19:00 Killarney

Friday 24 August 2018

All16:4517:2017:5518:3019:0019:3020:00

At The Races Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)

Off time: 19:00 | Winning time: 3m 57.70s

Ivanovich Gorbatov^b,t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Geraghty| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 138| D

10/1

Won the 2016 Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham but has been an enormous frustration for connections since. Unlikely to trouble the judge in this contest.

Form: 00P0-08

Nessun Dorma²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 130

9/4

Impressive winner of his last couple of spins on the Flat but generally disappointing in most recent starts over hurdles. Market possibly best guide to well-being.

Form: 113F0-0

Neverushacon^p,t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 129| CD

6/1

C&D winner in May on yielding in a 14-runner handicap hurdle off a 7lb lower mark. Running on the Flat and over the larger obstacles of late but entitled to make the shortlist on hurdling return.

Form: 482-110

Play The Game³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: D J Mullins| T: T Gibney| OR: 128| CD

9/1

Winner of a seven-runner handicap hurdle of a 5lb lower mark over C&D last month. In good form currently and holds strong place claims in this company.

Form: 510-541

Dixie Lee⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: M A Enright| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 127| BF

6/1

Beaten favourite of a 2m½f handicap hurdle when finishing third of 10 beaten 1¾L last month. Distance winner in June and one for the shortlist here.

Form: 490-313

Political Policy^t¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: A E Lynch| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 124| D

18/1

Distance winner of a Downpatrick hurdle last month beating Count Simon 2½L. Beaten since and this appears a tall order on handicap debut.

Form: 3-114

Lareena²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 119

6/1

Relatively lightly raced mare was narrowly beaten at Kilbeggan in June before finishing 17L adrift of stablemate Low Sun at the Galway festival earlier this month. Chance if jumping fluently.

Form: P5-3524

The Granson²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: S A Mulcahy⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 117

25/1

Maiden hurdle winner on heavy going at Limerick in March but hasn't really progressed since and appears set to struggle in this company.

Form: 1-35467

Lakemilan^h²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: D F O'Regan| T: T O'Brien| OR: 114

12/1

Winner over the larger obstacles earlier in the season and caught the eye in a promising run at the Galway festival when second of 20 in a competitive handicap hurdle. Each way claims at best in this grade.

Form: 51-U442

Bitview Colin^b,t³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: D Robinson⁽³⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 111

66/1

Three from 22 over hurdles but has a couple of dour displays at Sligo earlier in the month to overcome here.

Form: 1FP3-90

Hallmark^t²⁹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: N P Madden| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 110

20/1

Ran well here on a couple of occasions last year. Hard to construct much of a case for the son of Montjeu here back from a nine-month break.

Form: 0/60257-

Beau Et Sublime^t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: Phillip Enright| T: A J Martin| OR: 110

16/1

One from eight over hurdles and the manner of his couple of runner-up positions at Listowel and Down Royal in June put him in the mix here.

Form: 3127/22

Forecasts

Nessun Dorma (9/4), Lareena (6/1), Neverushacon (6/1), Dixie Lee (6/1), Play The Game (9/1), Ivanovich Gorbatov (10/1), Lakemilan (12/1), Beau Et Sublime (16/1), Political Policy (18/1), Hallmark (20/1), The Granson (25/1), Bitview Colin (66/1)

With Nessun Dorma prone to the odd mistake a chance is taken on the solid and consistent NEVERUSHACON who landed a Grade B contest over C&D in May beating 13 rivals 1¾L off a 7lb lower mark. Dixie Lee appears to be enjoying her hurdling of late and C&D winner Play The Game can hit the frame, while the improving Tony Martin-trained Beau Et Sublime should not be discounted.