19:50 Bellewstown

Friday 5 July 2019

All17:1017:4518:1518:4519:2019:5020:2520:55

Seamus Mulvaney Crockafotha Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 19:52 | Winning time: 4m 49.20s

Electric Concorde^t1³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: M J M O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: E M O'Sullivan| OR: 125| D

25/1

Once-rated 139 over hurdles when in the care of Jim Culloty over two years ago. Back below last winning mark the King's Theatre gelding has been recently operating in the point-to-point field. Worth a market check on return to action.

Form: P/415-2P

Gold Seal^p,t²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 118

10/1

Last win came in a Listowel handicap hurdle in September off a 6lb lower mark. Recently seen without success over the larger obstacles but worth another chance representing a yard with a good record with their hurdlers at this meeting.

Form: 6136-78

Lethal Steps¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 125

5/1

Appears to be only a matter of time before the Lethal Force gelding adds to his win at Sligo in April. Leading player, yard have a 24% strike rate with handicap hurdlers at this festival in the last four years.

Form: 323-135

Blottos^v1¹³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: J B Kane⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 116| BF| D

12/1

Won three out of four in a purple patch as a novice last season when in the care of trainer-Sue Smith. Now running 6lb below last winning mark and well worth a market check on stable debut in first time visor.

Form: P/03P93-

Monbeg Chit Chat¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 116| D

10/1

Winner of one of his seven starts over hurdles. Not beaten far on most recent start at Wexford last month but needs a couple to falter to take advantage in this contest.

Form: 1048-97

Mutadaffeq^t⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 113| BF

7/2

Failed to follow up on a novice hurdle win at Cork in May when finishing third behind Megalomaniac in a Clonmel 2m4f handicap. More needed but holds strong place claims.

Form: 0425-13

Roi De Dubai¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 113| D

4/1

Winner of two of his 13 starts over hurdles, the latest of which came in a Downpatrick handicap hurdle in August running off a 9lb lower mark. Handicapper still looks in control.

Form: 61450-8

Adimelo^p,t³³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: D R Fox| T: M M McNiff| OR: 112

33/1

One from seven over hurdles, the Honolulu geldings sole win coming in a Roscommon 2m maiden hurdle three years ago. Recent efforts under both codes have been below par and is hard to recommend.

Form: 1673P-6

Antimatter^p¹⁶

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

16/1

Winner of two of his 23 starts over hurdles and the veteran looked to be coming back to his best at Wexford last month finishing 2¼L behind the winner over 2m. Has previously struggled over similar trips.

Form: 8209-96

Castlehume³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: C Brassil⁽⁵⁾| T: S J Mahon| OR: 112| C

28/1

Landed a double over hurdles around this time last year but the Kalanisi geldings form since seasonal debut in May leaves little to be desired. Others preferred.

Form: 4/112-80

Benny In Milan^p⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: A Ring| T: D Hogan| OR: 108| D

6/1

Form since winning a Southwell handicap hurdle and finishing second at Thurles in November has tailed off markedly in five dismal efforts over timber. Has slipped back below last winning mark but easy to pass over here.

Form: 2974-05

Trans Wood²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Mr T Power Roche⁽⁷⁾| T: G M Doyle| OR: 105| D

10/1

Daughter of Trans World who deserving of a change in fortune having finished runner up on her last three starts over hurdles, rising up the rankings in the process. Second win over timber looks to be coming sooner rather than later.

Form: 7602-22

Sam King^t⁴³

Age: 10| Weight: 9-12| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: T M Walsh| OR: 97

20/1

Stingy return of one win from 29 starts over hurdles leaves the Golden Tornado gelding some way down the pecking order here. Best watched unless market dictates otherwise.

Form: U2775-8

Court Martialed⁹²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-11| J: C D Maxwell| T: G A Kingston| OR: 96

33/1

Sent off at big prices when last seen in 2016, running accordingly in a number of maiden hurdle starts. Impossible to make a case for on return to action.

Form: 555500/

Forecasts

Mutadaffeq (7/2), Roi De Dubai (4/1), Lethal Steps (5/1), Benny In Milan (6/1), Trans Wood (10/1), Monbeg Chit Chat (10/1), Gold Seal (10/1), Blottos (12/1), Antimatter (16/1), Sam King (20/1), Electric Concorde (25/1), Castlehume (28/1), Adimelo (33/1), Court Martialed (33/1)

The Gordon Elliott yard have sent in five handicap hurdle winners at this meeting in the last four years from 21 runners giving the operation a 24% strike rate and their Cheveley Park-owned, LETHAL STEPS can add to his win at Sligo in April. The improving four-year-old can land the spoils ahead of his main challengers, Blottos, formerly with Sue Smith, the luckless, Trans Wood and the Joseph O'Brien-trained, Gold Seal.