16:50 Listowel

Thursday 12 September 2019

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

Ladbrokes Ireland Listowel Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 3m 56.4s

Yanworth¹⁸²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: D J McInerney| T: E Bolger| OR: 150| D

20/1

Top class staying hurdler on his day whose racecourse appearances are limited these days; a big performance is certainly not beyond him but this trip looks very much on the short side for him.

Form: F216/P0-

Davids Charm²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Phillip Enright| T: J J Walsh| OR: 144| C| D

6/1

Has been showing better form on the Flat of late and showed his well-being when scoring late last month at Killarney (1m6f, soft). Recent hurdles form has not been so great but capable on his day and generally consistent.

Form: 1/960-54

Ballyoisin²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽³⁾| T: E Bolger| OR: 142| CD

2/1

Won this race last season and showed off his current fitness when easily winning at Killarney over fences in August. Still rates a danger over hurdles and could be the one they have to beat.

Form: 11115-1

Chosen Mate^t⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: R M Power| T: G Elliott| OR: 142| D

8/1

Not beaten far in Grade 1 event at Aintree in April having previously been running well in novice company; last run at Galway can be discounted as he met trouble in running; excellent chance if recovering from that experience.

Form: 11215-P

Hearts Are Trumps⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: D McDonogh| OR: 138| D

7/1

Winner of three handicap hurdles last term and has continued in good form without hitting the target again. Gallant sixth of 18 behind Tudor City in the Galway hurdle on last appearance; one for the shortlist.

Form: 14033-6

Golden Spear^t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: C D Timmons⁽⁵⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 136| CD

16/1

Has struggled slightly off revised mark since scoring well at Down Royal last winter; showed his well being with fair effort on the flat recently at Killarney but may still be too high in the weights at present.

Form: 040/1-08

Tombstone^p,t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 134| D

33/1

Not the most consistent of late and one promising run at Kilbeggan was flanked by two disappointing runs at Galway and Killarney; hard to assess at present but worth a market check.

Form: 15-4029

Ejayteekay²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Paul Townend| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 133| D

22/1

Had been in excellent form in the early part of the year, rarely finishing outide the places; somewhat below par when upped in class at the Galway festival and fell at the first flight last time out; chances if bouncing back.

Form: 2-3120F

Ming Dynasty^t⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 133| D

33/1

Produced a career best to beat stablemate Ejayteekay at Bellewstown, but hit with a 9lb rise for that and has struggled the last twice and no let up from the handicapper.

Form: 60-1140

Avenir D'Une Vie^p,t⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 131| D

25/1

Front-runner who made all two starts ago to win at Downpatrick before not disgraced in decent handicap at the Galway festival; still looking for his first handicap success but that seems to be thwarted by the handicapper.

Form: 030-215

Star Maker⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 130

33/1

Closely matched with Avenir D'Une Vie on Galway running in August; rarely runs a poor race and no reason why he should not go well here and is open to improvement.

Form: 917-1P4

Mr Everest^t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Sean Flanagan| T: A J Martin| OR: 127| C

9/2

Comfortably won a maiden hurdle at Galway in August on good ground over and extended two miles; this represents a tougher task but he is certainly going in the right direction and is entitled to improve.

Form: 322-1

Lakemilan^h²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: C P McNamara⁽⁷⁾| T: T O'Brien| OR: 123| CD

12/1

Only narrowly failed to land back to back chase wins at Killarney last time out; has some useful hurdles form in the past and looks fairly well treated on the best of her form; interesting contender.

Form: 2-72512

Tara Dylan¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 122

33/1

Multiple winner on the Flat who finally won over hurdles when landing a maiden event last time out at Kilbeggan; that should have boosted her confidence but hard task here from 9lb out of the handicap.

Form: 20-F921

Forecasts

Ballyoisin (2/1), Mr Everest (9/2), Davids Charm (6/1), Hearts Are Trumps (7/1), Chosen Mate (8/1), Lakemilan (12/1), Golden Spear (16/1), Yanworth (20/1), Ejayteekay (22/1), Avenir D'Une Vie (25/1), Tara Dylan (33/1), Ming Dynasty (33/1), Star Maker (33/1), Tombstone (33/1)

A tricky race but the nod goes to last year's winner BALLYOISIN who returns to hurdling after some decent efforts over fences in Grade company as well as landing a valuable race at Killarney in August. If running up to that form over the smaller obstacles, he could prove hard to pass in the closing stages. Ejayteekay is a very likeable mare who was running with great credit before running below par at the Galway festival and falling last time out. If returning to her early season form then she may rate the main danger. Star Maker is a consistent performer and is possibly open to a lot more improvement while it will be interesting to see how the classy Yanworth copes over two miles.