17:50 Gowran Park

Wednesday 14 August 2019

All16:4517:2017:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:20

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Off time: 17:50 | Winning time: 1m 29.98s

(8)

Hit The Silk^h¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Wayne Lordan| T: P J F Murphy| OR: 88| D

9/2

In and out of form this year. Unable to follow up Limerick (6f; yielding) victory when midfield at Galway (7f; yielding) at the start of the month off a 7lb higher mark. Eased a bit in the weights since.

Form: 801017

(6)

Madam Seamstress¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 94

8/1

Struggled after making a very pleasing start to her 2019 campaign. No room for error off current mark, and she doesn't look obviously well treated. Look elsewhere for more solid alternatives.

Form: 7-13650

(7)

Mokhalad^t⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Colin Keane| T: D English| OR: 86| D

4/1

Consistent sort who came back to form after a pair of disappointing efforts when winning in good style at Bellewstown (1m; good) last month. 5lb higher mark to contend with, but has been given plenty of time to recover. Could be ready to go again.

Form: 121861

(5)

Shatharaat¹⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Billy Lee| T: A Oliver| OR: 86| D

9/2

Unexposed after just the five starts. Form has curtailed recently with two disappointing efforts the last twice. Bit to prove but not one to write off entirely, and he should improve from reappearance effort at Naas (1m; yielding to soft).

Form: 9120-0

(4)

Ahlan Bil Zain^b²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 84| CD

8/1

Scored over C&D three starts ago. Proved a major disappointment at Fairyhouse (7f; good) last time out when suffering a heavy defeat in a small field affair. Needs to bounce back, and is hard to fancy.

Form: 309145

(2)

Mary Salome⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Chris Hayes| T: Madeleine Tylicki| OR: 81| D

12/1

Not as good the last twice after scoring at Limerick (6f; soft) in April. Steps up to 1m for the first time after being well-beaten over 5f at Sligo recently. Bit too much to prove.

Form: 21-0166

(1)

Arabeska²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: W McCreery| OR: 78| CD

3/1

Bounced back to her usual consistent ways recently when runner-up at Leopardstown (7f; good). Still lightly raced after just the eight starts and is a major player off the same mark over the C&D she shed her maiden tag at.

Form: 232162

(3)

Peshkova⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: Andrew Slattery⁽⁵⁾| T: R P Cody| OR: 65

12/1

Seemed to be getting the hang of things towards the end of last season, but looks regressive now. Another backwards step lately when failing to beat a single rival at Cork (5f; good to yielding). Mixed signals being given out regarding trip also.

Form: 14-0670

Forecasts

Arabeska (3/1), Mokhalad (4/1), Shatharaat (9/2), Hit The Silk (9/2), Madam Seamstress (8/1), Ahlan Bil Zain (8/1), Mary Salome (12/1), Peshkova (12/1)

This looks a tricky puzzle to solve with Shatharaat not one to completely rule out after he looked a promising and progressive recruit to the handicap sphere last season. He signed off last season, and returned to the track this year with a pair of underwhelming efforts but is still unexposed after just the five starts so should be given another chance. The consistent Mokhalad bounced back from a couple of poor showings to win in commanding fashion when last seen and should cope with the 5lb rise. The selection is ARABESKA though, who broke her maiden duck over C&D in June and showed her wellbeing when a fine second at Leopardstown last month.