14:20 Down Royal

Friday 1 November 2019

All12:4013:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:05

Allianz Handicap Hurdle (80-102)

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 6m 23.9s

Askann^p1³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: M Torrens| OR: 102

14/1

Returns to hurdling after not impressing over fences; still a maiden over hurdles but has shown glimpses of ability; difficult to rule out entirely but hard to make a strong case for; place possibilities in first time cheekpieces.

Form: 33/U0-2U

Classic Concorde¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Dillon Maxwell⁽⁷⁾| T: A McNamara| OR: 102

5/1

Bounced back to reasonable form on penultimate start at Clonmel following a string of disappointing efforts since winning at Kilbeggan in June; let down by jumping last time at Cork; needs to improve to go close.

Form: 184024

Se Mo Laoch^p¹⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr E Mahon⁽⁷⁾| T: B McMahon| OR: 102

11/2

Far better chaser than hurdler though did win last time out over timber in September 2018; certainly stays this trip and an interesting contender who may still be reasonably handicapped.

Form: 12135-6

Best Not Argue²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: J S McGarvey| T: N C Kelly| OR: 99

50/1

Multiple Flat winner, but yet to translate that form to hurdles despite flashes of form. Last of 16 at Fairyhouse last month and hard to trust her after that flop.

Form: 0-50250

Magic Sea⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: C D Maxwell| T: Mrs S Dawson| OR: 102| C

33/1

Has failed to hit the frame in nine hurdling starts so far; slightly improved performance last time out at Listowel and this step up in trip may bring the best out of him but hard to place too much trust in.

Form: 4099B8

John Mor^t⁶³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: J J Slevin| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 96

40/1

Generally unreliable maiden hurdler; has show bits and pieces of form over the years but there looks to be plenty with better form in this contest despite a tumbling handicap mark.

Form: F942P6

Castle Canny³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: B R Hamilton| OR: 95

25/1

Mixed messages in four starts over hurdles so far. Was keeping on in the closing stages over 2m5½f at Galway last month before disappointing next time out at Downpatrick; tough ask on handicap debut.

Form: 9237

Open To The World^p⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁷⁾| T: P Roche| OR: 95

20/1

Generally a consistent sort but finds winning difficult evidenced by just one win from 20 starts over hurdles; possibly unduly punished for running well at Downpatrick earlier this month; can hit the frame.

Form: 654420

Sir Ector^h1⁶³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-5| J: L P Dempsey| T: J J Lambe| OR: 95| C| D

33/1

Now 12-years-old and just 2-35 over hurdles, often being let down by his technique; looks an unlikely winner on evidence of his form over the summer.

Form: 504-5P0

Whydah^p¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 94

10/1

Best effort when sixth of 21 in a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle in January, but well beaten in five handicaps since; hard to see him winning until given more of a reprieve from the handicapper.

Form: 600-0B8

Wild Rumour¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr T Hamilton⁽³⁾| T: L Fowler| OR: 94

16/1

Put her experience to good use when third in a maiden hurdle at Cork recently but overall level of form in handicaps suggests she will struggle to get competitive once again.

Form: 92890-3

Lady Of The Sea²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: J B Kane⁽⁵⁾| T: S Millar| OR: 93| D

20/1

Just the one win in 24 starts and recent change of stable failed to perk her up last time out at Downpatrick; hard to see her winning but has a chance of a place.

Form: 3062P8

Magistralis²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 93

9/1

Fairly consistent gelding who put in one of his better effort last time out at Fairyhouse; that was a fair effort on his handicap debut and there may be more to come: interesting.

Form: 94-5453

Bracka Lily²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: K Brogan⁽⁷⁾| T: N C Kelly| OR: 92

16/1

Has been generally disappointing since winning at Downpatrick (2m6f) in August; races off just a 2lb higher mark here and looks an interesting contender stepping up in trip.

Form: 231709

Greenandwhitearmy²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Ricky Doyle⁽³⁾| T: N McKnight| OR: 92

10/1

Had the race at his mercy when rider lost his irons last time out at Downpatrick; not one to trust implicitly as he can be a bit quirky but definitely has talent and one for the shortlist.

Form: 5U2165

Mr Jacaranda^t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Phillip Enright| T: A J Martin| OR: 91

8/1

Not the most consistent but put in one of his more pleasing performances last time out at Gowran Park; looks likely to enjoy this step up in trip and has every chance as long as he jumps soundly.

Form: 0-53004

Walkers Point^t³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr N McParlan⁽⁵⁾| T: S McParlan| OR: 91

25/1

Sole career win win in a bumper contest before the gelding went on to be defeated in 22 starts over hurdles; sent chasing last time at Sligo to little effect and hard to make a coherent case for.

Form: 92305-0

Drumconnor Girl²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Mr C Abernethy⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Lambe| OR: 87| D

33/1

Point-to-point winner last year; put in useful effort when third at Downpatrick on penultimate start, beaten under two lengths; saddled slipped in early stages last time out at same course; worth a check in the market to gauge stable confidence

Form: 8-5763P

Balgowlah^p²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Flanagan| T: C A McBratney| OR: 90

7/1

Finally broke his maiden tag in a Downpatrick handicap last time out (2m6f); he showed a willing attitude that day and although more on his plate at the weights, he is certainly one to be given closer inspection.

Form: 302461

Mystic Embarr^p,t1³⁵⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: C D Timmons⁽³⁾| T: E Cawley| OR: 85| D

14/1

Career-best when winning 14-runner handicap hurdle over similar trip here on testing going back on New Year's Day. Just one start since; likely to need the run.

Form: 83751/0-

Non-Runners

Ballymadun¹⁸⁷

Weight: 11-12| Age: 8

T: D A McLoughlin J: P J O'Hanlon

Shanes Hill Glen³⁴

Weight: 10-4| Age: 6

T: H Smyth J: Reserve 2

Piranto⁶³

Weight: 10-4| Age: 7

T: S Wilson J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Classic Concorde (5/1), Se Mo Laoch (11/2), Balgowlah (7/1), Mr Jacaranda (8/1), Magistralis (9/1), Whydah (10/1), Greenandwhitearmy (10/1), Ballymadun (10/1), Askann (14/1), Mystic Embarr (14/1), Bracka Lily (16/1), Wild Rumour (16/1), Open To The World (20/1), Lady Of The Sea (20/1), Walkers Point (25/1), Piranto (25/1), Castle Canny (25/1), Sir Ector (33/1), Drumconnor Girl (33/1), Magic Sea (33/1), Shanes Hill Glen (33/1), John Mor (40/1), Best Not Argue (50/1)

GREENANDWHITEARMY looked a likely winner when fluffing his lines at the last flight at Downpatrick last time out. With better concentration he holds every chance and is the selection in this interesting contest. The winner of that contest was Balgowlah and while saddled with more weight, he is a consistent sort who should run his race. The saddle slipped on Drumconnor Girl last time out at Downpatrick and is better judged on a useful performance at the same track on her previous start. A repeat of that effort would make her an interesting proposition.