15:20 Navan

Saturday 8 December 2018

All12:0012:3013:0513:3514:1014:4515:20

Hotel Park In St Johann Tirol Austria Flat Race

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 4m 21.40s

Dionysis

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins

7/2

Half-brother to Bacardys, a top-class performer for this yard, the Lucarno gelding needs maximum respect for trainer with 32% strike-rate in bumpers over the last 12 months.

Form:

I'mstillyourbaby

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: R Deegan⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Fahy

12/1

Well Chosen gelding who dam was unraced sister to Irish National winner Hear The Echo. Yard has fair record in these contests.

Form:

Soi Cowboy⁵⁸⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr E P O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: Kevin O'Sullivan

25/1

Won a point-to-point on debut back in May 2017 and now makes a belated debut under rules. Form of that success not strong and hard to make case for after the absence.

Form: 1-

Super Follo⁹³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr M J O'Hare⁽³⁾| T: N Meade

9/2

Changed hands for £150,000 buy after getting off the mark in point-to-point at the second attempt in May 2016. Somewhat disconcerting that it has taken this amount of time to reach the racecourse. Market will tell more.

Form: 31/

Neptune^b1¹¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr F Maguire⁽³⁾| T: D K Weld| BF

7/1

Placed in both bumpers so far, latest when 17L second to Rebel Og at Downpatrick (2m2½f, good) in August. Blinkers added and likely has to improve to better that result.

Form: 32

The Very Man²¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Ms L O'Neill| T: G Elliott

1/1

Picked up by Gigginstown for £210,000 after winning in second point-to-point start in May (fell previously). Hard to know what that form amounts to, but clearly has potential and needs respecting.

Form: F-1

Ballyshannon Rose

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr A P Fahey⁽⁷⁾| T: P G Fahey

50/1

Related to winners Sealous Scott and O Ceallaigh, no shock if the Doyen mare learns from this first visit to the racecourse.

Form:

Bigbadandbeautiful

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr J J Codd| T: G Elliott

12/1

Big Bad Bob filly is a half-sister to fairly useful hurdler/chaser Dandy Dan. Second runner for Gordon Elliott here and mount of Jamie Codd. Respected.

Form:

Non-Runners

Mama Tried³⁴

Weight: 11-7| Age: 5

T: Charlie Keegan J: Mr J Hogan

Forecasts

The Very Man (1/1), Dionysis (7/2), Super Follo (9/2), Neptune (7/1), Bigbadandbeautiful (12/1), I'mstillyourbaby (12/1), Soi Cowboy (25/1), Ballyshannon Rose (50/1), Mama Tried (50/1)

Not much to rely on in terms of discernible form in the finale. Blindly, it might be easiest to go with Dionysis, a half-brother to Bacardys, given he represents the trainer/jockey combo that farms these races. He'll be well-found in the betting as will The Very Man having fetched £210,000 out of the Gigginstown coffers. The form of the latter's point-to-point win remains untested. Super Follo has a big absence to defy, though isn't dismissed, but the vote is given to BIGBADANDBEAUTIFUL. The filly has plenty going for on paper and has an in-form Jamie Codd on her side.