20:30 Dundalk

Wednesday 7 November 2018

All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:3021:00

Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap (45-65) (Div 1)

Off time: 20:34 | Winning time: 2m 14.29s

(13)

Sleepy Head^h²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Ben Coen⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Flynn| OR: 60| BF| CD

6/1

Carried exactly this weight to success when winning this race a year ago and arrives on the back of a very solid C&D second. Handicap mark 3lb below last year and claims here are rock solid.

Form: 042342

(12)

Dromana¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Gary Halpin| T: P J Prendergast| OR: 58

5/2

Kept on into second on handicap debut at Thurles last month which was her best effort since a good third on debut in lone previous AW start. Potential for plenty of improvement now up in trip so rates a leading contender.

Form: 3982

(3)

Lady De Vesci²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Colin Keane| T: M Halford| OR: 55| CD

5/2

C&D win last time out her first, beating Sleepy Head. Impressive enough there to think she can overcome 6lb rise and remain competitive but has to be good chance aforementioned can reverse now.

Form: 954351

(1)

Saint Irini^p¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁷⁾| T: E D Delany| OR: 55

10/1

25/1 win at Navan (1m2f) penultimately rather came out of nowhere but she ran a sound enough race next when fifth at Leopardstown. Seems to have turned over a new leaf but still need a little more.

Form: 570415

(6)

Too Precious^t¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: S M Crosse⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 58

8/1

Unplaced so far in five races and beaten 9L and 14L in last two starts since switching to handicaps. Sizable step forward needed to get competitive here.

Form: 53907

(14)

Chaparral Dream¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Declan McDonogh| T: A McGuinness| OR: 57| BF

7/1

15-race maiden has rarely been far away this season with a C&D second in September among his best efforts. Unplaced however in subsequent three starts and draw on the wing only makes things tougher.

Form: 722457

(4)

Nevsky³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Dylan Hogan⁽⁵⁾| T: C P Donoghue| OR: 54

16/1

Unplaced in nine starts to date and now starts out for a third trainer following two uninspiring efforts in 2018 where he was beaten 14½L and 16L. Hard to be confident.

Form: 5070-09

(7)

Maid In Manhattan^t³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Robbie Colgan| T: A J Martin| OR: 53

10/1

Yet to make the frame in 12 career starts and indeed never better than seventh this term in five starts. Handicap continues to fall but still hard to recommend.

Form: 9-08U77

(9)

Manorov^t,v¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Ross Coakley⁽³⁾| T: T G McCourt| OR: 50| CD

66/1

Beaten 13½L and 12L in two starts since a 560 day absence. Now goes up in trip and does like it here but still has to be considered a very risky proposition.

Form: 5780-00

(2)

War Room¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-2| J: K J Manning| T: S M Duffy| OR: 50| CD

25/1

1m Bellewstown winner in August has won here three times over that trip as well as over C&D back in 2015. 4L fourth at Wolverhampton latest his best run since that Bellewstown win but handicap probably high enough now.

Form: 601894

(8)

Alwarda^t¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: T P Madden⁽³⁾| T: T Doyle| OR: 46

25/1

Arrives on the back of a solid third over 1m at Thurles but didn't seem to stay 1m3f in July which was the only time since debut he had gone beyond 1m. Handicap the same so should be competitive if she stays but that is the doubt.

Form: 493463

(11)

Sarzana¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Andrew Slattery⁽⁷⁾| T: J Geoghegan| OR: 45

66/1

Yet to make the frame in six starts although her latest fourth, while remote probably represented her best effort to date. Handicap falls again so has place possibilities but doubt much more than that.

Form: 005004

Messerati Kid¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Reserve 2| T: A Murray| OR: 61

40/1

Tailed off on recent return to action although possibly didn't stay 1m6f in his defence. Form over shorter however little more compelling so best options remain elsewhere. Second Reserve.

Form: 9094-50

Non-Runners

(10)

Nulife¹³

Weight: 9-9| Age: 6

T: D Hogan J: Killian Leonard

(5)

Fake Media¹²³

Weight: 8-8| Age: 3

T: C O'Brien J: N G McCullagh

Gallant Girl²⁰⁹

Weight: 8-11| Age: 3

T: W J Martin J: Reserve 1

Royal Admiral¹³

Weight: 10-0| Age: 4

T: A McGuinness J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Lady De Vesci (5/2), Dromana (5/2), Sleepy Head (6/1), Chaparral Dream (7/1), Too Precious (8/1), Royal Admiral (8/1), Maid In Manhattan (10/1), Saint Irini (10/1), Nulife (12/1), Nevsky (16/1), Fake Media (16/1), Alwarda (25/1), War Room (25/1), Gallant Girl (33/1), Messerati Kid (40/1), Manorov (66/1), Sarzana (66/1)

SLEEPY HEAD successfully carried this weight to success in the race 12 months ago and after a very pleasing C&D second last time out she could hardly arrive in better form so will take plenty of beating in this attempt to go one better. Unexposed Dromana is a big danger with a step up from 1m likely to bring further improvement and she doesn't need too much after finishing second last time out. Lady De Vesci defeated the selection latest and despite a weight pull against her she won with enough in hand to still rate a likely sort.