17:50 Leopardstown

Thursday 8 August 2019

All17:1517:5018:2018:5519:2519:5520:25

Bay City Rollers Handicap (45-70)

Off time: 17:51 | Winning time: 1m 41.33s

(6)

Waterlemon Bay^v⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Billy Lee| T: W McCreery| OR: 67

13/2

Less exposed than a few in this contest, and despite being 0-6 he has made a fair start to life in handicaps. Not beaten far into fourth over further at Naas (1m2f; good) last time, and she is a player despite carrying top-weight.

Form: 635-264

(12)

Blankiedoodie^h,t³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Gary Carroll| T: J C McConnell| OR: 66| D

12/1

Step up in trip allowed him to post a more promising effort when fifth at Naas (1m2f; good) recently. Got the hat-trick up in May/June time and looks a more convincing sort than most in this field. Leading player.

Form: 5-11195

(11)

Gougane Barra^h,t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 65| D

16/1

Strung together a list of highly consistent efforts on the Dundalk AW over the winter months. Effort on return to turf when never on terms over slightly shorter here was concerning, and he needs to prove himself on this surface.

Form: 116340

(16)

High Altitude²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Robbie Colgan| T: J J Murphy| OR: 63| BF| D

12/1

More encouraging signs last time when fancied (4-1jf) at Killarney (1m; good) and finishing fourth in a 14-runner contest. That was by far his best effort of this campaign so far, and there could be better to come.

Form: 0-09004

(21)

Munfallet³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: Ross Coakley| T: D P Coakley| OR: 62

20/1

Ended season on a positive note when going agonisingly close at Dundalk (1m; standard). Not shown very much at all so far this year, but did take a couple of runs to get going last season so is no forlorn hope.

Form: 9472-90

(2)

Battledore¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Luke McAteer⁽⁷⁾| T: A McCann| OR: 61

50/1

Making handicap debut as he drops in trip to 1m for the first time. Posted four fairly low-key efforts in maidens to date, but switch to this sphere could bring about some improvement and he isn't fully written off.

Form: 904

(5)

Watchman²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Shane Foley| T: A Oliver| OR: 61

7/1

Very lightly raced after just the four starts. Turf/handicap debut when midfield at Fairyhouse (7f; good) last month. Lot more on his plate now, and so needs to improve plenty to get involved.

Form: 8-558

(20)

Cautious Approach^v1²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: D W O'Connor⁽³⁾| T: R O'Brien| OR: 60| D

20/1

Pleasing start to life in this sphere when she returned to the track in March, but her form has curtailed the last thrice and she now needs to find something extra. Drops back in trip to 1m.

Form: 833876

(15)

Stranagone^b³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: N G McCullagh| T: T Collins| OR: 60

25/1

Made promising/consistent start to life in handicaps over the winter, but proved a major disappointment of late. Never involved on either of her last two starts and subsequently is very hard to fancy.

Form: 5-32600

(1)

Voyageofdiscovery²²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Wayne Lordan| T: T J O'Mara| OR: 60| D

12/1

Produced a rare below-par performance when midfield at Killarney (1m; good) last time. Had been the model of consistency prior to that finishing out of the frame just once in 10 starts since October, and so is afforded another chance.

Form: 333228

(14)

House Call^b²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Andrew Slattery⁽⁵⁾| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 57

33/1

Three duck eggs beside her name since making she made her seasonal return in June. Hard to fancy her in her current mood and so she remains best watched.

Form: 604-000

(19)

Progressive Dawn¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: A McCann| OR: 57| D

25/1

Showed a bit more when returning from a short break to finish fifth in big-field handicap at Naas (1m; good) just over two weeks ago. That was much more encouraging in comparison to recent showings. Player if building on that.

Form: 99-6905

(7)

Eyeoweyou²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Colin Keane| T: K Thornton| OR: 60

10/1

10-race maiden. Only run over C&D was packed with promise when he was a narrow-third here in June. Posted two fair efforts over 1m1f/1m2f since then, and holds strong claims as he returns to 1m at this track.

Form: 707335

(9)

Never Shy Away¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: K J Manning| T: R O'Brien| OR: 59

20/1

Gone backwards after making a promising seasonal return in May. That was her only run over 1m this season, and she has been running over further than that since then. Drops back to 1m after stepping up to 1m5f last time out. Risky proposition.

Form: 5-74770

(3)

Airgead¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Leigh Roche| T: Mrs P Dobbs| OR: 58

10/1

Only had the six starts but is slightly inconsistent. More encouraging when sixth over C&D recently, but would need to step up on the bare form of that run off 1lb lower.

Form: 808-206

(8)

Der Mc²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Gavin Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Fahy| OR: 58

7/1

Eight-race maiden but is not yet fully exposed, and posted career-best when third at Killarney (1m; good) last time out. Up just 1lb in the weights and is a player if able to build on that run.

Form: 680-063

(17)

Tracing^b²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 57

7/1

0-7 for top connections. Yet to show any zest for the switch to the handicap sphere. Failed to reinforce promising third-placed effort at Bellewstown (1m; good) two starts ago when midfield at Killarney (1m; good) most recently. Still lightly raced.

Form: 77-0637

(18)

Out On Friday²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Killian Leonard| T: P Byrne| OR: 55

33/1

Second reserve. Yet to show any real improvement for the switch to handicaps, but the drop to 7f allowed him to offer some encouragement when he was fifth at this track last time out. Place claims if building on that back at 1m.

Form: 7-09005

(4)

Pari Passu^b1¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Chris Hayes| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 54| D

33/1

Third reserve. 3lb below last winning mark. Been well below-par the last twice, and was never involved at Naas (1m; good) when last seen. A lesser player if getting in.

Form: 25-5500

Non-Runners

(23)

Marwari¹⁸

Weight: 9-9| Age: 3

T: D K Weld J: Chris Hayes

(13)

Fugacious⁶

Weight: 9-6| Age: 3

T: J Feane J: S M Crosse

(10)

Usain Boat³²

Weight: 9-1| Age: 3

T: N C Kelly J: O J Orr

(22)

Avalanche¹⁵

Weight: 9-2| Age: 10

T: T J O'Mara J: Reserve 1

Forecasts

Waterlemon Bay (13/2), Watchman (7/1), Tracing (7/1), Der Mc (7/1), Airgead (10/1), Eyeoweyou (10/1), High Altitude (12/1), Blankiedoodie (12/1), Voyageofdiscovery (12/1), Avalanche (12/1), Fugacious (14/1), Gougane Barra (16/1), Munfallet (20/1), Cautious Approach (20/1), Never Shy Away (20/1), Marwari (20/1), Stranagone (25/1), Progressive Dawn (25/1), Out On Friday (33/1), Pari Passu (33/1), House Call (33/1), Usain Boat (33/1), Battledore (50/1)

A fiercely competitive handicap with a full field of 20 set to go to post. He has been a little bit quieter than in recent starts of late after notching a hat-trick of victories, but Blankiedoodie hinted he may not be on the downgrade just yet when fifth at Naas last time. It would be unfair to dismiss Voyageofdiscovery, after he had an off day last time. He has proved he handles turf of late with multiple placed efforts. A chance is taken on WATERLEMON BAY though. The selection showed a fair level of ability in maidens at the backend of last season, and has made a respectable start to life in handicaps this year. He is likely to be firmly in the mix once more.