18:35 Sligo

Thursday 8 August 2019

All17:3518:0518:3519:1019:4020:1020:40

Carlsberg Handicap Hurdle (80-102)

Off time: 18:35 | Winning time: 4m 10.50s

Ard Na Carraig^p,t²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr L P Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 101| BF| D

15/2

Good effort last time out at Limerick in July when only headed on the line (2m2f). Slight drop back in trip a plus but increased handicap mark a negative.

Form: 53014-2

Atlas^b⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 97

6/1

Rarely runs a bad race over hurdles but as a consequence has been done few favours by the handicapper. Possibly open to some more improvement and certainly one for the shortlist. Will be doing his best work in the closing stages.

Form: 980/67-4

Benefit Run²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: L P Dempsey| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 97| CD

9/1

Great effort to win at this track last time out (2m,good) in a maiden hurdle. More needed here but definitely one for shortlist given his overall consistency.

Form: 9/R-941

Lleyton^h⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Kevin Sexton| T: J R Finn| OR: 97| D

16/1

Excuses last time when returning clinically abnormal after attempting to make all over course and distance. Showed his well being when running a fair race on the flat at Galway recently. Chances but does not seem to be particularly well treated.

Form: 225-5PP

Give Battle^p1³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: K J Brouder⁽⁵⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 96| BF

11/8

20-race maiden but went very close at both at Cork (twice) and Killarney recently. Becoming slightly expensive to follow given he was beaten favourite in three of his last four starts. Should run well again, however.

Form: 848/222

Jazz Ranger^v1¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁵⁾| T: J Fahey| OR: 95| D

33/1

Poor winning return of one from 19 over hurdles with sole success coming in a Punchestown maiden in December 2015. Fair reappearance run at Ballinrobe before disappointing at Downpatrick latest. Hard to fancy in current form.

Form: F6F3-60

Effernock Lad^p1⁵⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: M P Flanagan⁽⁷⁾| T: G Keane| OR: 93| CD

7/1

A better chaser these days than over hurdles (last win came in 2016). Has slipped to a fair handicap mark over the smaller obstacles so not out of it on best of form. Cheekpieces applied for the first time. A market move would be interesting.

Form: 50523-2

Rio De Cerisy^b1²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Brian Hayes| T: G Elliott| OR: 90

25/1

Slightly improved performance last time out at Downpatrick has failed to complete two races earlier in the year. Very hard to make a case for though is probably still open to some improvement.

Form: 000PP-9

Mr Moondance²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: D R Fox| T: M M McNiff| OR: 88| D

10/1

Over two years since the Windsor Knot gelding entered the winners enclosure and is still running 2lb higher than his last winning mark. Little signs of any light at the end of the tunnel just yet.

Form: 46-6494

Railway Muice^t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: P W Flynn| OR: 80

12/1

Long standing maiden; tailed off on latest appearance over fences at Tipperary and hurdles form nothing to write home about. Needs to improve a lot to have any chance.

Form: 8-98578

Forecasts

Give Battle (11/8), Atlas (6/1), Effernock Lad (7/1), Ard Na Carraig (15/2), Benefit Run (9/1), Mr Moondance (10/1), Railway Muice (12/1), Lleyton (16/1), Rio De Cerisy (25/1), Jazz Ranger (33/1)

Although he has been done no favours by the handicapper after running well last time out at Limerick, ARD NA CARRAIG may still be good enough to land this contest which is low on live contenders. Atlas is a consistent type and another who deserves to be winning a race shortly. He will be doing his best work in the closing stages but he is another who has not been well treated. Benefit Run won well at this track recently and maybe open to some more improvement. Give Battle has not rewarded supporters recently but will certainly be in the firing line in the closing stages if running his race.