15:50 Leopardstown

Saturday 15 September 2018

All15:2015:5016:2516:5517:2518:0018:3519:10

Irish Stallion Farms EBF 'Petingo' Handicap (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 15:53 | Winning time: 2m 41.78s

(18)

Lagostovegas³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Billy Lee| T: W P Mullins| OR: 105| BF| CD

16/1

Impressive when winning the Ascot Stakes in June and not disgraced in the Northumberland Plate next time. Slowly away at Gowran when never involved last time but she's still feasibly handicapped off this sort of mark.

Form: 332-170

(10)

Play The Game²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Killian Leonard⁽³⁾| T: T Gibney| OR: 104| C

50/1

Fairly useful on the Flat, placed in Listed company over 1m2f here last year. Has work on to defy this sort of handicap mark though and this looks competitive.

Form: 7647/37-

(14)

Limini⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: W P Mullins| OR: 102| BF| D

5/1

Placed in two handicaps at this year's Galway Festival but needs to step up on that if she's to defy this sort of handicap mark. Quicker ground this time should be in her favour at least.

Form: 5111/23

(13)

Cliffs Of Dooneen⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: E J McNamara| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 106

12/1

Won a maiden on debut before a win over 2m last time out at the Curragh, justifying short priced favouritism. Higher in the weights now but should continue to improve.

Form: 11

(12)

Sharjah⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Colin Keane| T: W P Mullins| OR: 97

10/3

Winner over hurdles at the Galway Festival and while he hasn't been seen in this sphere for some time, he would appear to be on a workable handicap mark. Champion Jockey takes the ride and looks like the first string for the yard.

Form: 442123/

(5)

Batts Rock^t⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Declan McDonogh| T: G Elliott| OR: 95

14/1

Consistent but only won once for Michael Bell. Has looked a different proposition since joining this outfit and seemingly on a workable mark after his win at the Curragh last time; shouldn't be far away.

Form: 5244-11

(11)

Saracen Knight¹¹^{(ex 7)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 96

10/3

Won a heavy ground maiden at Gowran Park last year. Won in good style on his seasonal return at Naas and while this is obviously tougher, he should come on for that run. First string on jockey bookings.

Form: 3315-1

(3)

Change Of Velocity^t⁶³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 102| D

16/1

Followed up a maiden win with a handicap success at Down Royal. Hasn't been quite as effective from his revised mark but less exposed than some in here and can't be ruled out.

Form: 361162

(17)

Law Girl²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: D Tudhope| T: W P Mullins| OR: 93

20/1

Has won twice already on the Flat this year, taking advantage of her reduced mark to win at Gowran two starts back. Shaped as if amiss last time at Killarney and worth giving another chance to.

Form: 310015

(4)

Medalla De Oro¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Ben Coen⁽⁷⁾| T: P W Chapple-Hyam| OR: 90

20/1

Running well in defeat before a fine effort at Epsom last time when making all in impressive fashion. Handicapper hasn't gone overboard with his mark and a repeat of that effort shouldn't see him too far away.

Form: 6-30221

(16)

St Stephens Green⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: Ronan Whelan| T: E Mullins| OR: 90

20/1

Won at the Curragh when last seen on the Flat and has won over fences in the interim. The form of his Flat win has a solid look to it and still unexposed in this sphere. Drop back in trip quite possibly not ideal.

Form: 3100-41

(6)

Whirling Dervish²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 96

22/1

Maiden win as a juvenile and not disgraced in Listed company earlier this campaign. Can be forgiven his run last time and not without place claims here.

Form: 31-230

(15)

Warnaq^h1¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: N G McCullagh| T: M J Smith| OR: 85

33/1

Got her head back in front at Navan earlier in the campaign and not disgraced behind Astronomer last time at Bellewstown. The concern would be that all her best form is with cut in the ground. Wears first-time hood.

Form: 21-1453

(2)

Legal Spin²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Leigh Roche| T: W P Mullins| OR: 91

12/1

Plenty of promise in his debut effort before winning a Killarney maiden on second start. Failed to justify favouritism down in class next time though and may need more of a stamina test.

Form: 213

(8)

Birth Of Venus^p²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Chris Hayes| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 91

33/1

Has won twice this year and retunred to form when dropped back in to handicap company last time when runner-up at Killarney. More needed from this mark.

Form: 215182

(1)

The Mouse Doctor^t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁵⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 83| CD

16/1

Well beaten when runner-up to Astronomer last time but still well-handicapped on old form and may be able to make his presence felt here off joint bottom weight for a shrewd trainer.

Form: 9-57212

Non-Runners

(9)

Astronomer⁵

Weight: 9-6| Age: 3

T: A P O'Brien J: E J McNamara

(7)

Tornado Watch²⁸

Weight: 8-6| Age: 9

T: E Mullins J: Sean Davis

Forecasts

Saracen Knight (10/3), Sharjah (10/3), Limini (5/1), Astronomer (10/1), Cliffs Of Dooneen (12/1), Legal Spin (12/1), Batts Rock (14/1), The Mouse Doctor (16/1), Lagostovegas (16/1), Change Of Velocity (16/1), Law Girl (20/1), St Stephens Green (20/1), Medalla De Oro (20/1), Whirling Dervish (22/1), Tornado Watch (25/1), Birth Of Venus (33/1), Warnaq (33/1), Play The Game (50/1)

Aidan O'Brien has an expected strong hand in this race and it might be worth taking a chance on the second string ASTRONOMER after an impressive success last time when he had a few of these in behind. Sharjah has to be respected on his return to the Flat while stablemate to the selection Saracen Knight may improve for his most recent outing.