18:35 Down Royal

Friday 25 May 2018

All17:3018:0518:3519:0519:3520:0520:35

North Down Marquees Handicap Hurdle (80-95)

Off time: 18:36 | Winning time: 4m 36.9s

Lady Margorie^p⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: Alan Wells| OR: 93

50/1

Beaten a long way in three maiden hurdles so far. Similar story in points prior to that and moves into handicaps for the first time. May struggle to give weight away all round here.

Form: 97665-0

Belle Helene^t¹²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Slevin| T: T J Taaffe| OR: 89

14/1

Failed to get within 30L of the winner in each of her maiden hurdle starts before another heavy defeat on handicap debut. Similar story over C&D last time when well beaten before being pulled up. needs to do much more despite slipping mark.

Form: 109/09P-

Canadian Steel^t1¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny Mullins| T: N C Kelly| OR: 88

25/1

Sent off at 14/1 for yard debut last time but was very keen and pulled away any chance of being involved. Drops in trip here and races off lower mark but needs to settle much better.

Form: 0/F123-P

Don't Be Hasty²⁰³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Lambe| OR: 88

25/1

Had had a terribly disappointing 2017 suffering heavy defeats in five starts and no reason to think improvement is on the horizon.

Form: P/8P000-

Welmeetintheoffice²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: P G Fahey| OR: 88

12/1

Just minor promise shown in bumpers and all three runs over hurdles have been disappointing. Showed a little more at Wexford (2m4f, soft) last time and makes handicap debut this afternoon. This more suitable and market check needed.

Form: 36607-5

Aquarian^b1⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 96

6/1

Didn't cut much ice in maiden hurdles but showed slightly more on handicap debut at Down Patrick (2m5½f, good) last week. Stayed on well that day so this drop in trip not ideal. Blinkers go on for the first time and remains of interest.

Form: 577-05

Authorative^t⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: J M Moore| T: A McCann| OR: 87| D

14/1

Sole success over hurdles (from 27) came at Gowran Park (2m4f, good) back in October 2015. Has toiled in two AW starts this spring before weak effort in a handicap back over hurdles last week. Others more persuasive.

Form: 7/2503-8

Bard Of Armagh^p¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: P E Corbett⁽³⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 86

20/1

Showed a little more here over 2m (good) beind Ejayteekay (runs 6.05) last time when shaping like this extra distance would help. hard to be confident of backing that up but mark is slipping and market check needed.

Form: 609PP-9

Ashbourne Allstar^t⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: C D Maxwell| T: P Rooney| OR: 85

33/1

Beaten a long way on all starts under rules and is very hard to fancy at present even with a move into handicap company off the lowly mark.

Form: PFP/090-

Grey Mountain Mist^p,t⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: E Sheehy| OR: 85| D

9/2

Been in good form over fences and won with authority at Limerick (2m3½f, good) last week. Races off a lower hurdles mark here and a huge player if able to back that form up over the smaller obstacles.

Form: 0061-P1

Juniors Angel^b1³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: P Croke| OR: 85

33/1

Big prices and beaten a long way in three starts in maiden hurdles. Moves into handicap company for the first time and the blinkers go on for the first time. Needs to do more but market check advised.

Form: 95060-

Hide The Biscuit¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: M Torrens| OR: 84

6/1

Been competitive off this sort of mark of late but changing tactics have not really helped. Likely to run her race once again but likely to find one or two of these too good.

Form: 6/4086-6

Redwood Boy^p⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 84| D

7/1

Caused a 33/1 shock at Clonmel (2m3½f, good) last week when seeing the trip out well. Only nudged up 4lbs for that win but is not an obvious type to follow up. Respected all the same.

Form: 05000/1

Zagnzig^h⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: A E Lynch| T: H Smyth| OR: 84| BF

12/1

Very disappointing beaten favourite over C&D last time when reportedly burst blood vessels. Probably best to put a line through that run and it will be interesting to see if the money comes once again. Top rider back on board.

Form: 347548-

Thisonesforollie⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 83

9/1

First signs of improvement at Down Patrick (2m5½f, good) last week when the step up in trip seemed to help. Races off the same mark again today and rider keeps the faith. Should be competitive.

Form: 0/7869-4

Maureen's Star¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr L P Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: L Lennon| OR: 81

20/1

Still a maiden after 14 starts and was well beaten once again at Hexham two week ago. Very hard to make a case for her at present.

Form: 48080-9

Boston Oscar^p1²⁶⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: J S McGarvey| T: D J Barry| OR: 80

25/1

Didn't show a great deal in maiden hurdles but a bit more promise in a couple of runs in handicaps off this mark. Cheekpieces go on and steps up in trip and not discounted, especially if the money comes.

Form: 0070/50-

Forpaddythecaptain^p,t¹⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: Eoin Barry| OR: 80

33/1

Well beaten in all starts under rules so far and very difficult to fancy at present. Best watched until showing much more.

Form: 00/40P0-

Ice Ice Baby^p²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: J B Kane⁽⁵⁾| T: F Oakes| OR: 80

33/1

Is capable off this sort of mark but has been badly out of form. Beaten 79L on return at Clonmel (2m, heavy). Should be better for that run but hard to fancy.

Form: 566/68P-

Oromo^t⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: K Thornton| OR: 80

7/1

Modest flat performer and struggled off this mark on first hurdles run of the year at Clonmel (2m3½f, good) last week. Similar story on the cards here.

Form: 60000-9

Forecasts

Grey Mountain Mist (9/2), Hide The Biscuit (6/1), Aquarian (6/1), Oromo (7/1), Redwood Boy (7/1), Thisonesforollie (9/1), Zagnzig (12/1), Welmeetintheoffice (12/1), Authorative (14/1), Belle Helene (14/1), Maureen's Star (20/1), Bard Of Armagh (20/1), Canadian Steel (25/1), Boston Oscar (25/1), Don't Be Hasty (25/1), Ice Ice Baby (33/1), Forpaddythecaptain (33/1), Ashbourne Allstar (33/1), Juniors Angel (33/1), Lady Margorie (50/1)

Competitive stuff despite the low grade. Weelmeetintheoffice, Aquarian and Thisonesforollie are all on the shortlist. Market support for Juniors Angel on handicap debut with the blinkers on should be noted. Preference is for GREY MOUNTAIN MIST who has been winning off higher marks over fences and can take advantage of the lower hurdles mark.