17:05 Killarney

Wednesday 21 August 2019

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

Larkins Pub, Restaurant, B&B And Bakery Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)

Off time: 17:07 | Winning time: 4m 5.0s

Tombstone^p,t¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Fergus Gregory⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 137| D

20/1

Bounced back from what was a no-show in the Galway Hurdle when runner-up to the upwardly mobile Westland Row at Kilbeggan (2m4f; yielding) last time. 1lb lower now and is closely matched on form with Like An Open Book so not without a chance.

Form: 615-402

Play The Game^h²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: D J McInerney| T: J C McConnell| OR: 136| CD

12/1

Unable to follow up easy Listowel (2m; good) success when 11th in the Galway Hurdle. This is slightly easier though and he should be able to fare more competitively. Doesn't look obviously well treated though.

Form: 5417-10

Trainwreck²⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 134| D

12/1

Patchy record of late, with an unseat and fall next to his name in his last three starts. Those mishaps came over fences, and he now makes seasonal/hurdles return after a 266-day absence. Holds some okay hurdles form to his name.

Form: 210/U3F-

Darver Star¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 133

13/2

One of two representatives in this contest for Gavin Cromwell, and this one looks to have the more realistic chance after he secured a second hurdles success in effortless fashion at Downpatrick (2m3f; good to yielding). 14lb higher mark now.

Form: 94316-1

Ejayteekay²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Paul Townend| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 133| D

10/1

Below-par performance is easy to excuse given it came in the Galway Hurdle. That was the only time she has finished outside the front-three in seven starts since she made her seasonal reappearance in February. Place claims.

Form: 12-3120

Conron²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 125

5/1

Consitent sort who is still relatively lightly raced and still looks well-treated. Made a pleasing return to action after a short break when third at Galway (2m; good) on the flat last month. Intriguing sort back over hurdles.

Form: 59415-2

Like An Open Book²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: M P Burke⁽⁷⁾| T: J M Burke| OR: 123| D

10/1

Consistent of late, and the form of her third at Tipperary (2m; good) behind Thomas Hobson & Galway Hurdle second Band Of Outlaws is arguably the strongest on offer. Dark horse in the line-up.

Form: F5-5533

Misty Millie^t⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: C J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: G Donnelly| OR: 113

20/1

Scored for the first time over hurdles in over a year when successful at Kilbeggan (2m; good). Not as good on the flat at Gowran Park since then, but the return to hurdles could see her return to form and she isn't totally ruled out.

Form: 4P86-41

Duchess Ravenwaves^p1¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: C P McNamara⁽⁷⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 110

2/1

Not achieved a great deal over hurdles as of yet, but did score comfortably on the level recently at Tipperary (1m4f; soft to heavy). Evidently in a good place, but has a bit to prove back over obstacles.

Form: 24470-

Wait Here^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: A Leahy| OR: 110

8/1

Not disgraced on either of his last two starts when behind the in-form Lucky Icon on each of them, both over this C&D and at Galway in what was a competitive race. In the mix once more.

Form: 235-333

Penny Out^t1⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Phillip Enright| T: J E Kiely| OR: 109

11/1

Unexposed over hurdles, and made a fine handicap debut last week when third to the thoroughly progressive Zoffalee at Tramore (2m; good). Should build on that and she has genuine claims if progressing, despite being out of the handicap.

Form: 082183

Non-Runners

Golden Spear²⁰

Weight: 11-9| Age: 8

T: A J Martin J: C D Timmons

Forecasts

Duchess Ravenwaves (2/1), Conron (5/1), Darver Star (13/2), Wait Here (8/1), Like An Open Book (10/1), Ejayteekay (10/1), Golden Spear (10/1), Penny Out (11/1), Play The Game (12/1), Trainwreck (12/1), Misty Millie (20/1), Tombstone (20/1)

One of the less obvious contenders in this is Wait Here who posted an encouraging effort when third in a competitive affair at the Galway Festival and prior to that was a good third over this C&D. Also in the mix is Tombstone who banished the memory of his disappointing run in the Galway Hurdle when only finding the in-form Westland Row too good at Kilbeggan. His talented apprentice jockey offsets the burden of some of his heavy weight. We'll take a chance on CONRON though, whose latest effort over hurdles when runner-up to a well handicapped JP McManus sort at the Punchestown Festival reads well, and he still looks well-handicapped off just a 3lb higher mark.