21:00 Dundalk

Friday 14 December 2018

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

Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Handicap (45-65)

Off time: 21:00 | Winning time: 2m 38.36s

(7)

Lady De Vesci¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Colin Keane| T: M Halford| OR: 65| C

5/2

Two victories from seven visits to the track, the latest of which came over a shorter trip last month off an 8lb lower mark. One to consider on recent displays.

Form: 351213

(5)

Poitin³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: D M Redmond⁽⁵⁾| T: K H Clarke| OR: 65| CD

16/1

Three wins from 16 C&D starts but is on a 12-race losing streak. Not ruled out but a number of below-par runs to shake off.

Form: 400907

(9)

Stoneboat Bill^h1,t1³⁰⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Rory Cleary| T: J C McConnell| OR: 60

40/1

Seven-race maiden on the AW for trainer Declan Carroll. Last seen finishing sixth of nine in a Newcastle 1m2f handicap in February and possibly best watched on return to action in first-time hood and tongue-tie on stable debut.

Form: 428-566

(11)

Noble Intention^p²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Robbie Colgan| T: A J Martin| OR: 58| C

10/1

Solid and consistent sort who has hit the frame on both C&D visits to the track. Likely to improve and worth considering.

Form: 988462

(12)

Every Breath¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: K J Manning| T: P J F Murphy| OR: 60| C

13/2

In good form at the track with a victory and a runner-up position in a couple of runs over 1m2½f last month. Open to more improvement.

Form: 048512

(1)

Jensen^t¹⁰⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: O J Orr⁽³⁾| T: N Slevin| OR: 56

28/1

Modest 100-rated handicap hurdler who makes polytrack debut here. Overall record casts doubt on his ability to get competitive in this contest.

Form: 390/0

(13)

Definite Doyenne^t1²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 58| BF

33/1

Showed nothing in three maidens around here but won on handicap debut on turf at Cork in March. First time tongue-tie unlikely to bring about the required amount of improvement needed to play a role here.

Form: 9-0916

(6)

A Few Bob Short^t²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁷⁾| T: S K Ryder| OR: 54

6/1

Solid and consistent and regularly hits the frame. 12-race maiden who deserves a change of luck. Third of 12 beaten 3L over C&D last month outs him in the mix once again.

Form: 322033

(4)

Ragtime Red^t²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: D A McCormack⁽⁵⁾| T: A McCann| OR: 54

20/1

12-race maiden with seven defeats coming at this venue. Running well in defeat here last month but liable to find a couple stronger in this company.

Form: 860095

(8)

Maid In Manhattan^t²³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Ben Coen⁽⁵⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 49

6/1

Third of 12 beaten 5L behind Shadow Seven last month on first start over C&D. Strong place claims if in the same form.

Form: 8U7773

(3)

Marmalade N Toast²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: C P Hoban| T: P J Flynn| OR: 50

6/1

Ran well in defeat over the extended 1m2f here last month finishing 2¾L adrift of the winner, Lady De Vesci. Worth noting in the betting.

Form: 070804

(14)

Baratheon^b1²³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Gary Halpin| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 45

7/1

First-time blinkers fitted following a sluggish start over C&D last month eventually running on to finish fifth of 12. Not to be taken lightly.

Form: 0875

(2)

Gallant Girl²⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: M A Gallagher| T: W J Martin| OR: 48

40/1

Poor handicap form for trainer Ken Condon last year and likely to find one or two better handicapped sorts lurking in this contest.

Form: 6600-6

Ten Bears³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Killian Leonard⁽³⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 45

25/1

First Reserve: Yet to win or place in 10 starts and well beaten on AW debut last time. Hard to fancy if making the line-up.

Form: 004687

Non-Runners

(10)

Time For Mabel²⁹

Weight: 9-5| Age: 7

T: E J O'Grady J: N G McCullagh

Easy Pass¹⁴

Weight: 9-8| Age: 5

T: Mrs J Harrington J: Reserve 2

Tahan²⁷

Weight: 8-4| Age: 3

T: S Lavery J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Lady De Vesci (5/2), Marmalade N Toast (6/1), A Few Bob Short (6/1), Maid In Manhattan (6/1), Every Breath (13/2), Baratheon (7/1), Noble Intention (10/1), Time For Mabel (12/1), Poitin (16/1), Ragtime Red (20/1), Ten Bears (25/1), Jensen (28/1), Definite Doyenne (33/1), Easy Pass (33/1), Stoneboat Bill (40/1), Gallant Girl (40/1), Tahan (50/1)

The solid and consistent, Mick Halford-trained, LADY DE VESCI can land a competitive closer here following a number of promising efforts in the last month at this track. The five-year-old will have plenty of challengers in the shape of Every Breath, Noble Intention and A Few Bob Short, who will look to fill the minor honours.