15:30 Gowran Park

Saturday 24 November 2018

All11:3512:0512:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

Support The Irish Injured Jockeys Fund Handicap Chase

4YO plus | 2m | 10 Runners | Turf | Weighed In

Off time: 15:31 | Winning time: 4m 9.70s

Baby Jake⁶²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 116| D

12/1

Showed some promise over fences in Britain a year ago, though remains 0-5 in this sphere. Should be fit after two September starts over timber and not on the worst mark back over fences.

Form: 4220-40

Blue Empyrean^v1¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: A Ring| T: R K Watson| OR: 116| D

14/1

In good form at the turn of the year but his form had deteriorated by the spring and tailed off on return behind Snow Falcon at Down Royal (2m3½f, good to yielding) in Grade 2 before tired fall at Naas last time. Others preferred.

Form: 13P-P6F

Tongie⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Mullins| T: P A Fahy| OR: 116| CD

6/1

Third in Ballinrobe handicap chase over 2m4f in May off 2lb lower mark. Had a spin around Punchestown last weekend in charity contest to sharpen up for this. Might prefer softer ground.

Form: F2140-3

Crocodile Dundee^h¹³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: B J Cooper| T: T Cooper| OR: 112| D

14/1

In and out this season, good effort at Tipperary and Wexford flanking a poor show at Ballinrobe in June then took a fall at Killarney in July. Not out of it but liable to settle for minor honours.

Form: 13-273F

Dundrum Lad²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Mark Walsh| T: Ms M Mullins| OR: 111| D

4/1

Won a 2m4f beginners' chase at Tipperary in July 2016, modest in this sphere in three starts since, including when support last month at Galway (2m2f, soft) and not jumping with fluency.

Form: 114P-67

Hudson's Bay^t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: A E Lynch| T: T J O'Mara| OR: 108| D

14/1

Modest winning hurdler, held on handicap chase bow at Cork (2m½f, good to yielding) earlier this month and may need some relief from the assessor.

Form: 27/6467

Just A Normal Day^b,t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: D N Russell| T: Mrs D A Love| OR: 104| BF| D

9/4

Good form in three starts since joining this trainer, including ½L second in Cork handicap chase over this sort of trip this month. Up 3lb but gets on well with Davy Russell and should go well again.

Form: 341222

Bellgrove¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: J J Slevin| T: P M Cloke| OR: 103| D

6/1

Just 2-40 over fences, with a further 10 placed efforts. Has won this year and run some sound races. Should do so again from this mark but others more likely to win.

Form: 447453

Shrewdoperator^p,t²⁰⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 101| D

14/1

Cork winner off a 6lb lower mark in April before disappointing connections with an 11L defeat at Ballinrobe, weakening when upped in trip. Worth a market check back from a layoff.

Form: 31631-5

Lacken Bridge²⁰³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: C Bowe| OR: 99

14/1

Triple winning point-to-pointer left all previous rules form behind when scoring at Tramore (2m5f, heavy) in April. Flopped over longer trip at Wexford in May and off since. Questions over this trip.

Form: 04781-5

Forecasts

Just A Normal Day (9/4), Dundrum Lad (4/1), Bellgrove (6/1), Tongie (6/1), Baby Jake (12/1), Lacken Bridge (14/1), Shrewdoperator (14/1), Crocodile Dundee (14/1), Hudson's Bay (14/1), Blue Empyrean (14/1)

JUST A NORMAL DAY has banged on the door since joining his current yard and ought to close under the champion jockey have run a fine race (second) at Cork last time. He is the logical choice ahead of February C&D winner Tongie, who ran well in better company towards the backend of last season, and a handy pipe opener in a charity contest at Punchestown a week ago to put him right for this. Race fitness is a concern for the likes of Shrewdoperator and Baby Jake but both could have a say if ready to go.