17:40 Down Royal

Friday 31 August 2018

All16:3517:1017:4018:1018:4019:1019:40

Hovis Handicap Hurdle (80-95)

Off time: 17:41 | Winning time: 3m 43.20s

Joy's Gift²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: P Maher| OR: 94| CD

11/2

Course winner that has also won over this trip. Fourth of 12 beaten a little over 10L in a 2m5f at Roscommon over the larger obstacles earlier in the month following a couple of defeats over hurdles in July.

Form: 5-05304

Specific Gravity^b⁴⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: S O'Briain⁽⁷⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 90

16/1

Appears to be a regressing 57-rated handicapper on the Flat of late and best watched on first hurdle start for 12-months when fifth of 20 in this contest.

Form: 7970/05-

Moanbaun Maestro^t1¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Brian Hayes| T: P A Fahy| OR: 89

9/1

Failed to place in eight starts so far including five spins over hurdles. Promising run on the Flat latest but still difficult to make a case for.

Form: 9/8078-6

Kilkeaskin Molly¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 93

25/1

Appears to have her own ideas on the game being well beaten on four starts before running out before the eighth in a 2m5f maiden at Tramore earlier this month.

Form: 4670R

Mike McCann^t⁴²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr N McParlan⁽³⁾| T: S McParlan| OR: 88| D

25/1

Entering the veteran stages of his career still only one from 12 hurdle starts and finished last of 16 on stable debut last month. Tough ask.

Form: 09000/0-

Zagnzig^h⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: A E Lynch| T: H Smyth| OR: 88| C

8/1

One win from 19 starts under Rules but arrives here in better form than most after his success at Downpatrick a couple of starts back. One for the shortlist.

Form: 548-163

Blue Skimmer¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Lambe| OR: 86| BF

9/2

Beaten favourite in the latest of a couple of solid starts over hurdles since the middle of July. Has the form to make a bold bid.

Form: 6F0/0-32

Camile⁸⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: S A Shortall⁽³⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 85

7/1

In good form this spring on the Flat and although she remains a six-race maiden over hurdles the mare could be open to plenty of improvement.

Form: 0P0/09P-

Canadian Steel^t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny Mullins| T: N C Kelly| OR: 85

11/2

Dual point-to-point winner but struggled in recent starts at Uttoxeter and Sligo earlier this month. Plenty more needed in this company.

Form: 23-P0P7

Romantic^t¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: R Loughran| T: N C Kelly| OR: 85

28/1

57-rated Flat handicapper who remains a seven race maiden hurdler and not seen over timber for 13-months. Form doesn't warrant support here.

Form: 000/700-

Vocal Heir^p²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: D J Mullins| T: S Hanlon| OR: 84

8/1

Plenty to like about an improved performance in a Sligo 2m handicap hurdle earlier this month and enters calculations here.

Form: 070/054

Lusis Naturea¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Ms K Ferris⁽⁷⁾| T: Eoin Barry| OR: 82

10/1

Possibly needed the run at Downpatrick last month before a promising run at the same track earlier this month when finishing third of nine beaten a little over 8L on yielding ground over 2m3f. Could be of interest.

Form: F/090-73

Tobar Geal^h1⁹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: D F O'Regan| T: L P Cusack| OR: 80

16/1

Last of 14 beaten 38L when last seen over hurdles at Wexford over 12-months ago. Very little to be positive about.

Form: 0/P006-P

Non-Runners

I'm Serious¹

Weight: 11-11| Age: 5

T: D Hogan J: D G Hogan

Boytonrath⁵⁶

Weight: 11-7| Age: 8

T: G Elliott J: D N Russell

Sillogue Pio¹¹⁶

Weight: 11-0| Age: 9

T: G A Kingston J: J S McGarvey

Forecasts

Blue Skimmer (9/2), Joy's Gift (11/2), Canadian Steel (11/2), Camile (7/1), Zagnzig (8/1), Vocal Heir (8/1), Boytonrath (8/1), Moanbaun Maestro (9/1), Lusis Naturea (10/1), I'm Serious (14/1), Specific Gravity (16/1), Tobar Geal (16/1), Kilkeaskin Molly (25/1), Mike McCann (25/1), Sillogue Pio (25/1), Romantic (28/1)

The Gordon Elliott-trained BOYTONRATH was showing plenty of enthusiasm 12-months ago finishing runner-up in a couple of handicap hurdle spins around this mark. The Beneficial mare can land the spoils here getting off the mark for connections at the 11th time of asking over timber ahead of possible dangers, Vocal Heir, Blue Skimmer and Zagnzig who can battle for the minor honours.