19:10 Roscommon

Tuesday 8 May 2018

All17:4018:1018:4019:1019:4020:1020:40

Knockcroghery Handicap (50-85)

Off time: 19:11 | Winning time: 2m 51.94s

(1)

Brazos¹⁸⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Shane Foley| T: J J Murphy| OR: 84| D

11/2

Winner over this distance in one of his three starts season. Improvement possible and racing back over this trip a major positive.

Form: 417-

(7)

Curley Bill²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 9-7| J: Colin Keane| T: N Meade| OR: 77| D

9/4

Came off a break of two years to win a Naas handicap on soft to heavy ground over 1m2f last month. Capable of running a big race again.

Form: 12145/1

(9)

Nanabad²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Dylan Hogan⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Fahey| OR: 75

20/1

Heavy ground maiden winner at Gowran in 2016 but not won since and has struggled in two races at Cork and Leopardstown this season. Plenty to find on recent offerings.

Form: 6407-59

(11)

Emperor Waltz^t¹⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: N G McCullagh| T: J J Murphy| OR: 74

33/1

Pulled up when last seen on hurdling debut in December. Failed to build on a win at Killarney in August well beaten in his two following starts. Looks opposable.

Form: 7/71700-

(3)

Ace Of Diamonds^h⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Declan McDonogh| T: D K Weld| OR: 73| BF

11/1

Will have disappointed connections in a number of ineffective displays last season and still looks out of sorts based on two starts this season at Leopardstown and Clonmel earlier this month.

Form: 4600-83

(12)

Bianca Minola³^{(ex 6)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Billy Lee| T: R O'Brien| OR: 65| D

11/4

Looked to win cosily on seasonal bow in a Cork handicap on soft to heavy ground on Saturday. Quickly turned out and one to consider if in same form.

Form: 03147-1

(2)

Eastern Dragon^p³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁵⁾| T: M Torrens| OR: 69

66/1

Modest handicapper in the 2017 season for trainer-Iain Jardine and was being pushed along before the 5f marker on seasonal and stable debut at Navan last month. One to avoid for the moment.

Form: 56878-0

(10)

Boom Or Bush¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Chris Hayes| T: H Rogers| OR: 68

9/1

Beaten in third before the final furlong eventually fading to fifth of 10 beaten 5¼L on first start of the season at Navan last month. Consistent enough last season to give him another chance here.

Form: 1S226-5

(16)

Nightly Wailing^v²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Rory Cleary| T: T Cleary| OR: 68

33/1

Won a Dundalk handicap over 2m on the AW last month but difficult to see the colt transferring that form to turf in this contest.

Form: 30804-1

(14)

Long Call^t²⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A J Martin| OR: 67

14/1

Has been left toiling on the Flat and over timber in a number of inadequate runs last year. Seven race maiden on the Flat but worth a market check from 'wily' yard.

Form: 64423/0-

(8)

Masterofdiscovery¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Wayne Lordan| T: M J Smith| OR: 66

50/1

Henrythenavigator gelding formerly trained by Clive Cox, tailed off at Leopardstown before a similar story at Limerick in two seasonal starts to forget.

Form: 5350-00

(6)

Mystique Heights^t1⁴¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Ronan Whelan| T: L Comer| OR: 66| BF

25/1

Beaten favourite when last seen on the Flat for trainer Sir Mark Prescott in a Chelmsford handicap over 6f. Hurdling for new connections since without any success. Market likely to reveal expectations in first-time tongue tie.

Form: 521212/

(4)

Bobby Jean^t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-6| J: Leigh Roche| T: Miss T L Cogan| OR: 62| BF

20/1

Pushed along before three out and not quickening 2f out when sent of the 5/1 joint favourite last month in a Limerick 1m handicap. Hard to fancy with last win on the Flat coming two years ago.

Form: 6233/0-8

(13)

Dandy Dude^t⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: Killian Leonard⁽³⁾| T: K H Clarke| OR: 60

33/1

Well beaten on the AW at Dundalk this year and nothing of any note in six starts on the Flat last season for a gelding now racing 10lb lower than opening mark last season.

Form: 4470-08

(15)

Mistiness²²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-4| J: Sean Davis⁽⁵⁾| T: K H Clarke| OR: 60

25/1

Plundered a Hamilton handicap in June last year subsequently well beaten in two starts over similar distance. One to follow despite what happens in this contest.

Form: 551169-

Non-Runners

(5)

Hyperdrive²⁵

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: Mrs J Harrington J: C O'Donoghue

Forecasts

Curley Bill (9/4), Bianca Minola (11/4), Brazos (11/2), Boom Or Bush (9/1), Ace Of Diamonds (11/1), Hyperdrive (12/1), Long Call (14/1), Nanabad (20/1), Bobby Jean (20/1), Mystique Heights (25/1), Mistiness (25/1), Emperor Waltz (33/1), Dandy Dude (33/1), Nightly Wailing (33/1), Masterofdiscovery (50/1), Eastern Dragon (66/1)

Eastern Dragon, Bobby Jean and Long Call have all won on heavy ground but the trio come here with plenty of question marks against them so it may pay to side with a few in form with victory's in the conditions, notably the age-defying Curley Bill winner last time out but will have to burden a 7lb rise in the weights. Bianca Minola held on well to win on seasonal debut and is worthy of consideration as is the likable BRAZOS who's races have produced multiple winners and will relish a return to this trip.