15:10 Fairyhouse

Saturday 13 October 2018

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase (0-109)

Off time: 15:11 | Winning time: 5m 15.70s

My Hometown¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: D J McInerney| T: E Bolger| OR: 109

14/1

Now 18 starts over fences without recording a win, never threatening to end that streak at Roscommon (2m5f, good) earlier this month. Hard to make case for.

Form: 68FU-78

Oighear Dubh^p1,t⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: B Browne⁽²⁾| T: E M O'Sullivan| OR: 109

4/1

Figures of 1332 over fences since mid-summer, latest when rallying well after being outplaced at Kelso (2m5½f, good to firm) off a mark of 112. Entitled to go well again with new cheekpieces on, having run sound race over timber at Clonmel recently.

Form: 313323

Double Portrait^b²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: A McCurtin| T: S J Mahon| OR: 105

8/1

Bounced back to form when winning similar contest at Ballinrobe (2m7f, soft to heavy) last month. Raised 5lb for his troubles.

Form: 838P51

Bellgrove²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁴⁾| T: P M Cloke| OR: 104

8/1

Battle-hardened chaser who landed his second victory over fences in 34 starts in a Tramore 2m contest off a 4lb lower mark in August. Well held on soft-ground at Galway latest, may go better here.

Form: 544144

Coolmill⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: K J Brouder⁽⁴⁾| T: D O'Shea| OR: 104

20/1

Veteran who is without a win since 2015. Still capable of being competitive over both hurdles and fences from this sort of mark, but probably wise to look elsewhere for the winner after recent Clonmel effort.

Form: 64-5708

Hitdroadjack¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: D Robinson| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 104

8/1

Lightly-raced maiden, shown some appetite for this game in chase starts at Tramore (2m6f, good) and Sligo (2m5f, good) so far this autumn, albeit he has room for improvement with his jumping.

Form: 702304

Neddyvaughan^b²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr L P Gilligan⁽⁴⁾| T: P Roche| OR: 104

11/4

Runner-up at Killarney in August over 2m4f (good) on previous chase start off a mark of 102, has also been running consistently over timber since mid-summer. In the mix again.

Form: P32284

Better B Quick³⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 10-5| J: A W Short| T: R P O'Keeffe| OR: 88| D

14/1

Now 12-years-old, began life for new handler by scoring at Wexford (3m1f, good) in June off a mark of 82, has run four poor races since over similar trips and doesn't make significant appeal down in journey.

Form: 517900

Old Supporter⁵⁷

Age: 13| Weight: 10-4| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁴⁾| T: P Maher| OR: 87| D

12/1

Teenager, won a 2m6f Tramore handicap chase in August, tends to go well there. Has changed yards since, rated 4lb higher now and market might reveal more on expectations.

Form: P0P621

Tomcoole Lad^t²⁶

Age: 14| Weight: 9-10| J: C J Orr⁽⁴⁾| T: R Donohoe| OR: 79

6/1

Gallant veteran, just 3-46 over fences, but did show the fire still burns with front-running second at Galway last month. Allowed a handy time there, not one for maximum faith.

Form: 3PP-P02

Forecasts

Neddyvaughan (11/4), Oighear Dubh (4/1), Tomcoole Lad (6/1), Double Portrait (8/1), Bellgrove (8/1), Hitdroadjack (8/1), Old Supporter (12/1), Better B Quick (14/1), My Hometown (14/1), Coolmill (20/1)

OIGHEAR DUBH has been in consistent form over fences since mid-summer and ran well over hurdles at Clonmel this month. He sports first-time cheekpieces here and, 3lb lower than his Kelso second over fences last month, is fancied to have a big say. The veteran Tomcoole Lad was allowed to dictate when winning at Galway last month and may not be afforded that now while Ballinrobe winner Double Portrait is another to consider. Neddyvaughan should also throw his hat in the ring back over fences.