15:55 Gowran Park

Saturday 23 June 2018

All13:4014:1514:5015:2515:5516:3017:1017:45

Whitfield Orthopaedic & Sports Injury Clinic Handicap Hurdle (80-102) (Div 1)

Off time: 15:57 | Winning time: 3m 43.3s

Clementina⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: A E Lynch| T: A J Martin| OR: 102

25/1

Nine-race maiden showed hints of promise last time out in a Tipperary handicap on the Flat finishing sixth of 18 over 1m2f. Others hold stronger profiles having been well beaten in four hurdles starts.

Form: 6/66F0-

Derby De Thaix^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: E T Daly⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 102| BF| D

10/1

Improved performance penultimate start in a Down Royal handicap hurdle over 2m when finishing second of 14 beaten 2¾L behind Misty Millie. Pulled up since over longer trip.

Form: 560P-2P

I Keano^t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: N W O'Driscoll⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss D O'Shea| OR: 99

25/1

Showed little of note in three maiden hurdle outings so far, going to have to improve significantly on handicap bow to land a blow.

Form: PP-670

Oakmont^h1,t²⁰³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: D J McInerney⁽³⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 95

8/1

Winner on the Flat in the French provinces but hasn't shown much in three starts on these shores, and looks up against it on return from break.

Form: 8/00-

Slainte And Thanks¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul Townend| T: G Ahern| OR: 94| D

4/1

Improved to win at Clonmel this month over similar trip on seventh outing over timber, coming home with any amount in hand 12L clear of the rest. 9lb rise far from insurmountable.

Form: 070-P31

Padraic O Conaire^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: C A Landers⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs Y Dunleavy| OR: 93

5/1

Gutsy winner over 2m4f at Listowel on good ground thus month, forging clear at the end. Raised 8lb and drop to 2m not an immediate positive.

Form: 8385-71

Hernandoshideaway^h⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss A Mooney| OR: 92

7/1

Moderate third in Ballinrobe maiden hurdle last month (beaten 28L) was an improved showing but still leaves British Flat import with work to do.

Form: 000-3

Ask David^b³²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: M P Burke⁽⁵⁾| T: T Doyle| OR: 91| D

16/1

Seen to best effect when winning a handicap hurdle at Tipperary in April, since when he has been held off higher handicap marks. Pulled up last time at Cork and has questions to answer for now.

Form: 1/0690P-

Balofilo³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny Mullins| T: Ms M Mullins| OR: 91| D

12/1

Will have disappointed connections in a series of below-par starts in a dour summer jumping campaign last year and didn't appear any better at Downpatrick last month when undone by poor jumping on return.

Form: 38UU5-0

Aimee Kate¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: K C Sexton| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 89

33/1

Promising second of 10 in a Ballinrobe maiden hurdle last August much the best of efforts so far. Pulled up at Punchestown recently on return and must improve for that poor run.

Form: 66082-0

All About Alfie^p,t¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: P E Corbett⁽³⁾| T: T Foley| OR: 89| C| D

9/1

Winner of a Limerick handicap hurdle over 2m3f last month but the gelding is not getting any younger and he's since been a well-held fourth at Clonmel. Place claims perhaps.

Form: 864-014

Moanbaun Maestro³⁰⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Brian Hayes| T: P A Fahy| OR: 89

40/1

Has routinely struggled in all four maiden hurdles to this point. Hard to envisage a dramatic turnaround now going into handicaps.

Form: U9/8078-

Make My Heart Fly^t⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 88

9/1

Better effort in handicap company at Downpatrick recently over 2m2½f on return from his break. May strip fitter now and represents top yard.

Form: 982/00-5

Dan Gun²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 93

20/1

Has produced a number of laboured performances in three hurdle starts between September and November last year and again on return to action in Tramore maiden this month. Big improvement needed now handicapping.

Form: 970-8

Daring Decree^h,t³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Lee| OR: 82

20/1

Beaten big distances at huge prices all six starts and has shown very little to date. Hood tried last time (retained) didn't change fortunes and not hard to look elsewhere for the winner.

Form: 000-009

Shedding³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Phillip Enright| T: W J Burke| OR: 88

33/1

Makes little appeal on pedigree and he has shown no worthwhile form in his three maiden hurdle starts to date. Handicap bow comes with plenty to prove.

Form: 000

Wild Desire²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: D Robinson⁽³⁾| T: P Nolan| OR: 80

20/1

Beaten and tailed off when beaten 44L in a Clonmel handicap hurdle on return to the track last month and similar tale early this month at Tramore, another with it all to prove at the moment.

Form: 0030-00

Non-Runners

Backintheboom³⁰

Weight: 10-12| Age: 5

T: P J Rothwell J: J J Slevin

Lady Rococo¹⁷

Weight: 10-7| Age: 5

T: Miss E Doyle J: A W Short

Forecasts

Slainte And Thanks (4/1), Padraic O Conaire (5/1), Hernandoshideaway (7/1), Oakmont (8/1), All About Alfie (9/1), Make My Heart Fly (9/1), Derby De Thaix (10/1), Balofilo (12/1), Lady Rococo (16/1), Ask David (16/1), Wild Desire (20/1), Daring Decree (20/1), Dan Gun (20/1), Backintheboom (20/1), Clementina (25/1), I Keano (25/1), Aimee Kate (33/1), Shedding (33/1), Moanbaun Maestro (40/1)

Not a contest where there is great depth, despite the numbers. SLAINTE AND THANKS came home in isolation last time at Clonmel and will take some stopping despite a 9lb hike if turning up here in a similar mood. Padraic O Conaire scored over a longer trip at Listowel recently, though he may find this sharp enough. Make My Heart Fly posted an improved effort on his return and commands respect given connections while veteran All About Alfie might threaten the places.