13:50 Down Royal

Saturday 2 November 2019

All12:4013:1513:5014:2514:5515:3016:05

North Down Marquees Handicap Hurdle (0-150) (Grade B)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 4m 14.80s

Hearts Are Trumps⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: D McDonogh| OR: 139| D

16/1

Consistent hurdler, 11 months since he won but good effort in Galway Hurdle in August and close third in similar Listowel race since. 7lb claim helps and should give good account.

Form: 4033-63

Rathhill³⁰¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson| OR: 135| BF| D

5/2

Disappointing favourite in Grade 1 Tolworth Novices' Hurdle in January having on soft at Newbury on stable bow; 301-day absence to overcome in tough company but Nicky Henderson not noted for sending runners here and interesting as such.

Form: 2/14-

Count Simon^b⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: K Brogan⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 132| C

33/1

Three-time winner in 2019 (two over hurdles, one chase) but they've all come over longer trips. Drops from 3m and will have to improve on recent efforts. Trainer also runs Star Maker.

Form: 1-11356

Star Maker^t1⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 129

25/1

Never really a threat at Listowel in September in this company, with a few of these in front of him. Tongue-tie goes on now and while career-best is required, it wouldn't be ruled out for top team.

Form: 17-1P40

Janidil²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 125| D

11/4

French import, beaten favourite on stable bow at Tramore on New Year's Day but no such mistake on return at Tipperary (2m, good to yielding) this month. Goes handicapping and part of strong Willie Mullins team in this field.

Form: 5/422-1

Arthur's Quay⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽³⁾| T: P Roche| OR: 124

12/1

Ran well in C&D maiden in March and back from layoff to win over 2m4f at Listowel (yielding) in September. Opening mark seems fair, if coping with drop back in trip.

Form: 0F2-1

La Sorelita^h1,t¹⁷⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 127

14/1

Failed to open account in seven hurdles run since arriving from France, he was behind Star Maker at Killarney in May and rated 1lb higher on return. Tongue-tie added and hard to assess as part of four-pronged attack from champion trainer.

Form: 3403-44

Allez Dance¹⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: W P Mullins| OR: 123| D

16/1

French import, landed maiden hurdle Punchestown in February on debut for the Mullins team before coming up shy at spring festivals in strong novice company. May progress in handicaps on return.

Form: F95/10-3

Polished Steel^t¹⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 123| D

16/1

16-1 winner of Punchestown handicap in May, his second hurdles win; well held after at Listowel and returns from summer recess still rated 7lb higher than win-mark.

Form: 1540-16

Try Again²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: L P Dempsey| T: P W Flynn| OR: 120| D

33/1

Entitled to be sharper for last month's reappearance at Tipperary but still likely to be needed a personal best effort to score now.

Form: 15136-7

Free Ranger^b,t⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 119| D

16/1

Fair hurdler, making frame in six of 10 starts so far with a single win. Race-fit from recent Galway Flat run but has work to do hoping to double hurdles tally in this competitive event.

Form: 281295-

Shumaker⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: M A Enright| T: Paul Traynor| OR: 117| D

6/1

On the upgrade recently, making light of concerns about testing ground to complete hat-trick at Wexford (2m½, soft to heavy; 9-10f) five days ago. Raised 12lb by the assessor.

Form: 92-7111

Cool Colonnade¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 116| D

25/1

Progress over fences has stalled of late, reverts to hurdling from much lower mark if able to take advantage. Completes quartet for trainer in this tough puzzle.

Form: F11442

Curious Times^t¹⁸⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: J J Slevin| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 116| BF| C

8/1

Improved to win maiden hurdle over C&D in January and had still to play his hand when unseating in contention at Punchestown May. Potential improver back from a break.

Form: 3/2681-U

Non-Runners

Golden Spear²⁰

Weight: 11-7| Age: 8

T: A J Martin J: E O'Connell

Forecasts

Rathhill (5/2), Janidil (11/4), Shumaker (6/1), Curious Times (8/1), Arthur's Quay (12/1), La Sorelita (14/1), Hearts Are Trumps (16/1), Allez Dance (16/1), Free Ranger (16/1), Polished Steel (16/1), Golden Spear (16/1), Cool Colonnade (25/1), Star Maker (25/1), Try Again (33/1), Count Simon (33/1)

Shumaker is bidding for a four-timer but his latest hike in the ratings may prove enough to thwart him now. Willie Mullins fires a quartet at the target and, in truth, none can be ruled out though Janidil and La Sorelita may be best. Curious Times is a potential improver while Hearts Are Trumps is very consistent but it is noteworthy that Nicky Henderson sends RATHHILL here. He was favourite for the Tolworth when last spotted and is just a third ever runner at this venue for the Seven Barrows chief. He may prove good enough to defy his opening handicap mark.