16:20 Gowran Park

Saturday 17 February 2018

All13:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:55

Live Music After Racing Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 5m 49.10s

Call The Taxie^p²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: Miss Ellmarie Holden| OR: 125| D

5/1

Has failed to complete in his last two chase starts but is not totally dismissed returning to hurdles where he is a distance winner.

Form: 1-135FP

Captainofthefleet²³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: E O'Connell⁽⁷⁾| T: E O'Connell| OR: 117

25/1

The last of his four hurdles wins was in March 2015 from 15lb higher and well beaten on his last three hurdle appearances. Impossible to construct a case for the gelding here.

Form: 420-007

Graineyhill^p1¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 117| D

5/2

Winner of two of his last three starts and now races off a 26lb higher mark than his first win. Capable of more improvement in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 683121

Peace N' Milan²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: C J Maher⁽⁷⁾| T: F J Flood| OR: 117| CD

3/1

Had shown relatively little in four starts since winning back-to-back handicap hurdles in February and March of last year before landing a 10/1 shock over C&D last month. Needs to continue improvement off a 8lb higher mark.

Form: 1-0P831

Rightdownthemiddle³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 117| D

10/1

Distance winner but badly out of form recently and looks to be regressing in the twilight of his career. Looks opposable.

Form: P780P6

Laid Back Luke^p⁷¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Robbie Colgan| T: S Lavery| OR: 115| C| D

14/1

Won here on the Flat in October over 1m6f but has been well beaten since including on two occasions over the larger obstacles. Has work to do based on current form.

Form: 4241-4P

Toushan^b1³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: R Loughran| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 111| CD

12/1

Reverts to hurdles in first-time blinkers following a number of chase outings including a win at Limerick over Christmas. Place claims in this company.

Form: 03FF-18

Aa Bee See⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Mark Walsh| T: N Madden| OR: 110| D

5/1

A winner on the Flat two starts ago and went close on his return to hurdles at Navan in November before a well deserved win in a Punchestown handicap hurdle in December. Up 7lb for that effort but unlikely to be inconvenienced.

Form: 61-0421

Letter Of Credit¹⁶⁶

Age: 13| Weight: 10-6| J: A E Lynch| T: V T O'Brien| OR: 105| C

7/1

Veteran who possibly found the hustle and bustle of the 17-runner Galway handicap hurdle too much before an improved display last time out at Roscommon. 9th of 17 in this contest last year and unlikely to fare much better here.

Form: F99-343

Forecasts

Graineyhill (5/2), Peace N' Milan (3/1), Call The Taxie (5/1), Aa Bee See (5/1), Letter Of Credit (7/1), Rightdownthemiddle (10/1), Toushan (12/1), Laid Back Luke (14/1), Captainofthefleet (25/1)

Laid Back Luke is likely to take the field along here in the early stages with Call The Taxie, Graineyhill and Rightdownthemiddle chasing in behind. AA BEE SEE can continue in the form that saw him win in December over this trip and is unlikely to inconvenienced by the 7lb extra in this company as another bold show looks likely at the expense of Graineyhill and Peace N' Milan.