| D

16/1

Distance winner who has been consistent in his finishing positions but has been beaten a long way on recent starts. Looks to be regressing in his veteran years.

Form: 653330

Apache Jack^v¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: A E Lynch| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 110| D

13/2

Once rated 149 in his pomp but is clearly regressing and has generally struggled of late but can have his say in this company.

Form: 3P0944

Colwinston^t³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: R Loughran| T: Miss S Barkley| OR: 106

7/1

Ran well in a couple of maiden hurdles in the spring but held in three outings since returning to action and probably best watched.

Form: 724-574

Our Valentina^p1³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: J J Slevin| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 106| BF| D

9/1

2m Navan winner in April who has found further improvement since switched to handicaps, and was a winner of a Class 2 contest over this trip at Carlisle last month. Can go well here.

Form: 315-415

Illuminati⁴⁶⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: A W Short⁽⁷⁾| T: N C Kelly| OR: 102

33/1

Has disappointed connections in a series of drab performances including finishing last of 22 beaten 78L. Very little to be positive about.

Form: 15097/0-

Urbanist^p²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Donagh Meyler| T: S Nolan| OR: 89

7/4

Much improved performances in three handicap hurdles since running here on St Stephens day winning at Punchestown before finishing a neck behind the impressive Mick The Boyo who has gone on to win again. Bold show looks on the cards.

Form: 060612

Swift⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: M A Enright| T: J W Nicholson| OR: 85| D

7/1

Distance winner but totally outclassed in two career chase beaten a total of 56L. Will need significant improvement to figure.

Form: 872000

Forecasts

Urbanist (7/4), Our Boy Boru (5/1), Apache Jack (13/2), Swift (7/1), Colwinston (7/1), Westerners Son (9/1), Our Valentina (9/1), Seskinane (16/1), Illuminati (33/1)

Swift is the most likely to take the field along as the flag drops here with Our Boy Boru and Apache Jack possibly the pair giving chase in behind. The form of URBANIST looks pretty solid here given his win at Punchestown last month and his second to subsequent winner Mick The Boyo at Naas. Our Valentina and Apache Jack can give the selection the most to think about.