16:25 Dundalk

Wednesday 31 October 2018

All14:5015:2015:5016:2516:5517:3018:00

Book Your Christmas Party At Dundalk Handicap

Off time: 16:27 | Winning time: 1m 36.84s

(3)

Polly Glide⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Luke McAteer⁽⁷⁾| T: L Smyth| OR: 82| D

28/1

Impressive when winning at Hamilton but tilting at windmills in Listed class in two runs since. Will need more to make her presence felt off this sort of mark on handicap debut.

Form: 4-27100

(7)

Spiorad Saoirse³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: Ben Coen⁽⁷⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 83| D

9/2

Gained a first win since his maiden success at Limerick back in June. Ran okay in defeats on his next few starts but his most recent efforts suggest his form has tailed off. Needs to improve for the switch to AW.

Form: 142408

(2)

Wisdom Mind^t¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: S M Crosse⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 83| D

5/2

Showed plenty when runner-up on debut for this yard and improved to win a Curragh maiden next time. Her form has been a little inconsistent since but she gives the impression she has the ability to win off this mark and ran well here last time.

Form: 143064

(9)

Atlas^b¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Killian Leonard⁽³⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 73| CD

4/1

Losing run stretches back to a C&D win just over a year ago and he hasn't given the impression he's about to return to form on recent starts. Well-handicapped if he can bounce back.

Form: 544055

(8)

Gasta²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 73

11/1

Just one win from 20 starts and that came in a Curragh maiden on debut. Starting to get competitive off her reduced mark on recent starts and while she's not always quick away, this mark probably underestimates her a little.

Form: 440303

(5)

Pushaq^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Gavin Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: A McCann| OR: 70| D

9/1

Gained a first win on turf at Gowran two starts back and there was plenty to like about that effort. Well beaten over hurdles just a few days later and 8lb higher here but he has AW form from earlier in his career and can't be ruled out.

Form: 554031

(4)

Ishebayorgrey^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Ross Coakley⁽³⁾| T: P Martin| OR: 69| C

7/1

Six-time course winner but he's been disappointing in recent starts, including on his AW return here last time out. Never won over this far and seemingly best watched at present.

Form: 256708

(6)

Nivvo⁸³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Colin Keane| T: T Collins| OR: 69| CD

8/1

Lost her maiden tag when she was a C&D winner in February and followed up next time at 7f here. She's been a bit hit and miss since but given a break since her last run and she remains capable off this sort of handicap mark.

Form: 103620

(1)

Lily's Prince^p²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: O J Orr⁽³⁾| T: G Donnelly| OR: 68| CD

20/1

C&D winner who has won four of his 30 starts around here. Went close on a couple of occasions earlier in the campaign but well beaten last time out at Naas and seemingly more effective at 6f/7f than this trip.

Form: 526450

(10)

Alhajjaj^h¹³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁵⁾| T: A McCann| OR: 66

20/1

AW winner for Andrew Balding last year and looked to be on the way back to better form when not beaten far over this trip at Limerick last time. 4lb drop for that very welcome and if fit after a break, can't be ruled out.

Form: 451-87

Forecasts

Wisdom Mind (5/2), Atlas (4/1), Spiorad Saoirse (9/2), Ishebayorgrey (7/1), Nivvo (8/1), Pushaq (9/1), Gasta (11/1), Alhajjaj (20/1), Lily's Prince (20/1), Polly Glide (28/1)

ALHAJJAJ gets weight from all his rivals here and he was better than the bare result at Limerick last time. A 4lb drop from the handicapper would appear particularly lenient and given he was an all-weather winner when trained in England by Andrew Balding, he looks capable of making his presence felt in this. A break may have freshened up Nivvo while Gasta hasn't been beaten far on her last couple of starts, suggesting a return to the winners' enclosure may be imminent .