17:10 Down Royal

Saturday 31 August 2019

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:45

Racing TV Handicap (45-65) (Div 2)

Off time: 17:11 | Winning time: 3m 3.97s

(16)

Maunganui¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Shane Foley| T: J P Fahey| OR: 63

16/1

Off the mark for connections at the 15th time of asking when landing a Sligo 1m2½f handicap off a 3lb lower mark in June. Well held since and needs others to run below-par to have a chance in this.

Form: 6-53100

(17)

Malbas³^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: Killian Leonard| T: D Hogan| OR: 64

9/4

Deservedly off the mark at the sixth attempt in a Bellewstown 1m4f handicap on Wednesday off a 6lb lower mark. Life more difficult under a penalty but very much a leading player once again.

Form: 007721

(8)

Mountain Fox¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: C G O'Dwyer⁽¹⁰⁾| T: F Oakes| OR: 57

7/2

Without a win in 20 starts on the Flat including 14 races on turf. Has posted a number of solid runs at Gowran Park recently and could be approaching a mark he can be dangerous from.

Form: 9-26433

(4)

A Few Bob Short^t¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Ben Coen⁽⁵⁾| T: S K Ryder| OR: 54

8/1

Won for connections at the 10th time of asking when landing a Gowran Park 1m1½f handicap off a 3lb lower mark. Beaten since but holds strong place claims in this company.

Form: 0333-18

(13)

Liars Corner^p,t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Colin Keane| T: J C McConnell| OR: 52

10/1

Sole win on the Flat came on a British raid at Hamilton Park 12 months ago off a 2lb higher mark. Generally well held on the level since and liable to find a couple stronger once again.

Form: 6165-04

(1)

Balaclava⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Ronan Whelan| T: Ms M Kelly| OR: 47

12/1

Lightly-raced maiden without a win in nine starts on the Flat. Will need to raise overall profile to play a role here.

Form: 80/008-7

(14)

Glenbank King^b³⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 8-11| J: C D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: L Smyth| OR: 46| D

25/1

Not disgraced on his latest start at Down Royal last month but overall form since April leaves plenty to be desired. Veteran currently struggling now 19lb lower than last winning mark.

Form: 070505

(6)

Light Of Fire^p1,t²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Wayne Lordan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 55

33/1

Six-race maiden left floundering in a couple of recent starts at Bellewstown and Sligo earlier this month over 1m2f. First time blinkers unlikely to bring about the required amount of improvement needed to play a role here.

Form: 099900

(12)

Barbie O'Conor²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: M A Gallagher| T: D Kinsella| OR: 45

20/1

Seven-race maiden still looking for major breakthrough in five starts on turf. Tough to see where improvement is coming from to play a major part in this contest.

Form: 60-9986

(15)

Loudest Whisper¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: E D Delany| OR: 45

6/1

12-race maiden on turf the filly ran well in defeat over 1m1½f at Gowran Park earlier this month. Step back up in trip not guaranteed to suit but can give a decent account of herself without worrying the main protagonists.

Form: 504364

(7)

Mzuri³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: Rory Cleary| T: A McGuinness| OR: 45

33/1

43-race maiden still looking no nearer but first win on turf in 38 starts. Well beaten on last couple of starts and remains easy to oppose.

Form: 4580-70

(5)

Shumaker⁴¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: J M Sheridan⁽⁷⁾| T: Paul Traynor| OR: 45

10/1

Nothing of note in a number of starts for trainers Noel Kelly and Eoin Barry. Beaten 5L finishing fourth of six when last seen on the Flat over three years ago and hard to place any faith in on return to action on stable debut.

Form: 06874/

(10)

Bobby Cool³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Alan Persse⁽⁷⁾| T: A McNamara| OR: 48

25/1

By Alhebayeb out of a 7f winner who stayed 1m2f. Little to show in the way of ability in four innocuous efforts since debut in May. Well below-par form looks set to continue.

Form: 0080

Non-Runners

(11)

Easy Boy⁹³

Weight: 8-11| Age: 7

T: P Martin J: Gavin Ryan

(2)

Early Strike⁴⁵

Weight: 8-4| Age: 3

T: G P Cromwell J: Reserve 1

(9)

World Premier²³

Weight: 10-0| Age: 6

T: N Madden J: Reserve 2

(3)

Dubai Is Great¹⁷

Weight: 8-12| Age: 4

T: P McCreery J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Malbas (9/4), Mountain Fox (7/2), Loudest Whisper (6/1), A Few Bob Short (8/1), Liars Corner (10/1), Shumaker (10/1), World Premier (10/1), Early Strike (10/1), Balaclava (12/1), Easy Boy (12/1), Maunganui (16/1), Barbie O'Conor (20/1), Glenbank King (25/1), Bobby Cool (25/1), Dubai Is Great (25/1), Light Of Fire (33/1), Mzuri (33/1)

The likable Denis Hogan-trained, MALBAS continue his winning thread in this contest started at Bellewstown on Wednesday. The gelding carries a penalty for his win but should have enough to hold off any potential challenge from the likes of the improving Mountain Fox, the four-year-old, A Few Bob Short, winner at Gowran Park last month and Loudest Whisper who could hit the frame off a career low mark.