17:00 Gowran Park

Saturday 5 October 2019

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Paulstown Handicap Chase

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 6m 42.10s

Freewheelin Dylan^t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 130| D

6/1

Put a disappointing season behind him when winning easily at Kilbeggan in early September; up plenty in the weights but the manner of that success suggests he may be capable of more in current mood.

Form: 375-7F1

Kilkishen^b²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Richard Condon⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 128| C| D

12/1

Finished behind Freewheelin Dylan at Kilbeggan last time out and may struggle to reverse that even on slightly improved terms; generally consistent over hurdles and fences this term; each way possibilities.

Form: P-P8342

The Gatechecker^b²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Mark Walsh| T: M Hourigan| OR: 127

20/1

Sent hurdling last time out having been struggling off his previous handicap mark over fences but to little avail; has dropped a few pounds but may struggle again.

Form: 75-9870

Wonderoftheworld^t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: K J Brouder⁽⁵⁾| T: K H Clarke| OR: 122| D

8/1

0-8 over fences (previously useful hurdler) but generally runs with admirable consistency; tends to be a bit one-paced in a finish and that may be his undoing once again despite dropping down the handicap.

Form: F33-433

Graineyhill^b¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 120

13/2

Put some below par early summer form behind him when step up to 3m in two contest at Perth in September; has been dropped a few pounds and looks on a reasonable mark; one to consider.

Form: 4P-0732

Static Jack⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 118| C

3/1

Has been hurdling with occasional success of late and has not raced in a chase since 2017; hard to assess and the fact that his only success over fences came in a beginner's chase sets alarm bells ringing.

Form: 4PP-215

Aherlow³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 117| BF

10/1

Solid 111-rated hurdler, the Oscar gelding will look to get off the mark for connections at the six time of asking over the larger obstacles; latest placed effort suggests he is up to winning and is inching down the handicap.

Form: 10365-3

High Sparrow^p1¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 115| BF

3/1

Lightly raced over fences but was a fairly consistent hurdler with some ability; probably needs more experience in chases but perhaps the first cheekpieces may concentrate him; an unlikely winner but should run his race.

Form: 477-536

Home Place^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽³⁾| T: K Thornton| OR: 107

12/1

Has lost his way slightly since winning at Uttoxeter in July including a spin over hurdles; often let down by his jumping and arguably easily passed over here.

Form: 821P05

Non-Runners

Guided By You²⁵²

Weight: 10-2| Age: 6

T: N Meade J: Sean Flanagan

Forecasts

Static Jack (3/1), High Sparrow (3/1), Freewheelin Dylan (6/1), Graineyhill (13/2), Wonderoftheworld (8/1), Aherlow (10/1), Kilkishen (12/1), Home Place (12/1), Guided By You (16/1), The Gatechecker (20/1)

FREEWHEELIN DYLAN has topweight and a rise in the handicap to contend with but may still be good enough to beat a field of generally out of form rivals. There was plenty to like about the way he won last time out at Kilbeggan and he looks to have the measure of the runner-up that day, Kilkishen. Graineyhill is certainly one to consider given how he has improved plenty since being stepped up in trip the last twice. A repeat of either of those two runs off this lower mark should see him running the selection close.