21:05 Leopardstown

Thursday 14 June 2018

All18:0018:3019:0519:3520:0520:3521:05

Leopardstown Members (Q.R.) Maiden

Off time: 21:05 | Winning time: 3m 23.01s

(8)

Ard Na Carraig^t,v⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr J W Reilly⁽⁷⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 61

50/1

Runner-up in a 1m5f handicap here last season, and has run well on occasion over hurdles in the interim, albeit at a modest level. Others stronger on return to this discipline.

Form: 068/026-

(1)

Blackhall^t²³³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr S F O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: M P Sunderland| OR: 52

66/1

Lightly raced in recent times, and not shown anything since finishing fourth in a 1m handicap at Limerick in October 2016.

Form: 47940/0-

(11)

Fontainbleau^p¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr S Cavanagh⁽⁷⁾| T: S Donohoe| OR: 48

66/1

Showed first form when head second of 10 to Las Tunas in handicap at Ayr last time on firm ground, but that was a low-grade affair, and he needs to improve markedly to feature here.

Form: 09980-2

(7)

Great Trango^b,t1¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: D H Kelly| OR: 75

11/2

Fairly useful maiden on balance of form, and repeat of 2 lengths third of 13 to St Stephens Green in handicap at the Curragh last time would see him go close here. Tongue tie added to usual blinkers now.

Form: 242-323

(3)

Guido Reni^t1¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr J C Barry⁽⁵⁾| T: K Thornton| OR: 68

33/1

Winner of a low-grade handicap hurdle at Tipperary last month, but well held turned out quickly on latest start, and tongue tie fitted for return to flat now. Hard to weigh up.

Form: 3/65650-

(9)

Mount Beckham²²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr C J Orr⁽⁷⁾| T: C Cannon

40/1

Placed over fences at Fairyhouse and Hexham last year, but not seen in public since November, and hard to be confident about his chances on belated flat debut.

Form:

(10)

Nessun Dorma³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins

6/4

Winner over hurdles at Gowran last summer, and highly tried thereafter. Not knocked about on sole start in this sphere in 2016, and open to significant improvement, so looks the one to beat.

Form: 0/

(14)

Quare Handy⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Miss D Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: D Cullen

66/1

Well held in a point and pulled up in a hunter chase on rules bow, so makes scant appeal at this level.

Form:

(13)

Top Othe Ra³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr F Maguire⁽³⁾| T: T Mullins

10/1

Useful four-time winner over hurdles, and not discredited on belated flat debut at Tipperary last month. Should build on that, and one to consider with excellent rider booked.

Form: 4

(6)

Verney Boy^b1³⁵⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr T J Beattie⁽⁷⁾| T: N Cassidy| OR: 43

66/1

Not much better than poor on balance of form, and well held after an absence on sole 2017 start. Blinkered now after another break, and makes limited appeal.

Form: 5004/7-

(4)

Ask Susan¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr N Moore⁽⁷⁾| T: J W Nicholson

7/1

Better effort on flat when fourth to Max Dynamite at Killarney last summer, and back to winning ways when taking a maiden chase at Tramore recently. In form, and shortlisted.

Form: 42-

(2)

Awayinthewest¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: R Deegan⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Fahy

9/4

Bumper winner who has shown only poor form in two flat starts, but off the mark over hurdles late last month, and no forlorn hop on that showing.

Form: 85-

Non-Runners

(12)

Kildorrery⁵⁴

Weight: 11-7| Age: 5

T: T M Walsh J: Mr M J Stenson

(5)

Drakaina²⁸

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: Paul Power J: Miss J M Cook

Forecasts

Nessun Dorma (6/4), Awayinthewest (9/4), Great Trango (11/2), Ask Susan (7/1), Top Othe Ra (10/1), Kildorrery (25/1), Drakaina (25/1), Guido Reni (33/1), Mount Beckham (40/1), Ard Na Carraig (50/1), Fontainbleau (66/1), Verney Boy (66/1), Quare Handy (66/1), Blackhall (66/1)

NESSUN DORMA is a useful hurdler, and looks the way to go with his sights lowered back on the flat, and he is preferred to another talented timber-topper in the shape of Top Othe Ra. Ask Susan and Great Trango are the pick of the field on Flat form, and should also play a part.