13:55 Killarney

Saturday 24 August 2019

All12:5013:2013:5514:3015:0515:3516:0516:40

Irish Examiner Rated Race

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 1m 44.06s

(1)

Equitant⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Mikey Sheehy⁽¹⁰⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 88| D

7/1

5-18 record and wasn't beaten far in similar 7f contest at Limerick last month on second start back. Return to a mile favourable and entitled to get in the shake-up.

Form: 12-0004

(3)

Aussie Valentine^p,t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: S M Mooney⁽⁷⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 87| D

5/1

Mile winner at the Curragh in May on quick ground and beaten only 1L back there recently soft, having run with credit in some big handicaps in between times. Reliable eight-year-old should go well in this.

Form: 106203

(8)

Come September⁸²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Chris Hayes| T: G P Cromwell

10/1

€5,000 yearling who made a winning start at Gowran Park in June; showed a good attitude that day and can make this a good test having joined Gavin Cromwell since. Has to be on any shortlist.

Form: 1

(5)

Tony The Gent^b⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Rory Cleary| T: D Hogan| OR: 86| D

7/1

Ex-Ger Lyons inmate, second in similar C&D event last month (also ran well here in a handicap after) and landed a claimer at Leopardstown nine days ago. First run for new connections, clearly in good heart.

Form: 155231

(6)

Zander²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Gary Carroll| T: G M Lyons| OR: 88

8/1

Oasis Dream gelding, won a Galway maiden at last year's Festival but mostly disappointing in handicaps this year bar one fair run at Ballinrobe in July. More is needed following another poor show since.

Form: 2-08930

(2)

Sky Seven⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Ross Coakley| T: M Halford| OR: 87| D

5/1

Just denied in mile handicap at Leopardstown in June (rated 86), twice tried since over 1m2f and could bounce back to form returned to this distance. Watch betting.

Form: 219235

(10)

Aurora Moon²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Leigh Roche| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 84| D

25/1

Tipperary maiden winner over 7½f earlier this summer. Held in two starts since. Likely faces a tough task against these rivals.

Form: 85140

(9)

Gospel⁷⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Andrew Slattery⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 84

25/1

Debut Nottingham winner (5f, soft) last season. Has since been tilted at pattern company, without success and also struggling in handicaps before leaving Britain. New trainer can likely find races to win, though maybe not right away.

Form: 729-558

(4)

Ideal Pal⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: M Mulvany| OR: 79| D

11/2

Recorded a summer hat-trick with handicaps at Cork and Ballinrobe either side of Sligo rated race. Can't be ruled out completely after two lesser efforts of late.

Form: 911103

(7)

National Guard⁹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 84| D

5/1

War Front colt, off the mark with Dundalk maiden success over a mile in May and went close at Gowran Park next time. May have found 6f at Cork sharp when last spotted and more to come back from a break.

Form: 34-3134

Forecasts

National Guard (5/1), Sky Seven (5/1), Aussie Valentine (5/1), Ideal Pal (11/2), Equitant (7/1), Tony The Gent (7/1), Zander (8/1), Come September (10/1), Gospel (25/1), Aurora Moon (25/1)

Hard pressed to rule many of these out with certainty and so the reliable AUSSIE VALENTINE gets the nod. He's been operating in some hot handicaps of late and could prove a tough nut to crack if getting the lead here. Once-raced winner Come September should have more to come while Tony The Gent boasts recent C&D form and joins National Guard on the shortlist, with the latter sure to be better suited back up in trip.