19:20 Gowran Park

Wednesday 14 August 2019

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

Irish EBF Supporting Irish Champions Weekend Maiden

Off time: 19:22 | Winning time: 2m 4.8s

(17)

Dubai Is Great¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Gary Halpin| T: P McCreery

100/1

Entitled to need the outing after nearly two years off the track when making seasonal return at Galway (7f; good) last month. Vastly improved showing now expected, but does have to concede weight away all-round which slightly tempers enthusiasm.

Form: 3/0

(5)

Ballydrislane²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford

33/1

Didn't get involved to any real extent on debut at Leopardstown (1m1f; good), but this is a weaker contest, and he could take a sizeable step forward from that effort.

Form: 7

(1)

Bashiyr

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Chris Hayes| T: D K Weld

4/1

Debutante who is by Invincible Spirit and represents powerful connections. Gelded ahead of debut, but is related to a couple of winners so should have a future. Market probably the best guide to his chances first time out.

Form:

(2)

Canning¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Rory Cleary| T: L Comer

14/1

No better than midfield on either of his career starts so far. Not far behind Darkened last time though, so could grab a place if running up to that level once again.

Form: 76

(7)

Darkened¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: N G McCullagh| T: J M Oxx

6/1

Possesses by far some of the best form in this contest after just two starts. Ran into a Ballydoyle hotpot recently when second at Galway (1m; good). Huge player if taking another step forward here.

Form: 32

(10)

Dirk Diggler⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: K J Leonard| T: A Mulholland

100/1

Has finished last on all but one of his four career starts. Never a factor at Bellewstown (1m; good) upon seasonal return and is impossible to recommend.

Form: 005-0

(15)

Everyhouronthehour²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Robbie Colgan| T: W Ross

100/1

Readily opposed after failing to show much on debut when sent off at 66-1 and finishing a long way behind Scorched Earth at Ballnrobe (1m1f; good).

Form: 0

(3)

Lugahaca

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: M A Gallagher| T: K P Cotter

50/1

By Gale Force Ten. Unsold for £24,000 as a two-year-old. Gelded ahead of debut which is a negative. Is closely related to the smart Raa Atoll. Best watched on debut.

Form:

(11)

Metier⁵³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: A J Slattery⁽⁵⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 72

11/2

Proved to be slightly underwhelming on handicap debut at Down Royal (1m4f; yielding) when not able to improve. Previous form in maidens would entitle him to have place claims.

Form: 4-447

(4)

Ri Sean Baile Ard¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: S M Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: D P Dunne

100/1

Impossible to fancy after running in accordance with 100-1 odds when finishing tailed off in a maiden at Galway (1m4f; good) last month.

Form: 0

(14)

Scorched Earth²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 77| BF

9/2

Still chasing an elusive first career success after seven starts, but did post a clear career-best when runner-up at Ballinrobe (1m1f; good) last time out. Claims if able to build on that.

Form: 5-70372

(8)

Viaticus

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger

14/1

Newcomer who is by Teofilo. Full-brother to Irish 1000 & Yorkshire Oaks heroine Pleaschach. Wouldn't need to be a superstar to win this on debut and he is greatly respected for powerful connections.

Form:

(19)

Basrah Breeze⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: C D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: E D Delany| OR: 70

33/1

Dropped into a claimer and only found the hot-favourite Yuften too good when second at Bellewstown (7f; good) last month. Reproduction of that effort would probably be enough to see her go close in what is a weak maiden.

Form: 34452

(12)

Planet Venus⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: T P Madden⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington

50/1

Not a lot has gone to plan in her short career so far. Made little impression in two runs over 1m4f/1m6f, and unseated her rider when slipping at Naas (1m2f; good) last time. Major revival required.

Form: 09U

(16)

Postcode Envy⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Gary Carroll| T: J F Levins

33/1

Made pleasing enough debut when sixth on debut at the Curragh (1m; good to yielding). Open to more improvement than others and she should go close if coming on from that initial effort.

Form: 6

(6)

Timemakesitfine³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| BF

5/2

Getting better with experience and posted a career-best last time when runner-up at Roscommon (1m2f; good). Well-fancied then (sent off at EVS), and likely to play a leading role once more.

Form: 732

(18)

Uncommonly⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: L F Roche| T: Mrs P Dobbs

100/1

Tailed off on debut at Naas (1m2f; good) when sent off as a 50-1 shot and only managing to beat the one rival. Very difficult to fancy now.

Form: 0

Non-Runners

(9)

Ramanujan⁴⁸

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: J F Levins J: Reserve 1

(13)

Pretty Boy Floyd¹¹

Weight: 9-13| Age: 4

T: A J Martin J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Timemakesitfine (5/2), Bashiyr (4/1), Scorched Earth (9/2), Metier (11/2), Darkened (6/1), Canning (14/1), Viaticus (14/1), Pretty Boy Floyd (25/1), Basrah Breeze (33/1), Postcode Envy (33/1), Ballydrislane (33/1), Planet Venus (50/1), Lugahaca (50/1), Ramanujan (50/1), Everyhouronthehour (100/1), Dubai Is Great (100/1), Ri Sean Baile Ard (100/1), Uncommonly (100/1), Dirk Diggler (100/1)

A fairly low-key maiden in which a chance is taken on one of the newcomers in the shape of VIATICUS who starts out for Jim Bolger in what is a very winnable contest. The selection is very well-bred, being a full-brother connections' supremely talented mare Pleascach, and can make a winning debut at the chief expense of Darkened who has looked progressive in two runs so far. It will be interesting to see if Canning can close the gap on him after the pair weren't far apart when they met at Galway at the start of the month. We should also mention Timemakesitfine who is improving with racing and only just failed when well-fancied last time at Roscommon.