15:40 Listowel

Thursday 12 September 2019

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:2517:55

Behans Horseshoe Bar, Restaurant & Townhouse Accomodation Handicap

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 3m 14.06s

(3)

Flicker Flame²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 85

8/1

Landed a second career win on the Flat when scoring at Ballinrobe three starts ago off a 4lb lower mark. Twice beaten since but capable of a bold bid if fully ready.

Form: 09-2175

(6)

Rovetta^p1²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 84| D

14/1

Just the two starts this season and both were below par; had shown good form last summer and is slowly dropping to a reasonable mark; one to consider.

Form: 0/110-07

(4)

Dalileo¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Ben Coen⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 82| D

7/1

Solid enough 80-rated handicapper for trainer Mark Johnston winner of his final two starts on the AW at Wolverhampton and Kempton for the yard. Runner-up on stable debut when last seen in March.

Form: 781-121

(1)

Royal Illusion⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Colin Keane| T: W P Mullins| OR: 81

13/8

Generally consistent mare who ran well over an inadequate 1m4f at the Curragh on her penultimate start before being slightly below par last time at Galway; every chance at the weights if bouncing back to form.

Form: 21147

(7)

Rock De Baune²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: T P Madden⁽³⁾| T: J E Kiely| OR: 80

6/1

Useful 121-rated handicap hurdler won on his Flat debut at Ballinrobe in June. Missed the break on latest run in August on handicap debut at Roscommon but ran on creditably in the closing stages; excellent chance if starting better.

Form: 14

(2)

Run For Mary²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Billy Lee| T: C Byrnes| OR: 78

4/1

Bumper winner who proceeded to win on hurdling debut at Punchestown in May. Has finished in the runner-up position on three of his last four starts since making his Flat debut in July; needs to improve on latest run but deserves to be winning soon.

Form: 2228

(5)

Upgraded^t³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Gavin Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 73

12/1

Beaten by 30l over 1m6f at the Galway festival following a win four days prior at the same venue over 2m½f. Better than last result suggests and one to have on the shortlist.

Form: 06-5210

(8)

Jumellea^b,t¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Alan Persse⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 75

11/1

Winning handicap debut last month Limerick (1m4½f, good) and since run creditable races at Galway and Killarney. Open to improvement over this trip and one to consider.

Form: 338153

Forecasts

Royal Illusion (13/8), Run For Mary (4/1), Rock De Baune (6/1), Dalileo (7/1), Flicker Flame (8/1), Jumellea (11/1), Upgraded (12/1), Rovetta (14/1)

A fairly wide-open contest with an argument to be made for virtually all of the runners. The very tentative selection is UPGRADED who won well at Galway over an extended two miles before being unable to follow up a few days later under a penalty. Given a short break she may be primed to land this especially if the money is down. Royal Illusion is consistent enough to take advantage of any weakness of the selection although she needs to put an unusually poor run last time out behind her. Hopefully Rock De Baune will have been doing plenty of stalls practice as a slow start cost him dearly last time out. Notable mentions also for Jumellea, Rovetta in first-time cheekpieces and Flicker Flame.