18:15 Leopardstown

Thursday 16 August 2018

All17:1517:4518:1518:4519:2019:5020:20

Waterboys Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 18:16 | Winning time: 2m 11.20s

(6)

Koybig^p³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Ben Coen⁽⁴⁾| T: P J F Murphy| OR: 83

11/2

Gained a first win on turf in 18 attempts at Killarney last time out. Shaped like he could stay this extra trip and only 3lb higher in his follow up bid here.

Form: 522421

(11)

Meagher's Flag^p,t⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Luke McAteer⁽⁴⁾| T: J S Bolger| OR: 84

9/2

Sole win came at Gowran earlier in the campaign. Ran well enough in a three-runner event at Sligo last time and while it's hard to know what that race is worth, he's a pace angle in this contest and arrives in good form.

Form: 40-3102

(5)

Shamash^t³⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Siobhan Rutledge⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 75| D

33/1

Won his last Flat start on AW at Wolverhampton but and running okay over hurdles when last seen but he's entitled to need this on his return from a lengthy absence in both spheres.

Form: 73/6121-

(4)

Winston Wolfe⁹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Killian Leonard| T: D Bunyan & G O'Leary| OR: 74

6/1

Lost his maiden tag at Dundalk in February but handicapper took no chances with him and he was well beaten in a deeper race at the Curragh last time. Others preferred.

Form: 2334-10

(9)

Sheila's Hope^h¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: T P Madden| T: J C McConnell| OR: 73| D

6/1

Rattled off a hat-trick and only narrowly denied in a four-timer bid at Naas. She's much better than what she showed when well beaten at Gowran the last day and ground a plausible excuse there. Leading player.

Form: 0-11120

(7)

Hypnotic Force¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Sean Davis⁽²⁾| T: G M Lyons| OR: 79| D

20/1

Won a maiden at Roscommon in July but handicapper didn't take any risks with her and she was subsequently tailed off at Galway. A return to faster ground may be in her favour but others preferred.

Form: 80-10

(2)

Castle Guest^p1,t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: Ross Coakley| T: M Halford| OR: 69| CD

8/1

He's a C&D winner but he's been on a long losing run in recent times and there were no obvious signs a return to form was imminent at Gowran last time out. Needs first-time cheekpieces to spark a revival.

Form: 5004-68

(3)

Alfirak⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: S M Mooney⁽⁷⁾| T: D English| OR: 66

13/2

Completed his AW campaign with a win at Dundalk in April and has largely been running well in defeat on turf since. Probably did too much too soon here last time and worth giving another chance to.

Form: 812400

(1)

Poitin⁶⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: R P Downey| T: K H Clarke| OR: 66| CD

25/1

More consistent on AW than she is on turf but her latest win did come over C&D back in June 2017. A long way below that mark here but with good reason having barely beaten a rival home on her last couple of runs.

Form: 49-0400

(10)

Two For Tea⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: D E Sheehy| T: E D Delany| OR: 66

14/1

Just one win in 11 starts and that came on contrasting ground to what she gets here. Starts out for a new yard and others preferred.

Form: 28-6974

(8)

Vastonea¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 8-12| J: Dylan Hogan⁽²⁾| T: K Prendergast| OR: 64| CD

16/1

Not won since 2016 and while that came over C&D, his form has been below par recently. Better on softer ground than what he will get here.

Form: 8749-77

(12)

Remembered Joy^b²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁴⁾| T: E P Harty| OR: 56

12/1

May still be a maiden and she's out of the handicap here but she's been running well in defeat of late and more reliable than some to give her running.

Form: 0-00532

Forecasts

Meagher's Flag (9/2), Koybig (11/2), Sheila's Hope (6/1), Winston Wolfe (6/1), Alfirak (13/2), Castle Guest (8/1), Remembered Joy (12/1), Two For Tea (14/1), Vastonea (16/1), Hypnotic Force (20/1), Poitin (25/1), Shamash (33/1)

The ground was a possible excuse for SHEILA'S HOPE last time out and the filly could well still be in form after a host of wins this summer. Koybig should be a player here off his revised mark while Meagher's Flag isn't the easiest to assess but could run well again.