16:25 Navan

Sunday 14 October 2018

All13:3514:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Irish Cesarewitch (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 16:25 | Winning time: 3m 35.20s

Stellar Mass²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 105

33/1

Smart Group race performer with plenty of placed efforts to his name this season but yet to race beyond 1m6f and probably needs a career best under his welter burden.

Form: 043-224

Chelkar⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Colin Keane| T: W P Mullins| OR: 100

14/1

Found to be be coughing as well as having lost a shoe when well in rear at Galway so that run can be forgiven. Thought good enough to be sent off favourite at Royal Ascot prior to that and his fine fourth there has to put him in the mix.

Form: 1631/40

Edelpour¹⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Robbie Colgan| T: A Fleming| OR: 97

33/1

Lightly raced on the flat and not seen in this sphere since 2016 when second in a Group 3. Yet to race beyond 1m4f so stamina to prove. Has been placed in maiden hurdles since.

Form: 5112/

Nessun Dorma⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Billy Lee| T: W P Mullins| OR: 94| D

12/1

Just the four runs on the flat but made all to win over 1m4f and 1m5f this summer. Yet to be asked for effort when falling in valuable handicap hurdle at Killarney in August and has more to offer on the flat.

Form: 0/211

Sharjah²⁹

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

8/1

Won the hugely valuable Galway hurdle in the summer and on the back of that was well fancied for his flat debut for this stable at Leopardstown but never figured on that occasion. Must be capable of better and commands respect.

Form: 42123/0

Cliffs Of Dooneen²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 101| D

10/1

Won on his first two starts including a Curragh handicap at this trip. Probably found the drop down to 1m5f against him last time and should be happier back up to 2m. Interesting runner form top yard.

Form: 117

Brazos^b³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Shane Foley| T: J J Murphy| OR: 91| BF

16/1

Back on song in two attempts since below par run at Galway. The blinkers he has worn on those occasions are retained and has place claims in a wide open contest.

Form: 7-51913

Brex Drago^p²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Gary Carroll| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 91

20/1

In cracking form over hurdles having rattled off a hat-trick in the space of a fortnight last month but Flat runs have been at much shorter than this and stamina likely to be tested in such a strong race.

Form: 008267-

Ancient Sands¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 8-10| J: T P Madden⁽⁵⁾| T: J E Kiely| OR: 89| CD

50/1

Admirable veteran but last of his Flat wins on turf was gained five years ago and seems to be more of a force on the A/W these days.

Form: 2/2-8491

Exchange Rate³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Ronan Whelan| T: W P Mullins| OR: 89| D

5/1

Untroubled to land long odds on heavy ground at Listowel last month. Closely weighted with Brazos from previous run and surely has more to come with the step up to 2m on the Flat virtually certain to suit.

Form: 1-21

Makitorix^t³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Ben Coen⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 86| BF| D

12/1

Yet to race beyond 1m 4f on the Flat and a fair chance he will improve for this extra distance though comes here off the back of a tame effort over hurdles last time.

Form: 63323/3

Pleasure Dome²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: J F Egan| T: W P Mullins| OR: 85

5/1

Not seen on the Flat since June 2017 but has won three out of six over hurdles since then and no surprise should he show improved form now going back to this sphere.

Form: 21114/7-

Davids Charm²²

Age: 7| Weight: 8-4| J: Rory Cleary| T: J J Walsh| OR: 83| D

10/1

Did well to win maiden at Gowran considering the distance of 1m2f was surely on the sharp side. The runner up franked the form with a victory and considering he stays well over hurdles, this longer trip on the Flat certainly makes him interesting.

Form: 0-531

Decision Time⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-4| J: C P Hoban| T: J E Kiely| OR: 83| C| D

66/1

In top form in fillies handicaps in the summer but 7lb above last winning mark and stamina to prove in a stronger contest contest.

Form: 1-01106

Sandymount Duke^p⁷⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 8-4| J: N G McCullagh| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 83

33/1

Best known as smart chaser but just three runs on the Flat in his career and any rain would be a problem.

Form: 12-5

Waaheb^b⁴⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 8-4| J: Alan Persse⁽⁷⁾| T: P Roche| OR: 83| D

40/1

Veteran who ran really well on just his third Flat start of his career when third at the Galway festival. The bare form needs improving on but plenty of rain brings him into the equation.

Form: 21/3

Miles To Memphis^t⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 8-4| J: M A Gallagher| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 83| CD

66/1

Lightly raced in this sphere but has won two out of six. although this represents a arise in class.

Form: 11544-0

Mr Everest^t³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: Sean Davis⁽⁵⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 83

16/1

Hadn't won on the flat since debut until putting that right when winning on heavy at Listowel last month. That was over 1m6f but was strong at the end and very likely more to come. A big player should the rain come.

Form: 16360-1

Newcross^t⁷⁰

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

8/1

Improved for the step up to 1m6f when runner up at the Galway festival splitting a pair of subsequent winners. Looks set to improve again at the trip and interesting with decent claimer taking over.

Form: 62/27-12

Western Boy^p¹⁰⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 8-4| J: Andrew Slattery⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Fahy| OR: 83| D

25/1

His third in the November Handicap last year puts him on the mix here but the fact he hasn't won on the Flat since 2015 makes him risky for win purposes,

Form: 0/503-49

Like An Open Book²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-4| J: Julie Burke| T: J M Burke| OR: 83| D

66/1

15lb higher than her win in Tramore handicap and found the step up to Listed class beyond her since.

Form: 3119

Legal Spin²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Leigh Roche| T: W P Mullins| OR: 92

25/1

First go at this trip and has more to offer as his run at Leopardstown can easily be forgiven due to been short of room in the straight. Trainer won this with a three-year-old in 2016.

Form: 2130

Roseriver Has^t⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: Killian Leonard⁽³⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 83

50/1

Maiden winner in May and that form has been franked by the placed horses but regularly beaten over hurdles since and this likely to be too stiff a task.

Form: 531

Rockabill⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Wayne Lordan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 92

20/1

Followed up his maiden win with a good effort when scoring over 1m4f at The Curragh. This trip looks sure to bring out further improvement but with a 13lb higher mark to contend with it will need to.

Form: 447211

Non-Runners

Marine One²

Weight: 8-4| Age: 4

T: D Hogan J: M A Gallagher

Forecasts

Exchange Rate (5/1), Pleasure Dome (5/1), Newcross (8/1), Sharjah (8/1), Davids Charm (10/1), Cliffs Of Dooneen (10/1), Nessun Dorma (12/1), Makitorix (12/1), Chelkar (14/1), Brazos (16/1), Mr Everest (16/1), Brex Drago (20/1), Rockabill (20/1), Marine One (20/1), Western Boy (25/1), Legal Spin (25/1), Sandymount Duke (33/1), Stellar Mass (33/1), Edelpour (33/1), Waaheb (40/1), Ancient Sands (50/1), Roseriver Has (50/1), Decision Time (66/1), Miles To Memphis (66/1), Like An Open Book (66/1)

Willie Mullins may hold the key to this cracking contest and a narrow vote goes to CHELKAR who can show his Galway run to be all wrong. CLIFFS OF DOONEEN should benefit from the experience gained at Leopardstown last month and is one of many dangers as is NESSUN DORMA.