18:05 Down Royal

Friday 27 July 2018

All17:3018:0518:3519:0519:3520:0520:35

Apple Orchard Handicap (45-65)

Off time: 18:05 | Winning time: 59.70s

(10)

Haqeeba¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: D M Redmond⁽⁷⁾| T: L Lennon| OR: 63| D

7/1

Sole win in 22 handicap outings came at Bellewstown last August over 5f but there is no doubt the daughter of Haatef deserves a change of luck given her displays since June. One for the shortlist.

Form: 080265

(3)

Blastofmagic^p,t¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Ross Coakley⁽³⁾| T: A B Joyce| OR: 62| D

3/1

Distance winner who has been running solidly since beating Haqeeba a short-head in June. Continuation of development expected here.

Form: 171942

(11)

Mr Shelby^p²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: O J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: S Donohoe| OR: 59

12/1

Distance winner following a raid on an Ayr handicap last month off a 14lb lower mark. Struggled off new mark at Naas earlier this month when last of seven over 6f. Tough ask dropping in trip.

Form: 971027

(9)

Jenniechild¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: R P Downey| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 54| D

10/1

Has been out of luck since winning a Tipperary handicap over this trip when finishing down the field at Bellewstown before unseating in the stalls when rearing up at Navan earlier this month. Needs to improve here.

Form: 0-6510U

(8)

Pillar⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Colin Keane| T: A McGuinness| OR: 53| D

6/1

Distance winner who's form over 6f appears to be better than his form over 5f of late. Has work to do based on recent form.

Form: 079038

(5)

Nora Batt³^{(ex 6)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: T P Madden⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Nicholson| OR: 45| BF| D

7/2

Distance winner when plundering a 5f contest on an over-the-sea raid at Musselburgh on Tuesday. Carries a 6lb penalty but should make her presence felt again.

Form: 059331

(2)

Elegant Emmeline^t¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Rory Cleary| T: J G Coogan| OR: 47

33/1

Maiden, went agonisingly close at Tipperary over this trip on good ground last month but has shown very little in a couple of dour displays this month. Looks opposable.

Form: 00-7200

(6)

Guiding Star^b,t¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Dylan Hogan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J McKenna| OR: 47

25/1

Inconsistent sort who nearly landed a 40/1 shock at Bellewstown earlier this month finishing ½L adrift of the winner Sweetest Taboo. Has failed to spark in two starts since and looks vulnerable in this company.

Form: 969200

(4)

Catwilldo^p1¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: Killian Leonard⁽³⁾| T: G Donnelly| OR: 46| CD

14/1

C&D winner who has been largely well held in four starts over the flying five since January on the AW at Dundalk and on turf. First time cheekpieces less likely to bring about the required amount of progression needed to land a blow here.

Form: 09-0400

(7)

Lavinuela¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Chris Hayes| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 45

12/1

Possibly needed the run on the AW at Dundalk in April on her return to the track following a promising 2017 campaign and certainly showed some old spark when finishing 2½L fifth of 13 at Fairyhouse earlier this month. Worth a market check.

Form: 0303-85

(1)

Dandy Sue²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Sean Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: G Keane| OR: 45

12/1

A first-time hood - now removed - brought minimal improvement following a gallant run at Bellewstown earlier this month when 3¼L adrift of the Sweetest Taboo. Plenty to prove here.

Form: 87-0679

Downtown Diva^p³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Shane Foley| T: J Davison| OR: 55

14/1

Second Reserve: Not as bad as her 21-race maiden tag suggests. Not out of the first five in three 10-runner+ races last season and worth a market check returning to this trip.

Form: 450528

Non-Runners

(12)

Billyfairplay⁹

Weight: 8-10| Age: 4

T: J Feane J: Gary Halpin

Pavlichenko³³

Weight: 8-11| Age: 3

T: J Feane J: Reserve 1

Court Queen²⁹

Weight: 9-12| Age: 4

T: J A Stack J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Blastofmagic (3/1), Nora Batt (7/2), Pillar (6/1), Haqeeba (7/1), Jenniechild (10/1), Mr Shelby (12/1), Lavinuela (12/1), Dandy Sue (12/1), Billyfairplay (12/1), Downtown Diva (14/1), Catwilldo (14/1), Guiding Star (25/1), Elegant Emmeline (33/1)

The John Nicholson yard is yet to get off the mark in Ireland this season but the improving NORA BATT can build on her win at Musselburgh on Tuesday and land the spoils on her third start this month. Blastofmagic has been a consistent sort of late and can give the selection plenty to think about in this contest along with Haqeeba who can hit the frame.