14:35 Leopardstown

Saturday 20 October 2018

All13:3514:0514:3515:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Leopardstown 'Christmas Cracker' Nursery Handicap (Plus 10)

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 1m 43.24s

(13)

Facethepuckout^b,t¹⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-12| J: Gary Halpin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 82

10/1

Has had plenty of racing this year but probably put in best effort yet when touched off in similar event at Cork last time. The winner has since franked the form with a third in a Listed contest so 3lb rise is fair enough.

Form: 132522

(8)

National Guard^b¹⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-10| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 80

6/1

Bets effort yet when second over 7f on latest but was a bit keen in the early stages so will need to settle a bit better over the longer trip here.

Form: 54282

(11)

Arcturus³⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-8| J: S M Crosse⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 78| D

8/1

Stepped up on debut when scoring under today's apprentice in heavy ground at Listowel. Improvement to come though a slight concern that those in behind that have run since have been well beaten.

Form: 51

(7)

Colfer Me^b1¹⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-6| J: Ronan Whelan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 76

10/1

10lb rise for Down Royal win over 7f looked harsh and has failed to build on that since. Now tries blinkers and they could bring about some improvement.

Form: 650195

(6)

Nikeandnemesis²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁷⁾| T: W McCreery| OR: 73| D

8/1

Has been a revelation stepped up to 1m and couldn't have been more impressive when bolting up at Navan last time. 10lb rise is perfectly fair and once again teams up with the same 7lb claimer. Obvious claims for the hat trick.

Form: 607911

(12)

Whitsunday Islands²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: M C Hussey| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 73| BF

14/1

Similar level of ability in three maiden runs and didn't improve for nursery debut when favourite but 7L behind Nikeandnemesis recently though 12lb pull should make things closer.

Form: 8548

(2)

Royal Canford^v⁵⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Billy Lee| T: W McCreery| OR: 72

12/1

Shade disappointing on nursery debut last time but perhaps the extra distance will help.

Form: 5346

(5)

Harvest Bow⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 8-12| J: Colin Keane| T: N Meade| OR: 68

6/1

Proved a revelation on very soft ground at Gowran on Monday with an emphatic success. Shaped as though this longer trip will be fine and 8lb rise itself may not stop her, though remains to be seen if she needs the ground softer than it is here.

Form: 827601

(9)

Cuban Surfer⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 8-4| J: Rory Cleary| T: J S Bolger| OR: 60

8/1

Is held be a few of his rivals on old form and beginning to look a bit more exposed than most.

Form: 546054

(4)

Ideal Pal⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 8-4| J: Andrew Slattery⁽⁷⁾| T: M Mulvany| OR: 60

12/1

Found 7f too sharp a test behind Harvest Bow on Monday. Will be much happier back at this distance and has significant weight pull with a couple of his opponents.

Form: 04025

(10)

Manard⁷²

Age: 2| Weight: 8-4| J: C P Hoban| T: H Rogers| OR: 60

33/1

Moderate form in a trio of maidens to date. East to look elsewhere.

Form: 790

(1)

Ozone⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 8-4| J: Alan Persse⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 60| BF

5/1

Disappointing favourite behind Harvest Bow on Monday but had earlier looked to be on the upgrade and the return to less testing ground today will help.

Form: 80030

Non-Runners

(3)

Isle Of Shadows⁵

Weight: 8-4| Age: 2

T: M O'Callaghan J: Leigh Roche

Forecasts

Ozone (5/1), Harvest Bow (6/1), National Guard (6/1), Arcturus (8/1), Cuban Surfer (8/1), Nikeandnemesis (8/1), Facethepuckout (10/1), Colfer Me (10/1), Royal Canford (12/1), Ideal Pal (12/1), Whitsunday Islands (14/1), Isle Of Shadows (16/1), Manard (33/1)

Plenty arrive in form for this contest and despite the rise in the weights NIKEANDNEMESIS can complete the hat trick. HARVEST BOW is a big threat providing she copes with this better ground than at Gowran on Monday while FACETHEPUCKOUT should be competitive despite his big weight.