18:50 Roscommon

Monday 9 July 2018

All17:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:2020:50

SuperValu's Roscommon Apprentice Handicap (45-65)

Off time: 18:50 | Winning time: 1m 31.21s

(7)

Alfirak⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: O J Orr| T: D English| OR: 63

6/4

Progressive 4yo that came good at Dundalk winning by a short-head in April on the AW. Stayed on well in the closing stages in a Bellewstown handicap to finish second of 16 beaten 1¼L on Wednesday. One to consider on recent form.

Form: 873812

(4)

Hawthorn Echo²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: Gavin Brouder⁽²⁾| T: P McCreery| OR: 61

33/1

Her second of 14 beaten ½L in a Limerick maiden in April appears to be a one off given a couple of heavy defeats either side of the run. Others look open to more improvement.

Form: 006265

(13)

Luna's Luck²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Ben Coen⁽²⁾| T: M Halford| OR: 60

6/1

Nothing of note and generally well held in a number of below-par starts since April and remains a seven-race maiden here. Others look more convincing at this level.

Form: 320005

(3)

Texas Radio^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: A J Farragher⁽²⁾| T: J Feane| OR: 58| D

5/1

Solid and consistent sort in June including a win in a Gowran Park handicap over 1m on good to firm ground off a 7lb lower mark. Rates a leading contender.

Form: 926513

(12)

Hatton Cross²³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-5| J: T P Madden| T: T J O'Mara| OR: 54| D

16/1

Improved on his first run of the season when finishing fourth of 13 beaten 1¾L in a Limerick handicap over 6½f on good ground last month. Place claims on best form over this trip.

Form: 6829-04

(11)

Rise Again^t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Dylan Hogan| T: K Prendergast| OR: 54| D

25/1

Signs of returning to form when finishing fourth of 12 in a Gowran Park claimer in May but has disappointed in two dismal displays in June and may find it tough going here.

Form: 7-00400

(6)

Bouquet Garni^p⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Andrew Slattery⁽²⁾| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 53| D

12/1

Running well without hitting the frame in three promising starts since May and deserves a change of luck but looks set to take losing run on turf to 20.

Form: 4-00644

(5)

Olly's Folly^p¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Nathan Crosse⁽²⁾| T: N Cassidy| OR: 48

33/1

17-race maiden with 10 defeats coming on turf. Possibly needed the run on first start of the season when well down the field at Down Royal last month but difficult to make a case for in this company.

Form: 08449-0

(8)

Althib¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: D E Sheehy| T: D Hogan| OR: 46

7/1

Well held on his last two starts last month but drops down to a handy here with conditions to suit. Place claims and worth a market check. (Engaged 2.25 Fairyhouse - Sunday)

Form: 032997

(9)

Ken's Sam's^p²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: K K Hennessy| T: E Sheehy| OR: 45

33/1

Nothing of note in a number of below-par efforts since the turn of the year on the AW at Dundalk and on turf more recently at Sligo. Looks a tall order on form shown.

Form: 990089

(1)

Lady Ranger¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: Damien Melia| T: P McCreery| OR: 45| CD

25/1

C&D winner back in June 2015 off a 12lb higher mark. Has continued to struggle of late and likely to be better handicapped sorts lurking here.

Form: 0980-00

(10)

Queen Meave^b1³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Sean Davis| T: N Carolan| OR: 45

66/1

Well beaten and no impression finishing down the field in two starts since May and first time blinkers unlikely to bring about the required amount of improvement needed to play a role here.

Form: 09-9009

(2)

Button Popper¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Alan Persse⁽⁴⁾| T: A Leahy| OR: 47

25/1

Down the field in three starts since May, well held on each occasion. Eight-race maiden and yet to make the frame, others preferred.

Form: 3-55076

Forecasts

Alfirak (6/4), Texas Radio (5/1), Luna's Luck (6/1), Althib (7/1), Bouquet Garni (12/1), Hatton Cross (16/1), Button Popper (25/1), Rise Again (25/1), Lady Ranger (25/1), Olly's Folly (33/1), Ken's Sam's (33/1), Hawthorn Echo (33/1), Queen Meave (66/1)

With a fair number of these not regular visitors to the winners enclosure it may be left to the game TEXAS RADIO to add to his win at Gowran Park last month off a 7lb lower mark. The five-year-old acts on the ground and is fairly consistent at the trip. Hattons Cross and the improving Alfirak can compete for the minor honours while Rise Again can out-run her odds here with conditions to suit.