17:40 Down Royal

Friday 30 August 2019

All16:3517:1017:4018:1018:4019:1019:40

Hovis Handicap Hurdle (80-95)

Off time: 17:40 | Winning time: 3m 59.1s

Lady Of The Sea^p²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Flanagan| T: P Nolan| OR: 93

10/1

Only win in 21 starts came over 3m at Wexford last July, has twice run well there this summer but arrives here off a poor effort at Cork (2m3f, yielding). Cheekpieces are refitted now.

Form: 627-330

Important Message²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: J B Kane⁽⁵⁾| T: D P Dunne| OR: 91

14/1

Flat winner back in 2015 for Godolphin, has achieved little in five runs over timber however, latest when beaten 21L on handicap bow at Cork (2m3f, yielding) this month. Others are preferred.

Form: P/00-07

Utalkintomeboy^v²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: T G McCourt| OR: 95

33/1

Maiden, three poor runs over timber so far, starting each time at 100-1. Handicap debut over timber now and looks up against it on formbook.

Form: 90-0

Bective Cave^t³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: R M Power| T: M J Smith| OR: 88| D

9/2

Still showing plenty of spark over hurdles recently including a win at Roscommon last month. Well beaten in maiden company on the Flat at Galway last time, should do better back over timber.

Form: 460-713

Joy's Gift^b1¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Slevin| T: P Maher| OR: 88| CD

7/1

Competitive in four hurdles starts this term, including 8½L fourth of 11 at Ballinrobe (2m1f, soft) this month from 1lb higher mark in first-time cheekpieces. Could get involved in shake-up.

Form: 6F-5754

Sharg⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: A Ring| T: D Hogan| OR: 93

10/1

Maiden of four runs over timber, was making steady if unspectacular progress prior to falling at Kilbeggan last week. Supported in the betting, was in trouble when coming down late on. Handicap debut now.

Form: 065F

Blackyellowred^p,t³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: C J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: D J Barry| OR: 87

4/1

Has progressed since switching to handicaps, finishing fourth in both starts at Wexford and Limerick over around 2m, latest defeat by just 1L. Raised 1lb, should be challenging again.

Form: 0800-44

Gragara Tara¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: J M Moore| T: P Meany| OR: 87

25/1

Offered something to work with on jumping debut in Punchestown maiden (2m½f, yielding) in June but hasn't managed to build on that in two runs more recently. Handicap debut now.

Form: 7/0-9708

Wink Wink^p1¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 92

20/1

Galileo filly, hasn't shown great aptitude for jumping so far in five runs, including this month in a handicap at Cork over 2m3f (tailed off). Another struggle since in Tramore maiden. Cheekpieces need to have a dramatic effect.

Form: 007-0P

Myladyrose²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: M F Mooney| T: Mrs A Mooney| OR: 85

6/1

Improving this year in four start over timber, latest when ½L second in 15-runner handicap at Kilbeggan over 2m4f (yielding to soft) earlier in the month. Drops slightly in trip and should have claims from 2lb higher mark.

Form: 7-6P642

Signing Off^t¹¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny Mullins| T: N C Kelly| OR: 90

20/1

Ex-Jim Bolger mare, 0-3 in maiden hurdles including wide-margin C&D defeat latest. Switches to handicaps needing to find a much more polished display.

Form: 0-00

Wild Desire²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: P Nolan| OR: 83| D

8/1

Won two mile handicap hurdle at Gowran Park in June 2018 but she's 0-10 since and her form has been regressing since a pleasing reappearance at Ballinrobe in April over this sort of trip.

Form: 5747-40

Rising^p1,t¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: J S McGarvey| T: N C Kelly| OR: 82

25/1

Yard in good form just now but form in six runs over hurdles is rather unconvincing, so remains easier to look elsewhere.

Form: 740-509

Deauville Society²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: T G McCourt| OR: 86

20/1

Limited ability on the Flat, similar in maiden hurdles and pull up last month on handicap bow at Limerick over 2m. Hard to make case for.

Form: 08-0P

Elegant Lass^t¹²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: T Gibney| OR: 86

20/1

Flat maiden, mostly sprinting, wide margin defeats in trio of maiden hurdles over this trip and similar so far. Makes handicap debut, with much improvement demanded.

Form: 98-6

Piranto²⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁵⁾| T: S Wilson| OR: 80

16/1

Exposed sort, unplaced in 10 starts over timber, including a succession of handicaps last year. Back from a layoff now with it all to prove.

Form: 07P468-

Survival Mode^p1⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: S Fahey| OR: 83

25/1

Minor promise on the Flat but well beaten in three maiden hurdles and no better when pulled up on handicap debut at Wexford last time and now requires cheekpieces to have a fairly dramatic effect.

Form: 68-0P

Forecasts

Blackyellowred (4/1), Bective Cave (9/2), Myladyrose (6/1), Joy's Gift (7/1), Wild Desire (8/1), Lady Of The Sea (10/1), Sharg (10/1), Important Message (14/1), Piranto (16/1), Deauville Society (20/1), Elegant Lass (20/1), Wink Wink (20/1), Signing Off (20/1), Gragara Tara (25/1), Survival Mode (25/1), Rising (25/1), Utalkintomeboy (33/1)

Conor Orr has already gone close on BLACKYELLOWRED twice in handicaps, the partnership beaten only a length into fourth last time. Raised 1lb, they should have solid credentials of getting on the board now. Myladyrose was second last time at Kilbeggan and can give another solid account dropping slightly in distance while Joy's Gift and Bective Cave are possibilities for places.