15:40 Downpatrick

Friday 12 October 2018

All14:0014:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Portman Dentalcare Handicap Hurdle (80-102)

Off time: 15:41 | Winning time: 4m 47.20s

Just A Normal Day^b³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: Mrs D A Love| OR: 102

3/1

Improving sort over fences for Daniel Howard, duly scoring over 2m at Wexford last month. Since changed hands, could be thrown in off this mark back over timber based on old British form.

Form: 043341

Fleurys Fort^p,h⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: C J Orr⁽⁷⁾| T: L Young| OR: 101| D

7/1

Gained fifth hurdles win of career at Sligo in July over 2m4f off a mark of 99, mixed bag since including when weakening at Gowran Park (2m4f, good) last week, albeit in a better race than this one.

Form: 554P47

Ballinlina Boy^p,t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: A Ring| T: R K Watson| OR: 100

14/1

0-4 for previous trainer in maiden hurdles, makes handicap debut for new handler now and needs to find plenty improvement. Worth a market check however.

Form: 6-0F666

Rain In Spain¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Paul Townend| T: C O'Brien| OR: 99

5/1

Maiden hurdle winner at Sligo (2m5f, good) in August and followed up with Clonmel handicap success (2m½f, good to yielding) last month. Denied hat-trick off this mark at Roscommon early in the month. Not written off.

Form: 5P-0116

Fontainbleau^b¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Lambe| OR: 102

14/1

Runner-up at Sligo on stable /hurdles debut in July (2m, good) but hasn't built on that in two further starts over timber. Beaten over 15L this C&D latest.

Form: 294

Muroor^v¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: C D Maxwell| T: T G McCourt| OR: 98| CD

8/1

C&D winner in August (rated 93), well held here a fortnight ago from increased mark however, drops a pound now. Needs to find a bit extra.

Form: P49D15

Alnahar¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: N McKnight| OR: 97

20/1

Beaten wide margins in all three maiden hurdles to date, including over C&D a fortnight ago. Mares switch to handicaps now and must improve.

Form: 005

Maighnealta^t⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: D McDonogh| OR: 92| C

7/2

2-26 over hurdles with her most recent win over timber coming in a 2m4f handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse close to two years ago. Has questions to answer on a lot of recent form, though did take a step in the right direction at Gowran Park last week.

Form: 8-65303

Montys Angel²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: D E Browne⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 90

12/1

Mare unseated at the last (beaten) here in May but following a summer break she was runner-up at Clonmel (2m½f, good) in maiden company last month, defying odds of 25/1. Up in distance now.

Form: 5/744-U2

Rathnaleen Girl^h¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: S E Lewis⁽⁷⁾| T: P Byrne| OR: 90

8/1

Last three starts have seen the mare competitive, finished third in sizeable fields each time. Just 1-26 over timber all told, and her recent consistency ensures the handicapper isn't offering much help.

Form: B74333

Non-Runners

Authorative¹⁴

Weight: 11-1| Age: 8

T: A McCann J: Shane O'Callaghan

Forecasts

Just A Normal Day (3/1), Maighnealta (7/2), Rain In Spain (5/1), Authorative (13/2), Fleurys Fort (7/1), Muroor (8/1), Rathnaleen Girl (8/1), Montys Angel (12/1), Ballinlina Boy (14/1), Fontainbleau (14/1), Alnahar (20/1)

Just A Normal Day was a winner last time out over fences and could be very well handicapped in this sphere, based on his British form of old. Rathnaleen Girl continues to run well but on that basis isn't getting much relief from the assessor, while Authorative won well over C&D last time, but might not get to dictate as easily now. FLEURYS FORT is capable of winning and, having faded in a better race at Gowran last time, might go well here under a promising 7lb claimer. Rain In Spain is far from out of things bidding to make it three wins in four starts.