14:20 Down Royal

Friday 2 November 2018

All12:4013:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:05

Allianz Handicap Hurdle (80-102)

Off time: 14:21 | Winning time: 6m 3.50s

Serious Ego^p1¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 102| D

7/1

Shown some ability over hurdles in three qualifying runs over 2m4f. Goes up in trip for handicap debut and the cheekpieces are added for yard that won this race in 2016. Leading claims.

Form: 61-9387

Sir Ector^p⁴²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: J J Lambe| OR: 102| C| D

5/1

Ran a good race to be second of 10 at Sligo (2m7½f, heavy) back in August. Well held don the flat next time but better in this sphere. Only up 1lb and should run his race.

Form: 28730-2

Redclue^p⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Keith Donoghue| T: Mrs G Callaghan| OR: 99

20/1

Winner of four of his 22 starts over hurdles but with the last win coming in November 2015 off a 4lb higher mark. Badly out of form at present and needs a huge leap forward.

Form: 8-67P00

Caerleon Kate^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: D F O'Regan| T: C A McBratney| OR: 97

14/1

Broke her maiden at the 29th attempt when winning a handicap at Downpatrick last time. Tends to go well there and 5lb rise in a tougher race makes life difficult.

Form: 274401

Brosna George^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Paul Townend| T: A L T Moore| OR: 96| BF

9/2

Run consistently well throughout 2018 without winning. Ran a cracker when backed into favouritism at Fairyhouse last time when a close second of 16. Nudged up 2lb and remains a maiden but should give it a good go on only second start for this yard.

Form: 835-252

Cairnshill^t⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: S Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: M M McNiff| OR: 95

3/1

Been struggling off similar marks of late but did bounce back to form on rain-softened ground at Ayr last time. This is tougher and forecast quicker ground not really ideal.

Form: 98-8652

Mash Potato^p,t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: C J Orr⁽⁷⁾| T: N C Kelly| OR: 83

8/1

Only one win now in 23 starts over hurdles despite often being the subject of market support. Ran well when a close second at Downpatrick three weeks ago and now nudged up 2lb.

Form: 23-9343

Bard Of Armagh^p²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: R M Power| T: A J Martin| OR: 82

10/1

Been mixing up running over fences and hurdles of late with not much fortune. Blew away some cobwebs the last twice and is starting to look dangerously handicapped. Market support would be significant but needs plenty more.

Form: PP-9050

Boris Boru^h¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Sean Flanagan| T: Mrs S Dawson| OR: 82

12/1

Tailed off on first start for almost two years at Punchestown 17 days ago. ON a good mark on some old form but remains to be seen how much ability is retained.

Form: 09235/0

The Broom Squire^p,t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 82

33/1

11 race maiden now who seems to have lost all confidence. Well out the back when jumping errors crept in last time. Hard to fancy.

Form: 0P23F0

Mountmellick Girl^b,t⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: A E Lynch| T: B W Duke| OR: 81

12/1

Best effort over hurdles so far when fourth of 14 at Wexford five days ago. Still beaten 20L+ there so much more needed to be considered.

Form: P/36P-04

Airdrigh²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: P E Corbett⁽³⁾| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 80

40/1

Not shown a great deal over fences or indeed hurdles of late. Well held on all recent starts and needs to do plenty more to be involved.

Form: 4-56548

Piranto⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: C D Maxwell| T: S Wilson| OR: 80

50/1

Four starts so far in handicaps and has been well held every time. Returns from a short break here off a low weight but hard to fancy in current form.

Form: 008-07P

Non-Runners

Ballinlina Boy²¹

Weight: 11-10| Age: 5

T: R K Watson J: A Ring

Forecasts

Cairnshill (3/1), Brosna George (9/2), Sir Ector (5/1), Serious Ego (7/1), Mash Potato (8/1), Bard Of Armagh (10/1), Boris Boru (12/1), Mountmellick Girl (12/1), Caerleon Kate (14/1), Ballinlina Boy (14/1), Redclue (20/1), The Broom Squire (33/1), Airdrigh (40/1), Piranto (50/1)

The penny finally dropped for Caerleon Kate when winning at the 29th attempt last time. The 5lb rise makes life a little tougher for her here. Sir Ector was a good second at Sligo when last seen in this sphere and is very much respected. The trip looks ideal for SERIOUS EGO who makes his handicap off a fair mark with cheekpieces on first time.