19:10 Limerick

Friday 22 June 2018

All17:3018:0018:3519:1019:4520:1520:50

Croom House Stud Handicap (50-80)

Off time: 19:10 | Winning time: 1m 42.23s

(2)

Kamili^p1²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Shane Foley| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 79| D

12/1

Invincible Spirit filly, struggled last year in pattern-company for Joseph O'Brien, some encouragement on first start for this trainer at Gowran Park last month (1m1½f, good to firm) and should be suited by dropping to the mile.

Form: 52100-3

(9)

Artistic Melody¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 75| D

4/1

Zoffany filly, showed herself to be in good heart when close second over 7f at Roscommon recently off the back of a short break. Goes up to the mile now and raised 1lb, entitled to be in the firing line again.

Form: 317-302

(5)

Flowerhill Nova²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Ben Coen⁽⁷⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 72

20/1

Placed six times from 10 starts on turf, though yet to win. May have needed last month's reappearance at Leopardstown (7f, good to firm) and dangerous to discount from current mark if stripping fitter now.

Form: 321/06-0

(3)

Queluz^t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Gary Halpin⁽³⁾| T: J Geoghegan| OR: 72| D

5/1

AW winner over this trip in May at Dundalk, since been well fended off returned to turf at Leopardstown (1m, good to firm) this month and may need more relief from handicapper.

Form: 779-410

(7)

St Gallen^p⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: N G McCullagh| T: J J Murphy| OR: 72| D

7/1

Not won since his maiden success in 2016 and not shaped like a return to the winners' enclosure is imminent in three starts this year. Plenty more needed on recent evidence.

Form: 864-536

(1)

Gunmaker^t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Gary Carroll| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 71

11/1

Winner on the AW at Dundalk in January before a promising third of 16 beaten 2½L over 7f at Leopardstown last month on return from short break. Didn't build on that over a mile at same track since and likely fighting for place money at best.

Form: 544-130

(4)

Markhan^t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Declan McDonogh| T: G Elliott| OR: 68| D

9/4

80-rated handicapper for trainer David Marnane managing two wins from 11 Flat turf starts, with both wins over this trip. Well treated on old form, upped in distance on this third start for Elliott team starting to pick up.

Form: 3500-08

(8)

Avalanche²³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-1| J: T P Madden⁽⁵⁾| T: T J O'Mara| OR: 66| CD

12/1

Wants rattling fast ground to be seen at his best and chance of getting that here in a race he won last year from 2lb higher mark. Entitled to plenty respect.

Form: 2348-40

(6)

Storm Ranger¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Billy Lee| T: P J Flynn| OR: 66

14/1

Has two wins from 24 career starts, promising effort in big-field handicap at Leopardstown over this trip on penultimate start, didn't sustain effort over 1m2f at Navan since.

Form: 807-076

Forecasts

Markhan (9/4), Artistic Melody (4/1), Queluz (5/1), St Gallen (7/1), Gunmaker (11/1), Avalanche (12/1), Kamili (12/1), Storm Ranger (14/1), Flowerhill Nova (20/1)

Artistic Melody is the form pick after a near miss at Roscommon last time out, she's been raised only a pound and should be right in there pitching when it matters. A chance can be taken on MARKHAN for Gordon Elliott, whose team are starting to click once again. He did well enough from an unpromising position at Leopardstown last time and is starting to look very well handicapped on his best form. Kamili should be suited back down to the mile while Storm Ranger would be a key player on his penultimate effort at Leopardstown.