18:35 Bellewstown

Wednesday 29 August 2018

All16:0516:3517:0517:3518:0518:3519:0519:35

Holcroft Peugeot Drogheda Handicap (45-65)

Off time: 18:36 | Winning time: 59.76s

(10)

Danz Gift^t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-13| J: Robbie Colgan| T: S Lavery| OR: 64| D

16/1

All five wins have come on AW, scoring twice over 5f at Dundalk in April. Below form back on turf since, however, and passed over again.

Form: 331160

(13)

Little Clarinet^p,t⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: D W O'Connor⁽⁵⁾| T: D Marnane| OR: 64

4/1

Twice gone close at the Curragh over this trip recently behind Gopsies Daughter. Has to be on the shortlist for this as a result with mark unchanged from previous run.

Form: 664524

(7)

Court Queen^p1⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Chris Hayes| T: J A Stack| OR: 61| D

8/1

Dead-heated for a maiden on soft-to-heavy ground at Tipperary in September last year. Beaten ½L on most recent start at same venue in June over this trip. Cheekpieces tried, 1lb lower and likely sort here.

Form: 831-805

(2)

First Bombardment^t⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Sean Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 60| D

11/2

Won two races for David O'Meara but has never been easy to win with (2-39). Ran two good races at Ayr this month after joining Gordon Elliott, though less enthusing since at Carlisle. More questions than answers.

Form: 308-447

(14)

Lily's Prince²³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Colin Keane| T: G Donnelly| OR: 60

5/1

Has gone 25 races since last success which was on the AW at Dundalk. Run some decent races this term which has slowed his handicap from falling. Bounced back when neck-second at the Curragh this month over 6f, pushed up 2lb for that.

Form: 337652

(15)

Wadood^t,v¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: D P Linehan⁽⁵⁾| T: D Broad| OR: 57| D

33/1

Fairly useful handicapper for Robert Cowell for whom he won a Yarmouth handicap last June, but he's been soundly beaten in seven starts since, moving yards twice in the interim. Hard to be excited on his hopes here.

Form: 0-60009

(4)

Bahlwan⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: J A Heffernan| T: D Hogan| OR: 57

28/1

Bahamian Bounty gelding out of an Acclamation gelding. Half-brother to useful types Breton Rock and Spanish Bounty, not shown much in three starts to merit support now setting out in handicaps. Will have to improve.

Form: 009

(8)

Pillar^b¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: S Foley| T: A McGuinness| OR: 53| D

9/1

The losing run now stands at 31 but he's now fallen to a level where he should be able to compete from and has run some sound races of late. 1-55 record means he's deemed likely to settle for a minor placing at best.

Form: 038294

(3)

Straffan¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Rory Cleary| T: Francis Casey| OR: 54

6/1

Showed a modicum of ability on debut for David O'Meara last year, but not progressed until 2L sixth of 14 on handicap bow at the Curragh (5f, good) in an apprentice race this month. Makes him a more appealing prospect than plenty of these.

Form: 755-06

(11)

Noirvento^t¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Ronan Whelan| T: T Collins| OR: 50

18/1

Better effort in a 5f Curragh maiden this month on fourth start, still needs to find more but chance of further improvement now stepping out in a handicap for the first time. Watch betting.

Form: 0885

(1)

Pavlichenko^p1¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: A J Slattery⁽⁷⁾| T: J Feane| OR: 48

16/1

Six-race maiden, shaped better over 6f at Dundalk this month after a break. Cheekpieces are tried now and not beyond realms of possibility he'll improve enough to challenge.

Form: 567075

(9)

Guiding Star^p,t¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: K J Leonard⁽³⁾| T: P J McKenna| OR: 45

25/1

Just 1-32 so far, scoring over 6f at Fairyhouse in June 2017. More poor runs than good once this year but best of them came in a neck-defeat over C&D in June off this mark.

Form: 920090

(12)

Simbas Song^b¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁵⁾| T: A Keatley| OR: 45

33/1

Nine-race maiden now, not making much progress in six starts this year. Well fended off over this trip at Ayr earlier in the month and got it all to prove currently.

Form: 936970

(5)

Gillabbey Rock⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Wayne Lordan| T: E O'Connell| OR: 45

25/1

Poor form figures so far and highly surprising if this €1,000 purchase is good enough to even make the frame. Quickly passed over on form.

Form: 0000-0

Sweetest Taboo⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: C J MacRedmond⁽⁷⁾| T: W McCreery| OR: 61| CD

7/1

C&D winner in July, one of three wins in what is now a 38-race career. Beaten upwards of 5L in all three starts since. Handicapper holding firm on this mark (First Reserve).

Form: 041600

Non-Runners

(6)

Iceni¹⁰⁷

Weight: 8-9| Age: 3

T: H De Bromhead J: C P Hoban

Downtown Diva³

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: J Davison J: Reserve 2

Double Czech³

Weight: 8-12| Age: 7

T: T G McCourt J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Little Clarinet (4/1), Iceni (9/2), Lily's Prince (5/1), First Bombardment (11/2), Straffan (6/1), Sweetest Taboo (7/1), Court Queen (8/1), Pillar (9/1), Downtown Diva (11/1), Pavlichenko (16/1), Danz Gift (16/1), Noirvento (18/1), Double Czech (20/1), Guiding Star (25/1), Gillabbey Rock (25/1), Bahlwan (28/1), Simbas Song (33/1), Wadood (33/1)

LITTLE CLARINET will probably be glad to see the back of Gopsies Daughter, a rival she's twice finished in close proximity behind at the Curragh lately over his trip. David Marnane's filly gets to race from an unchanged mark from the most recent of those efforts and could pick up some tangible reward for her recent efforts. Straffan went well in an apprentice race at the Curragh on handicap bow and needs a second look while Court Queen was not far off at Tipperary in June and could have plenty to say on her return with new cheekpieces fitted. Lily's Prince showed more appetite last time out while Pavlichenko lurks as a possible improver in new headgear.