19:10 Down Royal

Friday 30 August 2019

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

Kerry Foods Handicap Hurdle (80-102)

Off time: 19:11 | Winning time: 5m 33.30s

Whatever It Takes^t,v³⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: N P Madden| T: N Madden| OR: 102

25/1

33-1 runner-up over 3m at Limerick last summer, not exactly matched that since though and well held over same C&D last month on seasonal return.

Form: 7/P200-6

Fruits Of Glory^h,t¹¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: E Cawley| OR: 99

16/1

Veteran who boasts better form over fences. Finished a modest third at Cork (2m4f, good to yielding) in May and given a short break since. Similar aspirations at best.

Form: F3539-3

Sir Ector¹³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-9| J: L P Dempsey| T: J J Lambe| OR: 99| C

33/1

Now 12-years-old and just 2-35 over hurdles, often being let down by his technique. Looks an unlikely winner on recent evidence.

Form: 7504-5P

Back To Bataan^b1¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: M Torrens| OR: 98

6/1

Chased home odds-on scorer at Sligo (2m5f, yielding) recently (winner well held at Bellewstown yesterday). Sports first-time blinkers and probably has to improve on this field.

Form: 4-04602

Fu's Island¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: P Meany| OR: 97

8/1

Always travelling well and made light of poor position jumping the last to power home and win at Tramore (2m4½f, good) this month. Bumped up in ratings but entitled to well with excellent claimer on board.

Form: 002-581

Top Of The Charts^t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 96

5/2

Really found his mojo in winning two of previous three starts over fences. Trainer in fine form right now and potentially very well treated back over timber. Obvious contender in current mood.

Form: 278115

Court Martialed³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: D F O'Regan| T: G A Kingston| OR: 94

16/1

Shaped with some purpose on handicap hurdle bow at Ballinrobe last month, unexposed sort and could soon have more to offer in this sphere.

Form: 5500/08

James Boru^p1,t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J S McGarvey| T: N C Kelly| OR: 92

20/1

Well held at Downpatrick recently, now 0-9 over timber and this race looks to have more depth to it. Cheekpieces are added.

Form: 845-F67

Mr Jacaranda^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: R M Power| T: A J Martin| OR: 92

8/1

Listowel run in June over 2m4f was promising (third), remains a maiden after seven starts over timber but likely found 2m around Galway on the sharp side latest. Can do better up in distance.

Form: 070-530

Caerleon Kate^p⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: C A McBratney| OR: 87| D

9/1

One win in 32 attempts over timber tells its own story. Has run well on more than one occasion this term, mostly at Downpatrick. Could run into the money.

Form: 073P45

Home Place^b,t³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Donagh Meyler| T: K Thornton| OR: 85

7/1

Dotted up over fences at Uttoxeter last month (3m) and since ran too bad to be true when favourite at Southwell over these flights. Interesting if he bounces back.

Form: 75821P

Siempre Amigos^t1²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: J B Kane⁽⁵⁾| T: D P Dunne| OR: 85

33/1

Doesn't have much in the way of encouraging form in the book and a big shock should tongue-tie prove the spark for this mare to get competitive.

Form: 067/6-90

Burlesque Queen⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 83

20/1

Unable to threaten over shorter trip at Killarney a week ago, she is now unplaced in her six runs over hurdles and facing an uphill battle for the moment.

Form: 400069

Boston Babe^t²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: C J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: D J Barry| OR: 80

25/1

Maiden hurdler, showed more when fourth at Bellewstown (2m4f, good) in early July but has since run a poor race at Cork and remains opposable.

Form: 00P/0-40

Mary Fields⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Hennessy| OR: 80

12/1

Modest fourth of 17 at Killarney (2m4f, good) last week, she will have to take a step forward on that effort to get in the places here.

Form: 00-7794

Nevada Rose⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 10-4| J: Sean Flanagan| T: S Millar| OR: 80

50/1

Veteran performer, 0-33 under rules to this point and last to complete at Downpatrick on Monday. Hard to see breakthrough coming now.

Form: 477050

Zagnzig¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁵⁾| T: H Smyth| OR: 80| C

16/1

Winner around this track in May 2018, he's rated 4lb lower now but his efforts so far in 2019 leave with it all to do.

Form: 40-6088

Forecasts

Top Of The Charts (5/2), Back To Bataan (6/1), Home Place (7/1), Fu's Island (8/1), Mr Jacaranda (8/1), Caerleon Kate (9/1), Mary Fields (12/1), Zagnzig (16/1), Fruits Of Glory (16/1), Court Martialed (16/1), Burlesque Queen (20/1), James Boru (20/1), Boston Babe (25/1), Whatever It Takes (25/1), Siempre Amigos (33/1), Sir Ector (33/1), Nevada Rose (50/1)

Top Of The Charts represents the in-form Gavin Cromwell yard, after a double at Bellewstown on Thursday, and he is a huge threat to all here if transferring his recent chase form to this discipline from a much lower mark. FU'S ISLAND stormed home to deny an in-form rival at Tramore last time, a race from which a couple of next-time-out winners have come, and he is fancied to go well once more with smart claimer Darragh O'Keefe booked to ride. Mr Jacaranda is a danger going up in trip, while Home Place is surely better than his last effort at Southwell.