20:20 Cork

Friday 13 July 2018

All17:4518:1518:4519:2019:5020:2020:55

Battle Of The GAA Clubs Mares Handicap Hurdle (80-109)

Off time: 20:20 | Winning time: 4m 50.9s

Humm Baby⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr C J Orr⁽⁷⁾| T: M Hourigan| OR: 105| BF| D

4/1

Winner at Sligo in May but then found top-weight a burden too far at Wexford next time, once again conceding weight all round and place claims might be best.

Form: 2505-14

Slievenamon¹⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Sean Flanagan| T: Eric Larkin| OR: 105| C

20/1

Kept on well when a decisive winner of a 2m3f mares' handicap hurdle at this track in August (yielding), but her progress was thwarted by a subsequent 10lb rise in the weights. Off since February and may need a run.

Form: 43106P-

Mill Quest^t⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 103| C

3/1

Former course winner took a big step in the right direction when scoring at Limerick on Sunday. Carries an additional 7lb this time but had something to spare and should go well.

Form: 4655-41

Citizen Al⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: M J M O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: E M O'Sullivan| OR: 102

20/1

Promising, winner of a novice hurdle at Killarney in May over slightly longer trip. Makes handicap debut on first start since and needs market check. Can go well.

Form: P6-1

Brogine^t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Phillip Enright| T: S Braddish| OR: 101| D

33/1

Maiden hurdle winner over the trip at Gowran Park last year, though struggled either side in handicaps and tailed off at Clonmel on recent return, watching brief.

Form: 40/510-0

Cerealice^t⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: D F O'Regan| T: A Fleming| OR: 101

7/1

Runner-up at Tipperary over similar trip 64 days ago, form looks fair for this level and entitled to be in the mix if handling the quicker ground.

Form: 54F38-2

Dorkas^t²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J R Finn| OR: 100

16/1

Winner at Downpatrick in May in a handicap chase on good ground beating 12 rivals ½L. Rated 4lb lower back over timber.

Form: 0P59-18

Trans Wood³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: G M Doyle| OR: 98| D

8/1

Career-best when winning 18-runner handicap hurdle at Listowel (2m4f, good) last month, continuing recent progress. Up 6lb and must improve again as such.

Form: 553-421

Joy's Gift³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Robbie Colgan| T: P Maher| OR: 96

18/1

No win since 2016, better effort at Clonmel last time (third) and could mount a challenge now upped in distance.

Form: 535-053

Shadows Return⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: F J Hayes⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Walsh| OR: 96

11/1

Eyecatching run in third at Tipperary over 2m recently, goes up in distance now and no surprise if a challenge is forthcoming.

Form: 00/P45-3

Filly Mullins²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Danny Mullins| T: Ms M Mullins| OR: 90

22/1

Just modest form so far in hurdles career. Makes handicap hurdle debut here and certainly needs to find improvement.

Form: 57005-7

Popping Along^t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Mr Turlough O'connor⁽⁷⁾| T: T O'Connor| OR: 88| D

50/1

Well beaten and never a factor in two dismal displays since the turn of the year. Clearly form is deteriorating as the mare now races off a 23lb lower mark than her last win having again run poorly at Clonmel 35 days ago.

Form: 65P79-7

Sweet Destination³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Brian Hayes| T: G Ahern| OR: 85

12/1

Well beaten in two maiden hurdle starts in July/August last year when sent off at 50/1 on both occasions. Improved to be 6¾L sixth of 18 to Trans Wood in handicap hurdle at Listowel (2m4, good) on return however and may build on it.

Form: 81P20-6

Something Sweet⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: R J Condon⁽⁷⁾| T: R J McGrath| OR: 83

13/2

Beat around 10L at Tipperary recently over 3m, possibly not staying the trip. Chance on pick of form back down in trip.

Form: 04-2464

Non-Runners

Gimli's Oscar⁶⁷

Weight: 10-7| Age: 5

T: P J Rothwell J: J J Slevin

Forecasts

Mill Quest (3/1), Humm Baby (4/1), Something Sweet (13/2), Cerealice (7/1), Trans Wood (8/1), Shadows Return (11/1), Sweet Destination (12/1), Dorkas (16/1), Joy's Gift (18/1), Slievenamon (20/1), Citizen Al (20/1), Filly Mullins (22/1), Brogine (33/1), Popping Along (50/1), Gimli's Oscar (66/1)

SHADOWS RETURN caught the eye with a decent run over a shorter trip at Tipperary last time and should relish this step up in distance. She ought to be capable of a big run. Sweet Destination showed improved form on return at Listowel and will be interesting if building on that. Having scored with something to spare over further at Limerick on Sunday, Mill Quest is respected despite a 7lb rise while Cerealice and Citizen Al complete the shortlist.