16:40 Wexford

Wednesday 22 May 2019

All14:0514:3515:1015:4016:1016:4017:10

Wexford Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:43 | Winning time: 3m 56.10s

Commandant¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-2| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 115| BF| CD

4/1

Off the mark at just the second time of asking for connections over the larger obstacles when winning over C&D last month in a beginners contest. Beaten favourite on handicap debut earlier this month. Can go well but has plenty of danger attached.

Form: P30C1-6

Barna Venture³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: S A Mulcahy⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 113| D

9/2

Running well over the larger obstacles around the turn of the year including a win in a Punchestown handicap over a similar trip. Needs to be dropped in to have any chance of gaining his third chase victory.

Form: U21385-

My Manekineko⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: J Nash| OR: 112| D

10/1

Solid and consistent 112-rated handicap hurdler who is still without success in nine starts over fences. Will need to raise overall chasing profile to play a role here.

Form: 26354-8

Capture The Drama⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁷⁾| T: Aengus King| OR: 109| CD

6/1

Winner of eight of his 49 starts over fences, including a win on sole C&D visit over two years ago off a similar mark. Hard to make a case for him given dismal efforts since March.

Form: P365-4P

Perfect Leader²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Danny Mullins| T: Ms M Mullins| OR: 95

3/1

One from nine over the larger obstacles, a win at Leopardstown over 2m1f on soft ground off a 4lb lower mark. Well held over fences and hurdles since and liable to find a couple stronger here.

Form: 2F413-8

Unchago^t¹⁹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: D R Fox| T: M M McNiff| OR: 90

8/1

Eight-race maiden under rules and yet to hit the frame in four starts over fences including a 39L reversal in a Thurles beginners contest when last seen in November. Possibly best watched on handicap debut unless market suggests otherwise.

Form: 3/46774-

Captain Cobajay^p,t1¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: E Sheehy| OR: 83

16/1

91-rated handicap hurdler who needs to improve on a number of early dismal displays over fences. Sent off at 100/1 on his latest start and probably best watched for now in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 0P090-P

Hard Bought¹²

Age: 12| Weight: 9-10| J: Phillip Enright| T: Mrs D A Love| OR: 81| D

9/1

Two from 27 starts over the larger obstacles. Form overall has been desperate of late in three starts since January and is unlikely to be improving at his age.

Form: 664P9-P

Forecasts

Perfect Leader (3/1), Commandant (4/1), Barna Venture (9/2), Capture The Drama (6/1), Unchago (8/1), Hard Bought (9/1), My Manekineko (10/1), Captain Cobajay (16/1)

COMMANDANT sets the standard at the age of six following a short-head victory over C&D last month. The Presenting gelding never got in to a rhythm at Tipperary earlier this month, eventually falling away to finish sixth of eight. He can be forgiven that run and can get back to winning ways here holding off the attentions of Perfect Leader and Barna Venture.