18:20 Leopardstown

Thursday 8 August 2019

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

Fitzers Catering Handicap

Off time: 18:22 | Winning time: 1m 14.35s

(12)

The Feathered Nest^h,t³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: Siobhan Rutledge⁽¹⁰⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 86| D

40/1

Hard to fancy off top-weight. Not as exposed as others but would need to step up on the bare form of his seasonal/stable debut when sixth at Bellewstown (7f; good). Drops back in trip to 6f.

Form: 7/1387-6

(11)

Dandys Gold⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: D M Simmonson⁽⁷⁾| T: W J Fitzpatrick| OR: 83| BF| D

25/1

Bit below-par the last twice after notching two wins in a row on the AW at Dundalk. Never involved over the sticks at Punchestown (2m; good to yielding) when last seen. Has first run on turf since placed at Fairyhouse last September over this trip.

Form: 42-5115

(5)

Geological²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Colin Keane| T: D English| OR: 82| BF| C| D

9/2

Well-beaten last time when fancied (sent off 2-1f) at Fairyhouse (7f; good). Drops back in trip now, and had been in good form prior to that disappointment so shouldn't be completely written off as of yet.

Form: U14324

(4)

Ustinov²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Adrian O'Shea⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs A M O'Shea| OR: 81| D

66/1

Tailed off at Fairyhouse (6f; good) last month on return from long absence/debut for this new yard when he was detached from halfway. Impossible to fancy on that basis and so he is best watched for now.

Form: 10708/8

(2)

Blairmayne¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Shane Foley| T: N Lupini| OR: 80| D

11/2

Form has curtailed a bit the last twice since he scored at the Curragh in May. Not completely disgraced in a Premier Handicap last time despite finishing sixth. Needs to step up a little bit.

Form: 45-5106

(7)

Plough Boy¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: S M Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: G Donnelly| OR: 77| D

16/1

Kept on the go since January. Bit inconsistent in recent starts, but latest fourth at Down Royal (5f; good) would give him place claims as he steps up to 6f for the first time in a while.

Form: 561074

(10)

Baladiya⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Chris Hayes| T: D K Weld| OR: 78| CD

5/1

Couldn't have made a better transition to the handicap sphere with two wins from two starts in this company (the first of those victories coming over C&D). Drops back in trip to 6f now and a bold bid is expected as she tries for the hat-trick.

Form: 44-511

(13)

Ducky Mallon^t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Robbie Colgan| T: D Kinsella| OR: 73| CD

12/1

Vulnerable to less exposed rivals but has been running well either side of a below-par performance at the Curragh (6f; good). Respectable effort at that track when fourth in big-field handicap behind Miss Jabeam and Sabrina Fairchild most recently.

Form: 443-104

(8)

Miss Jabeam¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Billy Lee| T: A A Howard| OR: 76| D

5/1

Bounced back from lifeless display at the Curragh two starts ago in some fashion when she won a handicap at that track over this trip last time out. Had Sabrina Fairchild in behind her then, but is on a 7lb higher mark now.

Form: 81-3301

(3)

Master Matt¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Andrew Slattery⁽⁵⁾| T: M J Smith| OR: 72| D

7/1

Dropped down to 5f for the first time since joining this stable and finished last in a 12-runner affair at Down Royal (5f; good). Returns to a trip he was successful over on debut for this stable in June and could bounce back off a 2lb higher mark.

Form: 2-01550

(6)

Sabrina Fairchild^t³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: Wayne Lordan| T: S Lynam| OR: 63| D

5/1

Respectable efforts in defeat the last twice. Sneaks into this off bottom-weight and has proved she has what it takes to hold her own in big-field sprint handicaps. Still lightly raced and she is towards the top of the shortlist.

Form: 21-8834

Non-Runners

(9)

Zodiacus³³

Weight: 9-2| Age: 3

T: T G McCourt J: N G McCullagh

(1)

That's Not Me²⁵

Weight: 8-11| Age: 3

T: A McCann J: Nathan Crosse

Forecasts

Geological (9/2), Miss Jabeam (5/1), Sabrina Fairchild (5/1), Baladiya (5/1), Blairmayne (11/2), Master Matt (7/1), Zodiacus (7/1), That's Not Me (8/1), Ducky Mallon (12/1), Plough Boy (16/1), Dandys Gold (25/1), The Feathered Nest (40/1), Ustinov (66/1)

A similar contest to the preceding race on the card in the respect that there are easier opportunities later on in the card to find winners. However, the logical place to start in this race would be with That's Not Me who is entitled to come on plenty from her seasonal reappearance effort when runner-up to an impressive winner. After running creditably in defeat in big-field handicaps the last twice, Sabrina Fairchild must also be considered as one of the leading players. The best option looks to be BALADIYA though who is bidding for the hat-trick after scoring at the Curragh last time out. Off 4lb higher, the handicapper has given her a real chance to notch her second C&D win.