19:10 Bellewstown

Thursday 29 August 2019

All16:0516:4017:1017:4018:1018:4019:1019:40

John Purfield Memorial Handicap Hurdle (80-130)

Off time: 19:12 | Winning time: 5m 42.7s

Dorans River^t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: S J Mahon| OR: 129| CD

14/1

Won this event 12 months ago, hasn't always been at best over 3m. Ballinrobe winner (2m5½f) last month and since run fair race at Galway over fences. 7lb higher than when taking this last year.

Form: 02-0916

Fred The Foot^p,t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: C J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 126| D

7/2

Won over the trip at Limerick last month, has a 5lb higher mark to contend with now in what looks a stronger race on paper. Respected again.

Form: 743-831

Ask Nile¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: S Neville| OR: 121| D

5/1

Has gone a long while without a win (18 starts) but capable over this sort of trip and not disgraced in either recent start over shorter. Handicapper isn't exactly being lenient just yet.

Form: 2326-54

Ned Stark^p,t²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 121| D

16/1

Winner of a 3m chase at Perth last month, his first win since 2015 (missed big chunks of time). Well fended off in competitive Galway Festival fare since but potentially on a decent mark back over timber.

Form: 20/3140

Jaime Sommers^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Brian Hayes| T: M J Bowe| OR: 117

14/1

Useful jumps mare, for all that she's won just 3-46 over hurdles/fences now. Winner of a 2m Tramore maiden on the Flat a fortnight ago. Competitively weighted back in this sphere.

Form: P5-4503

Spring Watch²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: D J McInerney| T: M F Morris| OR: 117| D

5/2

Back-to-back winner of handicap hurdles at Punchestown and Roscommon last summer before missing 390 days, travelled well for a long way on return at Galway recently before facing. Could have more to offer now.

Form: 780/11-6

Swingbridge^b,t²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-5| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 108| D

10/1

Fair chase record over a variety of trips but has not been hurdling since 2018; has ability over the smaller obstacles and will be fit from chasing has won over this trip in the past.

Form: 2-3199F

Bye Bye O Bye^t¹⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 10-3| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: Michael C Griffin| OR: 106| D

14/1

Winner of back-to-back handicap hurdles at Kilbeggan and Limerick over this sort of trip last month before fair run at Galway. Another solid showing in Tramore beginners' chase since. Not overlooked with Rachel Blackmore taking over.

Form: 431156

Alohamora⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: J Nash| OR: 105

20/1

Best effort so far over timber came when beaten 3L over this trip at Leopardstown (soft) in March, may have needed recent return at Sligo over shorter and one of the more interesting ones now.

Form: 80653-8

Black Label^t¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-11| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: K Thornton| OR: 100| C

5/1

3-26 record over hurdles, only his second run for this yard when third in 3m Perth handicap last month and this former course winner can race from a much lower mark now having also gone well since on the Flat.

Form: 1P08-53

Non-Runners

Vocarium⁶⁹

Weight: 10-13| Age: 6

T: Peter Fahey J: K C Sexton

Forecasts

Spring Watch (5/2), Fred The Foot (7/2), Black Label (5/1), Ask Nile (5/1), Swingbridge (10/1), Jaime Sommers (14/1), Bye Bye O Bye (14/1), Dorans River (14/1), Ned Stark (16/1), Alohamora (20/1), Vocarium (20/1)

Previous course winner Black Label showed up well for his new trainer at Perth last month on second run and needs plenty respecting now racing from his lower mark in his country. This is competitive though and the likes of Alohamora, Fred The Foot and last year's winner Dorans River all come into the reckoning. SPRING WATCH was back from more than a year off at Galway earlier this in month and travelled well for a long way in a hot race before folding. He should be plenty sharper for that run and is well capable of getting involved from his current mark in the search for a third hurdles win from eight attempts.