14:30 Listowel

Friday 13 September 2019

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

Guinness Handicap

Off time: 14:31 | Winning time: 1m 29.99s

(5)

Honor Oak^t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: A J Slattery⁽⁵⁾| T: T Hogan| OR: 83| D

14/1

Six-time winner struggled since Sligo win in May yet remains on a 2lb higher mark. Welter-burden for a mare and looks up against it again.

Form: 144680

(1)

Sagittarius Rising^h1,t¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Colin Keane| T: J C McConnell| OR: 74| D

13/2

Yet to add to deep ground Gowran maiden success over this trip last year but there were signs in his fifth at Roscommon last time out. Hood added and Keane aboard which are further positives so expectant of a bold bid now.

Form: 219-705

(14)

Pretty Boy Floyd^t⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Robbie Colgan| T: A J Martin| OR: 73

20/1

0-12 and has looked pretty regressive in three starts so far this season. Unable to beat a single rival in handicap company at Galway (7f; good) when last seen.

Form: 420-600

(17)

Have A Nice Day^p¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-5| J: Ben Coen⁽⁵⁾| T: T G McCourt| OR: 71| D

20/1

Over a year now since his last win but latest seventh of 23 at the Curragh beaten just 4L suggested handicap now within range again having tumbled in barren spell. Each-way potential here.

Form: 000077

(12)

Nothing To Lose²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: R Coakley| T: J C McConnell| OR: 71| D

8/1

Four-time winner ran well second time after the layoff latest when second of 14 over 7½f at Roscommon despite a very slow start which is too often his achilles heel. Will need things to fall his way but should be thereabouts where it matters.

Form: 675302

(7)

Outside Inside^t1²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: W J Lee| T: J Davison| OR: 71| D

7/1

0-10 for Mark Johnston (won earlier in career) but not disgraced in two starts since joining this yard and gets weight back from the handicapper here so is one with each-way possibilities.

Form: 428584

(10)

Emphatic^p1,t¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Rory Cleary| T: J Larkin| OR: 70

7/1

Runner-up on his last three starts including a couple of solid efforts at the Galway festival two days apart. Consistency has been noted by the handicapper but hard to envisage anything but a bold bid.

Form: 602229

(9)

Cracking Name^b,t³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: O J Orr| T: D Marnane| OR: 66| D

7/1

The only last-time-out winner in the field scored over 7½f at Tipperary last time out; her fifth career success. Rise of 9lb raises the stakes but basically quite progressive and twice run well here in the past so follow up entirely possible.

Form: 19-6751

(6)

Rattling Jewel⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: G M Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Lambe| OR: 65| CD

14/1

Won this race 12 months ago on heavy ground when trained by Joseph O'Brien. Not reached those heights in 2019 with a series of dismal efforts so harder to fancy this time around.

Form: 808000

(2)

Foreign Legion^p,t⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: J A Heffernan| T: J Larkin| OR: 62| D

20/1

Racked up a four-timer during the winter when in the care of Newmarket trainer Luke McJannett but struggled afterwards. 11th of 15 on stable/Irish debut suggested handicap remains high enough especially considering 0-8 turf record.

Form: 448260

(4)

Ecoeye⁹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A Leahy| OR: 61| CD

9/1

No show in both 2019 starts but mark as a result fallen to below win at Cork last May in deep ground. Bounce back needed but had a break and gone well fresh in the past.

Form: 1290-00

(16)

Youceeyouceecee^p²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: K J Leonard| T: Miss S A Finn| OR: 61| BF| CD

7/1

Winner of five of his 28 starts on turf, the gelding has a C&D win to his name from four starts over the combination. Fourth at Roscommon last time out amongst the best form on offer so merits respect.

Form: 50-2034

(15)

Keep Believing^v⁹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: C P Hoban| T: B Nolan| OR: 52| D

25/1

Scored three times back in 2017 but without a win since and has dropped 20lb. Never got involved on preferred soft ground when last seen in June so excuses starting to wear thin.

Form: 0009-57

(11)

Count Of Carabass^p⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-4| J: Chris Hayes| T: Miss H McLoughlin| OR: 51| BF| C| D

12/1

6½f course winner in 2017 went close at Cork over 7f penultimately when second in a 25-runner cavalry charge. Always too far back here over 6½f on Monday and 5lb out of the handicap here.

Form: 440628

(8)

Our Anniversary¹³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: M P Sheehy⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Mrs D A Love| OR: 50

33/1

Ran well at Tipperary in first turf run of 2019 but flopped next at Gowran and off since that race in early May. Handicap within range but probably best watched against race-fit rivals.

Form: 0-00030

Non-Runners

(3)

Talk Now²¹

Weight: 8-4| Age: 4

T: T Cleary J: Reserve 1

(13)

Ask Katie²⁰

Weight: 8-4| Age: 7

T: T Cleary J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Sagittarius Rising (13/2), Outside Inside (7/1), Cracking Name (7/1), Emphatic (7/1), Youceeyouceecee (7/1), Nothing To Lose (8/1), Ecoeye (9/1), Count Of Carabass (12/1), Rattling Jewel (14/1), Honor Oak (14/1), Have A Nice Day (20/1), Pretty Boy Floyd (20/1), Foreign Legion (20/1), Keep Believing (25/1), Our Anniversary (33/1), Talk Now (50/1), Ask Katie (50/1)

EMPHATIC has been knocking on the door this season and after a short break to refresh and with cheekpieces added it is hoped that connections can eek out the extra pound or two needed to regain the winning thread in this ultra-competitive handicap. Recent Tipperary winner Cracking Name and Sagittarius Rising are others towards the top of the not-too-short shortlist.