20:00 Killarney

Wednesday 17 July 2019

All17:5518:3019:0019:3020:0020:3021:00

Grand Hotel Killarney Handicap (45-65)

Off time: 20:02 | Winning time: 1m 42.77s

(7)

High Altitude⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J J Murphy| OR: 63| CD

5/1

Scored over C&D in August last year, making good gains through gaps late on. That remains his only win from 21 runs and he's still rated 3lb higher despite some poor efforts this year.

Form: 70-0900

(16)

Nam²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: L F Roche| T: T Mullins| OR: 63| D

8/1

Dual-purpose performer who has struggled for form since claiming a Naas handicap in October. Not beaten far on his most recent start at Naas last month however and could run well.

Form: 6618-04

(4)

Coolbawn Magic⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: D O'Brien| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 61

14/1

By Camelot and has shown some promise in maidens. Tackles a handicap for the first time here and could be worth noting on first start for Shark Hanlon.

Form: 5-57

(11)

Sharp Focus²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Colin Keane| T: J J Murphy| OR: 60

6/1

Much-improved effort on handicap bow at Tipperary last month under this rider, though that did come over 1m4f+ trip. Raised 3lb here and drops back in distance.

Form: 00062

(8)

Voyageofdiscovery³³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Wayne Lordan| T: T J O'Mara| OR: 60| D

13/2

Much-improved effort on handicap bow at Tipperary last month under this rider, though that did come over 1m4f+ trip. Raised 3lb here and drops back in distance.

Form: 333322

(12)

Zayriyan^b⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: J M Sheridan⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 60

16/1

10-race maiden mixing Flat and hurdles, June's effort at Gowran Park would see him in the mix but hasn't shown same dash in two further Flat starts from increased mark. Others remain more convincing.

Form: 675270

(6)

Balletto²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: G M Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: E Mullins| OR: 59

5/1

Kodiac filly, improved on seasonal bow/first run for this trainer when beaten under 3L in a Leopardstown maiden over 7f last month (SP 66-1). Makes handicap bow here.

Form: 900-5

(17)

Mijul Trail³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: B A Murphy| OR: 58

40/1

Uncompetitive in five starts to date, including in recent handicaps Naas (1m) and Roscommon (1m3½f). Hard to see where required improvement will come from.

Form: 60-690

(9)

Lady Scathach^v¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: T G McCourt| OR: 57| D

7/1

Has three wins from five starts on turf this season, all over a mile, including last time out at Bellewstown when getting up on the line. Raised 4lb, though claim here helps.

Form: 011461

(15)

Havana Breeze^t¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: W J Lee| T: Miss H McLoughlin| OR: 52

20/1

Makes little appeal based on what the mare has shown for current connections in five innocuous starts since May. Big improvement needed.

Form: 0-09845

(2)

Belle Free^t1²⁶⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Gary Halpin| T: T Doyle| OR: 48

33/1

Eight-race maiden has failed to hit the frame in six starts on turf. Will need to raise overall profile to play a role in this contest.

Form: 660000-

(14)

Doogan's Warren^t³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: T P Madden⁽³⁾| T: M Butler| OR: 48

10/1

Running well in defeat in a couple of starts since April. Hood is removed here following a disappointing run at Gowran Park recently. Hard to place any faith on balance.

Form: 002-229

(13)

Feeling Easy^p1³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: K J Leonard| T: R K Watson| OR: 48| D

50/1

Five-time winner (5-40) but hasn't sparked in two runs this term at Gowran Park and has plenty work to do on that evidence.

Form: 0300-00

(3)

Button Popper³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: C P Hoban| T: A Leahy| OR: 45

16/1

Winner over 7f at Roscommon this time last year, has mostly been consistent since without really looking like adding to tally. 1-15 now and others more likely to get the win.

Form: 597-674

(5)

My Lark^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: A C Persse⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 45| D

16/1

Made the frame in first-time tongue-tie (retained) a fortnight ago at Bellewstown (1m, good; 16-1) but still left with plenty more to find seemingly.

Form: 90-9703

Non-Runners

(1)

Texas Radio¹⁴

Weight: 8-12| Age: 6

T: J Feane J: Reserve 1

(10)

Caesar's Comet⁹

Weight: 9-13| Age: 5

T: D Hogan J: Reserve 2

(18)

Ocean Air⁴

Weight: 9-1| Age: 5

T: J C McConnell J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

High Altitude (5/1), Balletto (5/1), Ocean Air (5/1), Sharp Focus (6/1), Voyageofdiscovery (13/2), Lady Scathach (7/1), Nam (8/1), Doogan's Warren (10/1), Coolbawn Magic (14/1), Caesar's Comet (14/1), Button Popper (16/1), Zayriyan (16/1), My Lark (16/1), Havana Breeze (20/1), Texas Radio (20/1), Belle Free (33/1), Mijul Trail (40/1), Feeling Easy (50/1)

Voyageofdiscovery continues to knock hard on the door for a win this term and should have it soon, while Sharp Focus posted improved form last time over a longer trip at Tipperary and will have a say of coping with this sharper assignment. There are a couple of handicap debutants that stand out, with Coolbawn Magic interesting starting out for Shark Hanlon , but the vote goes to BALLETTO, the Kodiac filly having improved on her first run for Emmet Mullins last time. An opening mark of 59 may prove to underestimate her. Lady Scathach and Nam are others with form to go well.