20:00 Dundalk

Friday 16 November 2018

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

Dundalk Stadium - Light Up Your Night Handicap

Off time: 20:01 | Winning time: 2m 11.97s

(7)

Massif Central¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Colin Keane| T: M Halford| OR: 96| C

6/1

Course winner and running well in defeat over C&D in a couple of starts in the Autumn. May get taken on for the lead but leading contender in this company.

Form: 084347

(12)

Gymkhana⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 95

12/1

Three from 19 overall and not disgraced on AW introduction here over 1m earlier this month. Likely to improve and holds place claims stepping up in trip.

Form: 343097

(6)

Tooreen Legend¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: Andrew Slattery⁽⁷⁾| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 88| C

12/1

Course winner who possibly needed the run on return to action following a three-year hiatus earlier this month. May need more time on second start for new connections.

Form: 01021/8

(8)

Johann Bach^v²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: Dylan Hogan⁽⁵⁾| T: P Harney| OR: 87| CD

16/1

C&D winner whose last win came at Naas in May 2016 and handicapper has been slow to relent. Tough ask on return to this track.

Form: 392-000

(2)

Bid Adieu³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: S M Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: T Cooper| OR: 85| CD

13/2

Dual 1m2f winner this season paid the price for another good effort penultimately with latest handicap rise seeing him struggle at Bath and Windsor last month. Looks a tall order at the weights.

Form: 331254

(1)

Nimitz²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: T P Madden⁽³⁾| T: C O'Brien| OR: 82| BF| CD

4/1

Solid and consistent sort, C&D winner but racing off a career high mark currently which just may stop the gallant gelding. Strong place claims.

Form: 422124

(5)

Jon Ess¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: R P Downey| T: C O'Dwyer| OR: 79| C

10/1

Second in a Cork maiden hurdle earlier in the month and is a three-time course winner. Rates a leading contender racing 4lb lower than last winning mark with conditions in his favour.

Form: 000667

(9)

Reaver¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Ellmarie Holden| OR: 79| BF

6/1

One from seven on the AW finding success at Keptom when in the care of Eve Johnson-Houghton. Hurdling recently and market likely to reveal expectations on return to the Flat.

Form: 348503-

(10)

Merited¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: C P Hoban| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 78

14/1

Eight-race maiden who has hit the frame on three occasions. Yard without a winner from seven start on the AW this term and others preferred.

Form: 083280

(3)

New Direction¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: Rory Cleary| T: J S Bolger| OR: 78| CD

7/1

C&D winner over two years ago off a 22lb lower mark. Struggled since his last win in June in a Leopardstown 1m2f handicap. Likely to find better handicapped sorts lurking.

Form: 032527

(4)

Ashqar¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: N G McCullagh| T: G T Lynch| OR: 77

14/1

Nine-race maiden on the Flat who is yet to hit the frame. Others look more convincing at this level.

Form: 740075

(11)

Tooreen Katie²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Sean Davis⁽⁵⁾| T: J A Stack| OR: 77

7/1

Third of 10 finishing 4L adrift of Commander Won on her most recent visit here last month. Likeable type who should be in the mix.

Form: 534139

Forecasts

Nimitz (4/1), Massif Central (6/1), Reaver (6/1), Bid Adieu (13/2), Tooreen Katie (7/1), New Direction (7/1), Jon Ess (10/1), Tooreen Legend (12/1), Gymkhana (12/1), Ashqar (14/1), Merited (14/1), Johann Bach (16/1)

With Bid Adieu and Massif Central likely to be vying for the lead here, their early speed could set the race up for JON ESS to come off the strong pace and can land the odds from Tooreen Katie and New Direction who could both be racing prominently.