14:45 Down Royal

Wednesday 26 December 2018

All12:0012:3013:0013:3514:1014:4515:20

Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (80-102)

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 4m 12.40s

Weekend Offender^t¹²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: P A Gallagher⁽²⁾| T: E Doyle| OR: 102

8/1

Made good progress on the Flat and has to be respected on the pick of his efforts. Three starts over hurdles haven't been great but may do better now he's handicapped. Worth noting in the betting market.

Form: 789

Back To Bataan³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁴⁾| T: M Torrens| OR: 99

9/1

Has C&D experience but form is only ordinary and needs to step things up a few notches to get involved here. Stiff test.

Form: 2/28-769

Effernock Lad³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: M P Flanagan⁽⁴⁾| T: G Keane| OR: 97| D

7/1

Back on a handy enough mark (1lb above his last winning rating) and merits serious consideration in this company. Shortlisted.

Form: 4P-0435

Hero's Welcome¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: E O'Connell⁽⁴⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 97

5/2

Sharpened up with a sound effort in defeat at Cork earlier in the month and interesting to note the gelding has a number of options of the festive period. One to keep a close eye in the betting.

Form: 8006-06

Better Back Bob⁴³⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-6| J: A W Short| T: N McKnight| OR: 96| C

25/1

Best form has been registered over further than this and his long absence has to be a further concern. Risks attached.

Form: 012303-

Holy Motivation^b1³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J R Wildman⁽⁴⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 94

14/1

Placed three time from eight starts over hurdles but looks exposed as ordinary and improvement needed for the mare to break her duck over hurdles. Other more convincing.

Form: 632250

British Art^h¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: B Browne⁽²⁾| T: R K Watson| OR: 93

14/1

Returned from a long break with a solid effort at Tramore earlier December and being kept busy after a further spin on the Flat at Newcastle; worth a betting check on third outing this month.

Form: 8548/03

Walkers Point^b1,t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: C J Orr⁽⁴⁾| T: S McParlan| OR: 91

8/1

Claims on the best of his efforts but needs to better his latest performance when he faded tamely at Clonmel earlier this month. The reapplication of a hood may help. The betting can help.

Form: 09-9230

Mistiness²³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: S J Gray| T: K H Clarke| OR: 89

20/1

Not stood much racing of late and needs to step thing up considerably on his four previous starts over hurdles. Been off since a run on the Flat in May and plenty to prove on handicap debut.

Form: 000/0-

Tyrone Tiger³⁷⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 10-9| J: John J Fitzpatrick⁽⁴⁾| T: Miss S Barkley| OR: 85| C

40/1

Still knows what to do when he hits the front and is very well handicapped on old form. Not seen out for a year though and fitness must be taken on trust.

Form: P70P/P9-

Bracka Lily⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: S J Crimin⁽⁴⁾| T: N C Kelly| OR: 83

25/1

Only modest form so far and last month's return to action was hardly an inspiring performance. Not hard to overlook.

Form: 00P0-P0

Klassy Kay⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: G P Brouder| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 86

16/1

Unexposed as far as handicapping goes and may be able to make progress now the gloves are off. One to bear in mind if supported.

Form: 7-30658

Glendaars Warrior⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁴⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 82

12/1

Modest levels of form achieved so far and done little to suggest he can rid himself of the maiden tag over hurdles. Would be a surprising winner.

Form: 595579

Boris Boru^h⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Dillon Maxwell⁽⁴⁾| T: Mrs S Dawson| OR: 81

9/1

Best effort when placed over 2m6f at this course in November 2016; raced only a handful of times since then and has a bit to prove after falling last time out.

Form: 235/07F

Shabra's Bertolini⁷⁸⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Shane O'Callaghan⁽⁴⁾| T: A McCann| OR: 81| C

20/1

Over two years since he was last seen out but is on a very workable mark and wouldn't be the biggest shock of the day were the gelding to able to force his way into the frame. The betting can again guide here.

Form: 275340/

Airdrigh^p,t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: P E Corbett| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 80

25/1

Still a maiden and handicap mark dropping as a result; not one noted for resolution and may also find things happening too quickly for him over this trip.

Form: 548044

Piranto²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Mr J C Canavan⁽⁴⁾| T: S Wilson| OR: 80

16/1

Still a maiden and has been tried (and failed) over a variety of trips. Today's drop in distance doesn't inspire much confidence and the mare looks one to be wary of here.

Form: 8-07P46

Forecasts

Hero's Welcome (5/2), Effernock Lad (7/1), Walkers Point (8/1), Weekend Offender (8/1), Back To Bataan (9/1), Boris Boru (9/1), Glendaars Warrior (12/1), British Art (14/1), Holy Motivation (14/1), Klassy Kay (16/1), Piranto (16/1), Mistiness (20/1), Shabra's Bertolini (20/1), Bracka Lily (25/1), Airdrigh (25/1), Better Back Bob (25/1), Tyrone Tiger (40/1)

A weak event and very unlikely the course record will be under threat given that half the field are likely to be better suited to a stronger test of stamina. This may help WEEKEND OFFENDER utilise his speed form the Flat and help the gelding get off the mark at the first time of asking in a handicap hurdle. Hero's Welcome had the pick of a few entries this week, so may be one to bear in mind if supported, while British Art is being kept busy and is also worth a betting check. Support for Shabra's Bertolini to make the frame could also be significant.