18:50 Leopardstown

Thursday 11 July 2019

All17:5018:2018:5019:2519:5019:5520:3021:00

Stunning Handicap (50-80)

Off time: 18:50 | Winning time: 1m 41.96s

(5)

Raphael¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Chris Hayes| T: K Prendergast| OR: 80| D

11/4

Done no favours for winning a Naas handicap on his final start of last season but ran with promise on his seasonal reappearance and not knocked about when beaten at the same track in June. Definite chance if things fall right.

Form: 54221-6

(8)

Minnie Haha^p⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 75

6/1

Still a maiden but generally runs her race and never finishes to far away. Best effort came at this track two starts ago over 1m2f. Drop in trip does not immediately stand out as a positive but capable of springing a surprise.

Form: 4-35434

(2)

Merited¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: C P Hoban| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 74

14/1

Took advantage of a lenient handicap mark when scoring gamely last time out at Ballinrobe over and extended nine furlongs. Not without a chance on the best of her form but may struggle now back up in the weights.

Form: 0-08841

(1)

Phoenix Open^t⁴^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 71| D

7/2

Has not been treated particularly well by the handicapper on the basis of his maiden win last time out at Limerick. Still, he could still be open to some improvement and not without a chance but will need every yard of this trip.

Form: 6-6381

(6)

Gerry's Way⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Declan McDonogh| T: G Elliott| OR: 73| BF| CD

7/2

Sprang a surprise when winning a maiden over this course and distance in May before running below that form on his handicap debut at Bellestown earlier this month. Has been gelded since. Hard to assess but not out of it.

Form: 0014

(7)

Dance Alone⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: Leigh Roche| T: D English| OR: 60| BF| CD

10/1

Busy if inconsistent performer over a variety of trip. Can be useful on his day but hard to make a dramatic case for him. Place chance at best.

Form: 540020

(4)

Paperback Writer⁵⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Rory Cleary| T: D Bunyan & G O'Leary| OR: 60

33/1

Well beaten in recent starts over hurdles and on the flat. No real reason to see why he will suddenly be capable of landing this race apart from the fact he has tumbled down the handicap.

Form: 675000-

(3)

Avalanche^t²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 8-4| J: Wayne Lordan| T: T J O'Mara| OR: 56| D

7/1

Slowly slipping to a reasonable handicap mark but needs to show more to suggest he is capable of winning this type of contest. Latest effort at over an extended mile at Cork was reasonable (running on in the closing stages) but others preferred.

Form: 7656-94

Forecasts

Raphael (11/4), Phoenix Open (7/2), Gerry's Way (7/2), Minnie Haha (6/1), Avalanche (7/1), Dance Alone (10/1), Merited (14/1), Paperback Writer (33/1)

Many with chances in a trappy race. The verdict goes tentatively to RAPHAEL who showed his well being under a tender ride at Naas on his reappearance and should strip fitter here and is capable of progressing. Phoenix Open is another open to improvement and it remains to be seen whether the handicapper has given him a fair weights rise for his recent maiden win. Merited won well last time out and is obviously in good heart. She will run her race but may find one or two too good.