18:40 Kilbeggan

Friday 19 July 2019

All17:3518:0518:4019:1019:4520:1520:50

Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:42 | Winning time: 3m 56.5s

Song Of Namibia¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 113

3/1

Put in a rare below-par effort at Bellewstown (2m; good) last time, after enjoying a productive spell. Still 11lb higher than for victory at Downpatrick last month. Others look better treated. Place claims if able to bounce back.

Form: 764-120

Dundrum Lad⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: D E Mullins| T: Ms M Mullins| OR: 111| D

8/1

Returns to the smaller obstacles for the first time since May 2018 off a 5lb lower mark, after what has been an unsuccessful spell over fences. Place claims with stable in decent form as he drops back in trip.

Form: P/67P2-5

Misty Millie^t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: G Donnelly| OR: 107| D

4/1

Latest run over hurdles which came at the Punchestown Festival (2m; good to yielding) was full of promise when she outran odds of 33-1 to finish fourth in a competitive handicap hurdle. Major claims if in that sort of form.

Form: 74P86-4

Arctic Light^p1²⁰³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 106| D

7/1

Makes return to the track after a break. Not in brilliant form when last seen in the winter, as he signed off 2018 with a couple of low-key efforts in handicap hurdles. Plenty to prove on seasonal return.

Form: 102600-

Alterno^b³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: J M Moore| T: D McDonogh| OR: 102| D

28/1

Been in dreadful form of late. Off the track for almost a year after suffering a heavy fall at Bellewstown (2m; good to firm) on most recent hurdles start. Has since returned to the track with a couple of lifeless efforts on the flat. Best watched.

Form: 2141/4F-

Here In The Dark³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: D F O'Regan| T: T G McCourt| OR: 108

14/1

Winless in 17 starts over hurdles and on the flat. Makes handicap debut after three modest efforts in maiden hurdles at the backend of last year. Of interest if the market was to speak in his favour.

Form: 447-

Billy's Angel^b,t⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: A Murray| OR: 101

9/2

Posted a couple of quite low-key efforts over C&D in this company since returning to the track from a short break in April. 0-13 over hurdles and has plenty to prove. Not an overly attractive proposition.

Form: 45707-6

Atlas^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 97

11/2

Making his first appearance over hurdles for the first time in almost a year, and has largely been in good form on the flat in recent months. Not disgraced in a warm handicap at the Curragh on Irish Derby Day. Watch the betting.

Form: 5980/67-

Hickey's Rock^t¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: A Ring| T: M F Morris| OR: 91

20/1

Pulled-up before the third last at Tipperary (3m; good) last time. Now drops back markedly in trip, but has an abundance of questions to answer on what is his second start on return from a year off the track.

Form: 9P/UP5-P

Forecasts

Song Of Namibia (3/1), Misty Millie (4/1), Billy's Angel (9/2), Atlas (11/2), Arctic Light (7/1), Dundrum Lad (8/1), Here In The Dark (14/1), Hickey's Rock (20/1), Alterno (28/1)

This contest has the appearance of a tricky puzzle to solve, with recent winning form hard to come by. After a string of fairly modest efforts in good-quality maiden hurdles, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Here In The Dark show marked improvement for the switch to the handicap sphere, and he holds an unexposed profile over the smaller obstacles. Dundrum Lad should appreciate the return to 2m/hurdles after enduring a tricky time over fences, but if MISTY MILLIE can reproduce the form she showed when fourth at the Punchestown Festival when last seen over hurdles, she would be entitled to go very close to gaining a third win over hurdles win.