16:35 Limerick

Saturday 16 June 2018

All14:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:4518:15

Big 50 Happy Valley Brewery Classic Handicap

Off time: 16:37 | Winning time: 1m 41.07s

(8)

Beach Bar⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Wayne Lordan| T: R O'Brien| OR: 94| D

10/1

Won well at Dundalk three starts ago but was below par on his return to turf last time out and again looks vulnerable in racing from the same mark.

Form: 1-27130

(12)

Captain Cat⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-6| J: S Foley| T: R O'Brien| OR: 86| D

12/1

Not won since February 2016 and has plenty to prove after finishing last of nine at The Curragh last time out. Dropped 2lb since but big improvement required and looks a risky option this time around.

Form: 272049

(7)

Wild As The Wind¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: W J Lee| T: W McCreery| OR: 85

10/1

Steadily getting to grips with handicapping and posted a highly encouraging second at Gowran Park last month. Encountered a decent type on that occasion and may still be on the upgrade. Interesting contender.

Form: 71/57-02

(1)

Jon Ess^b1²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: J A Heffernan| T: C O'Dwyer| OR: 83| D

10/1

Won from this mark on the AW at Dundalk in March but below that standard twice on turf since. Eased when his chance had obviously gone last time out but still comes here with plenty to prove after what was a second poor effort.

Form: 3-12100

(3)

Have A Nice Day^p¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: L F Roche| T: J Feane| OR: 82

16/1

A winner on the AW in April and possible he had excuses for a dire run last time out (had to be eased near the finish). Likely he's still better than that effort so any market confidence should be noted with interest for a place in the frame.

Form: 475-108

(9)

Turbine^t³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: K J Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 82

9/2

Not won for over two years but latest efforts have been encouraging enough to suggest he could still feasibly pay his way at some point. Disconcerting that he's yet to win at a mile though.

Form: 0060-63

(10)

Koybig¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Chris Hayes| T: P J F Murphy| OR: 80| D

9/2

Posted three good efforts since his return from a beak and, given the trip and ground are in his favour, the six-year-old has a good number of ticks in the right boxes. Yet to win from a mark this high on turf though.

Form: 119-522

(2)

Aiseolas¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 84

7/1

Unexposed in handicaps and drops to a more appropriate trip after finding 1m2f a bit too testing last time out. Any rain would boost her claims but the filly is shaping into a tough campaigner and would be dangerous to underestimate.

Form: 7-32134

(5)

Overcoming¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 84

8/1

Winner over 7f on the AW at Dundalk but two subsequent starts have been uninspiring. Still open to improvement in handicaps and represent a canny yard. But still looks a risky option in a competitive heat such as this.

Form: 71-47

(6)

Fashaar²²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-5| J: A J Slattery⁽⁷⁾| T: A McCann| OR: 71| D

20/1

Best form to date so far reserved for Dundalk and, having shown little enthusiasm for racing at Leopardstown last month, the five-year-old looks to have a good bit to prove as regards his ability to cope with the tempo on the predicted firm surface.

Form: 1-34150

(11)

Red Avenger¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 8-4| J: Rory Cleary| T: D English| OR: 70| D

8/1

Consistent on the AW and well weighted in comparison to his rating on an artificial surface. Well adrift of the likes of Koybig last time though, which leaves the gelding with an uphill task in his bid to reverse the form here.

Form: 364430

Non-Runners

(4)

Captain Joy⁷⁸

Weight: 9-11| Age: 9

T: T Collins J: Ronan Whelan

Forecasts

Turbine (9/2), Koybig (9/2), Captain Joy (11/2), Aiseolas (7/1), Red Avenger (8/1), Overcoming (8/1), Wild As The Wind (10/1), Beach Bar (10/1), Jon Ess (10/1), Captain Cat (12/1), Have A Nice Day (16/1), Fashaar (20/1)

A tough one to call and only a tentative vote of confidence is put behind nominating AISEOLAS getting off the mark in a handicap at the second time of asking. Any cut in the ground would boost the filly's chances. Koybig, on the other hand, has a bit to prove regarding the trip, but has some solid efforts to his name and edges out Have A Nice Day as the best alternative this time around. Support for Wild As The Wind could also prove significant.