15:20 Killarney

Wednesday 21 August 2019

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:35

Bunkers Bar Handicap

Off time: 15:21 | Winning time: 1m 49.25s

(15)

Cerberus¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 10-2| J: S M Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 72

9/1

Showed more than most in maidens, and was a good fifth in a fair race at the Galway Festival (1m; good) when last seen. Has a bright future in this sphere and is a contender despite heavy weight.

Form: 345

(16)

Njord^t¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-1| J: Robbie Colgan| T: S Lavery| OR: 71

6/1

One of very few in here with winning form to their name which came at Gowran Park (7f; yielding to soft) back in May. Not been disgraced since then, despite not making the frame in three subsequent runs.

Form: 0-31464

(12)

Wildewood²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-13| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 69| BF

7/1

Still has potential despite not being able to justify favouritism (9/4f) on handicap debut at Down Royal (1m4f; good) last month. Drops back in trip to 1m for the first time since his debut, and is worth another chance.

Form: 3256

(11)

Anthonysoprano⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: M A Gallagher| T: K P Cotter| OR: 68

20/1

Well-beaten over hurdles at Ballinrobe (2m1f; yielding) last week, and only managed to beat one rival at Limerick (1m; good) prior to that so he does have quite a bit to prove. Readily opposed.

Form: 26640

(2)

Dare To Flare^b⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: Ben Coen⁽⁵⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 68

5/1

Back to form with a fine third in a fiercely competitive handicap at the Curragh (1m; soft) on ground likely to be similar to today. Major player if able to reproduce a similar run off what is an unchanged mark.

Form: 43-5193

(3)

Cherryville²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: J P Shinnick⁽¹⁰⁾| T: G M Lyons| OR: 65

20/1

Hasn't cut much ice in maidens up to now, but switches to handicaps for the first time where she is likely to fare more prominently towards the finish. Does have to improve, but should have some sort of role to play.

Form: 78-8

(13)

Vocal Duke¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Gavin Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: B W Duke| OR: 65

25/1

Sent off at 40-1 and ran in accordance with those odds when only 10th on handicap debut at Galway (7f; good). This is less competitive as he returns to 1m, but others have less to prove.

Form: 8960

(18)

Lady Arona^p¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 64

20/1

Another handicap newcomer who produced her best effort yet when fifth in a maiden at Naas (1m; good) last time. Should win races at this level and confidence in her will be even higher if there is positive market support.

Form: 795

(17)

Yafordadoe¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Gary Carroll| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 63

20/1

Difficult to enthuse over. Only had the five starts, and did show slightly more when in midfield at Galway (1m; good) at the start of the month. More is required off the back of that though.

Form: 59008

(9)

We'll Go Again⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Billy Lee| T: Madeleine Tylicki| OR: 62

7/1

Seems to have a preference for ground with give in it. Handicap debut wasn't devoid of promise when he was fifth at Roscommon (1m2f; soft), though he was well-beaten when dropped down to this trip at the Curragh (1m; soft).

Form: 3-0850

(1)

Restless Gale²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Paddy Harnett⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 61

33/1

Handicap debutante who hasn't shown much in a trio of maidens. Should fare more competitively in this sphere, and is one to watch especially if the market speaks positively in her favour.

Form: 509

(7)

Der Mc^t1⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: P A Fahy| OR: 58

6/1

Not made much of an impact since making handicap debut last October, with a string of underwhelming efforts beside his name. However, is important to remember his career best effort came over this C&D when he finished third.

Form: 0-06307

(5)

Han Solo^t1¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Andrew Slattery⁽⁵⁾| T: A Leahy| OR: 58

8/1

0-8, but he has shown a bit of improvement for the switch to this sphere. Previous two efforts which have came on turf have not been as good as his two runs on the AW at Dundalk (7f/1m; standard). Mark is sliding.

Form: 7-63256

(10)

Light Breeze³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Alan Persse⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 57| D

10/1

Drops back in trip after not being beaten too far into fourth over slightly further at Navan (1m2f; good to firm) last month. That was more encouraging than previous two efforts and she has place claims.

Form: 051084

Non-Runners

(14)

Athlumney Hall⁸¹

Weight: 9-8| Age: 3

T: G Keane J: Colin Keane

(4)

Treasure Vale¹⁴

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: A Slattery J: Reserve 1

(6)

Annie Pender⁴⁴

Weight: 8-13| Age: 3

T: W McCreery J: Reserve 2

(8)

Rockview Roman¹⁸

Weight: 8-10| Age: 3

T: J C McConnell J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Dare To Flare (5/1), Njord (6/1), Der Mc (6/1), We'll Go Again (7/1), Wildewood (7/1), Han Solo (8/1), Cerberus (9/1), Light Breeze (10/1), Athlumney Hall (12/1), Treasure Vale (16/1), Yafordadoe (20/1), Anthonysoprano (20/1), Cherryville (20/1), Lady Arona (20/1), Vocal Duke (25/1), Rockview Roman (25/1), Annie Pender (25/1), Restless Gale (33/1)

A very good turnout for this 1m handicap, and there are plenty in this field who are dipping their toes into handicap company for the first time. One of those is Lady Arona, who posted a much-improved, career-best effort when fifth in a Naas maiden over this trip last time out, and is a fascinating contender on her handicap debut. Cerberus is also worth keeping an eye on. His riders claims offsets his burden of top-weight and he has already shown enough to suggest he can win at this level. The selection is WILDEWOOD though, who was an underwhelming favourite on his first start in this sphere last month, but is worth another chance after the promise he showed in maidens.