20:30 Dundalk

Friday 9 November 2018

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

Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 20:30 | Winning time: 2m 32.65s

(13)

Park Row²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: R Coakley| T: D P Coakley| OR: 78| CD

5/2

Has four course wins to his name and only narrowly denied in a C&D hat-trick last time. Nudged up another 1lb but clearly thriving at present.

Form: 310112

(10)

Nebulla⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: D N Curran⁽⁷⁾| T: J Leavy| OR: 74

14/1

Hasn't won since 2015 but showed he retained ability off the back of sizable absence in a couple of starts last summer. Well beaten on another return from a lengthy absence earlier in the week and probably best watched at present.

Form: 690/54-0

(3)

Isharah⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: K P Gallagher⁽⁷⁾| T: N C Kelly| OR: 71| D

20/1

Won three in a row on AW for Mark Johnston a couple of winters ago but hasn't won since and well beaten in a couple of more recent AW starts. Yet to win on Polytrack and others preferred.

Form: 047-669

(6)

Touch Of Gold¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: K J Leonard| T: M Kennedy| OR: 71| C

6/1

A winner over hurdles but had to wait until the 16th time of asking to win on the Flat, a course success last time. Step up in trip could unlock some improvement but a 9lb rise for the win looks a little harsh.

Form: 233051

(2)

California Lad^t,v¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: D P Linehan| T: F Birrane| OR: 67| C

9/1

Won three times here last winter but has generally struggled from his revised mark and he was well beaten here last time out. Bit to prove at present.

Form: 426009

(4)

Dancing Doll²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: O J Orr| T: A J Martin| OR: 67| CD

4/1

Won her maiden here over C&D back in 2016 but hasn't managed a win since. Leading apprentice takes the ride and starting to look well-handicapped on some of her form so can't be ruled out.

Form: 325427

(12)

Fivehundredmiles¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: S M Crosse⁽²⁾| T: J J Lambe| OR: 67

25/1

Losing run is mounting up now and he was well beaten on yard debut last time. Up in trip but others make more appeal, particularly from this wide draw.

Form: 436540

(7)

Glenbank King^b³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 9-6| J: A J Slattery⁽⁴⁾| T: L Smyth| OR: 67| D

33/1

Got his head back in front at Sligo in the summer but his form either side of that run suggests and the form of that race suggests he was a bit fortunate that day. Well beaten over C&D last time and opposable from just 1lb lower.

Form: 441005

(5)

Poitin⁷²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: D M Redmond| T: K H Clarke| OR: 67| CD

20/1

Three-time C&D winner and very well-handicapped on that form but she's on a long losing run at present and has shown very few signs of a revival this summer. Needs to bounce back off a break on return to AW.

Form: 040090

(11)

Sketching¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Ben Coen| T: T Doyle| OR: 66

20/1

Showed some promise in three AW starts for her previous yard but has looked regressive of late and she remains a maiden after nine starts. Wide draw not ideal and hard to fancy.

Form: 663679

(9)

Magen's Moon⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: T P Madden| T: A J Martin| OR: 64| C

16/1

Won her maiden here in January 2017 but that was over 7f and she failed to build on that up in trip. Has shown very little since joining this outfit, over hurdles and on the Flat.

Form: 390-900

(8)

La Hougue²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: G M Ryan⁽⁴⁾| T: R P McNamara| OR: 63

33/1

French winner who showed nothing on debut for this yard at Leopardstown last month. May do better but needs to leave that effort way behind here.

Form: 17774-0

(1)

Universal Focus^b³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: D E Sheehy| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 60| CD

9/2

C&D winner in April and has been very consistent since, including a win at Naas in September. He's the type to bounce back from a below par effort at Cork last time and drawn well for one that likes to be ridden prominently.

Form: 522218

Forecasts

Park Row (5/2), Dancing Doll (4/1), Universal Focus (9/2), Touch Of Gold (6/1), California Lad (9/1), Nebulla (14/1), Magen's Moon (16/1), Sketching (20/1), Poitin (20/1), Isharah (20/1), Fivehundredmiles (25/1), La Hougue (33/1), Glenbank King (33/1)

PARK ROW has been improving since joining this outfit, particularly on all-weather and he performed well last time out when bidding for a course and distance hat-trick. Universal Focus is a model of consistency and shouldn't be ruled out while the mare Touch Of Gold could improve for the step up in trip.