19:45 Fairyhouse

Friday 15 June 2018

All17:4018:1018:4019:1519:4520:2020:50

La Bucca Restaurants Handicap (50-80)

Off time: 19:45 | Winning time: 1m 29.8s

(7)

Mokhalad²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Sean Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: D English| OR: 80| D

8/1

Winner over 5½f in a Navan handicap in April before finding a 5lb penalty at the Curragh too much last month when beaten over 6L finishing 11th of 13. Plenty to prove off top weight here.

Form: 924710

(9)

Fit For Function¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Gary Carroll| T: J G Murphy| OR: 79| C| D

9/2

Course winner that has also won over this trip and was a winner last time out in a Listowel handicap over 6½f earlier this month. Enters calculations again off a 5lb higher mark.

Form: 5000-71

(8)

Ahlan Bil Zain¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: C P Hoban| T: M Halford| OR: 77

25/1

80-rated Flat handicapper for David Simcock before two shocking hurdle displays for new connections last month. Seventh of 13 beaten over 6L on return to the level last time out and plenty to prove here.

Form: 73434-7

(12)

Nothing To Lose³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: R P Downey⁽³⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 77| C| D

12/1

Course winner who has also won over the distance but failed to build on a pleasing seasonal debut at Leopardstown when finishing eighth of 12 in a disappointing 14L defeat at the Curragh last month over 1m. Worth a market check.

Form: 1318-48

(2)

Ducky Mallon²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Rory Cleary| T: D Kinsella| OR: 74| D

10/1

Distance winner who was well beaten on seasonal debut in a Leopardstown handicap over this trip last month when 10th of 16. Now 4lb lower than last winning mark but will have to improve here.

Form: 70370-0

(6)

Arbourfield^v¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Chris Hayes| T: Mrs P Dobbs| OR: 73| D

8/1

Third of 18 in this race 12 months ago and distance winner of Gowran Park handicap on good to firm ground beaten 13 rivals by ½L last month. Raised 6lb for that win and entitled to make the shortlist here.

Form: 425301

(4)

Ice Cold In Alex^t⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: N G McCullagh| T: K J Condon| OR: 73

7/1

Ran well to finish sixth of 18 beaten 2L behind the likable Dance Alone earlier this month at Leopardstown. Could be of interest given his last two promising starts.

Form: 230-026

(14)

Wexford Opera¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 73| D

8/1

Distance winner of a Gowran Park handicap this time last year. Generally well beaten since over a variety of trips. Has the form over 7f to make a bold bid now 7lb lower than last winning mark.

Form: 15/90-77

(1)

Flawlessly⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Ronan Whelan| T: S Lavery| OR: 72

7/1

Tough and genuine on the AW at Dundalk over the winter and put a disappointing return to the turf behind her when finishing second of 27 beaten a nose in a Curragh handicap earlier this month. Likable type who should be in the mix.

Form: 552942

(11)

Lapilli⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: S M Crosse⁽⁷⁾| T: J McAuley| OR: 72

33/1

87-rated handicapper on the Flat for William Haggas last term but has failed to beat a rival home in two starts for new connections. Out of sorts and this looks a tough ask.

Form: 11/047-9

(10)

Coreczka¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: O J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: C Cannon| OR: 68| D

16/1

Distance winner of a Dundalk handicap on the AW in October. Without a win on the turf in 11 starts and hard to fancy on recent evidence.

Form: 1198-34

(5)

Gougane Barra⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: R Coakley⁽³⁾| T: M Halford| OR: 68

33/1

Well beaten and never nearer in a dismal display on turf debut at the Curragh over 6½f recently. Hard to place any faith in here.

Form: 7/72-0

(3)

Smart Stinger^t1⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Ben Coen⁽⁷⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 63| D

25/1

Winner on the AW at Dundalk but well beaten on three starts on turf to date and first time tongue-tie unlikely to bring about the required amount of improvement needed to play a role here.

Form: 4721-70

(15)

Luna's Luck⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: K J Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: M Halford| OR: 62

25/1

Well beaten and never nearer in three dour handicap starts on turf recently and others hold stronger profiles here.

Form: 6-32000

(13)

Waitaki¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁷⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 60

10/1

Sole success in 17 attempts came in AW maiden at Dundalk over 6f in December 2016. Ran well to finish third of 13 beaten 1¾L in a Gowran Park handicap earlier this month. Eighth of 18 in this race 12 months ago and liable to find a couple stronger.

Form: 860-773

Forecasts

Fit For Function (9/2), Ice Cold In Alex (7/1), Flawlessly (7/1), Wexford Opera (8/1), Mokhalad (8/1), Arbourfield (8/1), Waitaki (10/1), Ducky Mallon (10/1), Nothing To Lose (12/1), Coreczka (16/1), Luna's Luck (25/1), Ahlan Bil Zain (25/1), Smart Stinger (25/1), Gougane Barra (33/1), Lapilli (33/1)

ARBOURFIELD (third of 18 in this contest 12 months ago) can build on his ½L win over the likable Dance Alone in a Gowran Park handicap over this trip last month and can take advantage of the 6lb he receives from fellow last time out winner Fit For Function who landed a Listowel handicap earlier this month. Wexford Opera from the inform Jim Bolger stable deserves a second look while Flawlessly and Ice Cold In Alex should not be underestimated.