16:25 Naas

Friday 13 April 2018

All13:3514:1014:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

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Off time: 16:26 | Winning time: 2m 28.94s

(10)

Tony The Gent¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: Sean Davis⁽⁵⁾| T: G M Lyons| OR: 91

7/1

Never involved when finishing down the field on his seasonal reappearance over 1m here last month. Tries this trip for the first time since October 2016 (runner up), and whilst feasibly treated has rather gone off the boil since last summer.

Form: 74103-0

(7)

Sandstorming¹³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: S Neville| OR: 84| BF| D

14/1

Had a brief experiment with hurdling in early December, making just a single start at Fairyhouse. A cosy winner over 1m2f at Bellewstown (good) in July 2017, but the underfoot conditions today appear troublesome.

Form: 42/1513-

(6)

The Graduate^p¹²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: O J Orr⁽³⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 81

20/1

Cost 100,000 gns in October 2016 as a four time winner for Andrew Balding. Disappointing over hurdles for this trainer but less tested on the Flat and 9lb lower than in the Cesarewitch Trial at Newmarket in September (ninth).

Form: 6119/90-

(11)

Ontheiflist^t,v¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Chris Hayes| T: H Rogers| OR: 80| D

6/1

Just 1/19 during his career (1/16 on the Flat), but his success did come over this trip on heavy ground at Roscommon in August 2017. Made a fair return to action when finishing sixth of 20 over 1m here last month.

Form: 35125-6

(4)

Our Channel^h²⁸⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: Wayne Lordan| T: Miss A Mooney| OR: 74| D

25/1

Not a shadow of the horse who took the Listed Magnolia Stakes at Kempton for William Haggas in March 2016 and absent since July 2017, he's impossible to fancy despite a plunging mark.

Form: 855070-

(5)

St Gallen⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Colin Keane| T: J J Murphy| OR: 74

9/2

Not won since May 2016 (1m good, Killarney), but beaten just over 4L when finishing fifth of 14 to Adieux at Dundalk in January (1m2f+).

Form: 24864-5

(8)

Balanced Approach¹⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: K J Manning| T: B W Duke| OR: 73

16/1

New Approach gelding who is a five race maiden. Has left Jim Bolger for just €5,000 since his last start at Gowran Park in October. Handicap debut.

Form: 65/449-

(2)

Hyperdrive^t²⁰⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 73| D

4/1

Kicked off last season in rude health (2,1,1), but has risen by 11lb in the handicap since scoring at Limerick (1m3f+) in April 2017. Fine over this trip, but well beaten by today's rival Ontheiflist at Roscommon in late August.

Form: 110230-

(9)

Curley Bill⁶⁹²

Age: 10| Weight: 8-8| J: Shane Foley| T: N Meade| OR: 70

11/2

Flat, bumper and hurdles winner for this trainer, but hasn't seen a racecourse for fast approaching two years (May 2016). Hard to know what to expect, but his trainer perseveres for now. Will need further than 1m2f.

Form: 12145/

(3)

Harvey Specter¹⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: Killian Leonard⁽³⁾| T: R Donohoe| OR: 66

4/1

Solid towards the back-end of the previous campaign after winning at Tipperary in September 2017 (1m1f soft to heavy). Chance off this revised mark if returning in similar form.

Form: 741725-

(1)

King Christophe^b⁴⁰⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-4| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁵⁾| T: R K Watson| OR: 66

20/1

Hadn't won for approaching two years, until scoring at Dundalk for Nicole McKenna in March 2017 (1m2f+). Not seen competitively since and returns for stable debut (first Flat turf start since October 2016) for a yard known for a tilt in the ring.

Form: 048201-

Forecasts

Harvey Specter (4/1), Hyperdrive (4/1), St Gallen (9/2), Curley Bill (11/2), Ontheiflist (6/1), Tony The Gent (7/1), Sandstorming (14/1), Balanced Approach (16/1), King Christophe (20/1), The Graduate (20/1), Our Channel (25/1)

An open looking handicap in which Harvey Specter merits consideration if returning in the same sort of shape as last back-end. Hyperdrive was beaten by Ontheiflist at Roscommon in late August, so shouldn't be able to reverse those placings despite enjoying a productive spell this time last season. That rival isn't a frequent winner, but should build upon last month's course comeback (1m). However, this looks the type of race tailor-made for a market plunge and both The Graduate and KING CHRISTOPHE appeal as likely types. The selection returns from over 12 months off the track, but has a paper-weight too carry and is strong in the stamina department.