15:20 Down Royal

Wednesday 26 December 2018

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

Down Royal Corporation Of Horsebreeders (Pro/Am) Flat Race

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 4m 6.1s

Darver Star¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr A J Fox⁽⁷⁾| T: G P Cromwell

14/1

Kalanisi gelding that made a modest start over hurdles at Cork earlier this month. Got going as the race progressed and shaped with promise. Worth a try in a bumper.

Form: 6

Dessie Deschamps³²

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr S Fitzgerald⁽⁷⁾| T: C A McBratney

33/1

Won a point-to-point at Moira in April but fell when last seen out. Possible he needs a stiffer test of stamina.

Form: F91-F

Grey Exchange

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott

14/1

Related to winner over both hurdles and fences, as well as in bumpers; yard does extremely well in this type of event and this fellow looks like he's treading a trusted route. Worth considering.

Form:

Imperial Grey³⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: N T Prendergast⁽⁷⁾| T: P Hennessy

16/1

Left Willie Mullins after just one start last December and not seen out since. Cost €70,000 as a three-year-old but things obviously haven't panned out as first planned. Hard to recommend.

Form: 6-

Makka Pakka²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: T N Brett⁽⁷⁾| T: Ms M Mullins

6/1

Getting the hang of things over hurdles but previous form in bumpers left a bit to be desired. Likely one or two will be sharper if he runs to past form in this sphere.

Form: P-9952

Shaws Bridge

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr B G Crawford⁽⁷⁾| T: S R B Crawford

10/3

A Kalanisi gelding out of a stoutly-bred mare; he's a half-brother to bumper winner Ravenhill Road among others. Yard can ready one but have not enjoyed the best of season's. Still worth a betting check though.

Form:

Valdieu^t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr M J O'Hare⁽³⁾| T: N Meade| BF

5/2

Another from this yard with sound claims on today's card; the gelding has already been placed three times in bumpers and has little to find. Has to be shortlisted in this company.

Form: 9/2-3222

Bobby Mac

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr T J Love⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss S Barkley

50/1

Cost just €3,000 but is a half-brother to bumper winner Ballymountain Boy, who went on to fare well in staying handicaps. Probably safe to let him do his own thing on his racecourse debut.

Form:

Braeside⁶⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: G Elliott

6/1

Shaping with plenty of promise in point-to-points and noteworthy that connections went to £105,000 at last month's sales at Cheltenham. The betting can help but a longer trip will surely suit better.

Form: 43-422

Casamari Abbey⁹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Sarah Kavanagh⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Fahy

14/1

Third of nine on debut but the winner looks a smart recruit and the form may prove to be solid enough in due course. Worth a betting check at least.

Form: 3

Punitive²¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr D G Lavery⁽³⁾| T: H De Bromhead

6/1

Showed inexperience when running out on debut but was just hitting full stride and looked capable of being in the shake up. More to come and has to be a player if he keeps his head this time.

Form: R

Ujumpthelastuwin

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr C M Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: J G Cosgrave

33/1

Cost €2,500 and makes limited appeal on pedigree. Others are more appealing this time.

Form:

Ebaa Hana¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr N McParlan⁽³⁾| T: Gary McGill

20/1

Showed ability in point-to-points but was brushed aside on his debut run in a bumper at Fairyhouse earlier this month. Should know more this time but already has improvement to find.

Form: 2-16

Orena Bay

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr N Gault⁽⁷⁾| T: W J Bryson

50/1

Cost €1,400 as a three-year-old and is a half-sister to a number winners over 3m plus. Yard very quite and would be surprising if the filly were to prove good enough to win this.

Form:

Forecasts

Valdieu (5/2), Shaws Bridge (10/3), Braeside (6/1), Punitive (6/1), Makka Pakka (6/1), Darver Star (14/1), Casamari Abbey (14/1), Grey Exchange (14/1), Imperial Grey (16/1), Ebaa Hana (20/1), Dessie Deschamps (33/1), Ujumpthelastuwin (33/1), Orena Bay (50/1), Bobby Mac (50/1)

Noel Meade, who trained the winner of this race last year, has targeted this meeting with a handful of potentially well placed individuals and may be able to pick up some reward with VALDIEU, who has already held his own in a handful of similar races and has little to find to gain an overdue first win. Punitive also caught the eye on his debut and merits respect, while Braeside and Grey Exchange represent a yard with a fine strike-rate in bumpers and would also be dangerous to overlook. The latter may be the better value option on this occasion.