18:00 Leopardstown

Friday 17 May 2019

All17:2518:0018:3019:0519:3520:1020:40

Paddy's Rewards Club Handicap

Off time: 18:01 | Winning time: 1m 30.69s

(8)

Dance Emperor¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Hugh Horgan⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 82| C

33/1

A winner over a mile here last August but since then as run well below that form. Needs to bounce back after poor stable bow over 6f at Naas last month, though this trip should serve better.

Form: 40100-0

(2)

Honor Oak¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: W J Lee| T: T Hogan| OR: 81| D

13/2

Seasoned handicapper who has five career wins and handles these conditions well. Won at the Galway Festival last season, competitive in 3-4 starts this term and drops another pound in the ratings. In the mix.

Form: 37-7944

(1)

Time Stands Still⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: W T Byrne⁽⁷⁾| T: W J Martin| OR: 81| BF| D

5/1

In good form of late, scoring at Cork (7f, good to yielding; 11-1) last month. Twice run well since and clearly in good heart; should run well again.

Form: 740132

(11)

Geological⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Colin Keane| T: D English| OR: 80| CD

5/1

Former C&D winner was building on solid recent form when he unshipped his rider at Cork (1m, good) eight days ago, seemingly when set to go close. Colin Keane takes over, mark unchanged and should have a say.

Form: 54546U

(6)

Atlas^b²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: K J Leonard⁽³⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 77| BF| CD

5/1

Winner of two of his 20 starts on turf, the second of which came last month off a 4lb lower mark when winning a C&D handicap by ¾L. Competitive again since at Limerick (1m, soft; 5-1) and entitled to run his race.

Form: 245-614

(9)

Dia Del Sol^b,t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: S M Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: P Nolan| OR: 76

50/1

Hurdles winner (2m) last year at Wexford but winless in seven on the Flat previously. Well held at Cork (1m½f, good) last month on seasonal bow and again since back over timber at the same track. Others preferred.

Form: 553/00-0

(10)

Angels¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: S Foley| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 75

9/1

Won two of her first three starts when trained by Tim Easterby last season but started to struggle in handicaps. Looked in need of the run at Gowran Park (1m, good to soft) on stable bow but offered something to work with.

Form: 06457-7

(3)

Venetian Rock²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 74

7/1

Ran well enough on third start to five of 16 in 1m soft-ground Limerick maiden recently, there could be more to come now going into handicaps and worth paying some attention in the betting as such.

Form: 76-5

(7)

Kasbah^v⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Rory Cleary| T: D Hogan| OR: 71

12/1

Experienced sort, won an AW claimer at Dundalk over a mile last month. Bit below his best on first start for Denis Hogan at Naas (6f, good to yielding) most recently, step up in trip suits. One of two for the yard here.

Form: 439127

(4)

Arbourfield^v¹³³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: Chris Hayes| T: Mrs P Dobbs| OR: 70| BF| D

16/1

Experienced sort, does most of his winning on Dundalk's AW track (6-27 on artificial surfaces) and likely finds a few too strong back from short layoff attempting to make it 2-17 on turf.

Form: 38742-0

(5)

Dubai Rainbow¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁵⁾| T: E Lynam| OR: 70| D

7/1

Filly by Tamayuz out of a Giant's Causeway mare progressed in four starts last year taking an AW claiming maiden before a narrow third on handicap debut at Dundalk. Should be sharper for recent Gowran Park comeback.

Form: 4213-8

Forecasts

Geological (5/1), Atlas (5/1), Time Stands Still (5/1), Honor Oak (13/2), Venetian Rock (7/1), Dubai Rainbow (7/1), Angels (9/1), Kasbah (12/1), Arbourfield (16/1), Dance Emperor (33/1), Dia Del Sol (50/1)

Time Stands Still is the pick on recent form and remains competitive from her current mark but it might be best to go with the compensation claims of GEOLOGICAL. He's been shaping well of late and was set to go close at Cork eight days only to unship his rider (slipped saddle) in an apprentice race. Colin Keane takes over and he should be firmly in the mix. Honor Oak and Atlas deserve their mentions while handicap debutant Venetian Rock is worth paying some attention to with possible improvement to come.