13:30 Navan

Sunday 24 November 2019

All12:3013:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:30

Davis Civil Engineering Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:31 | Winning time: 4m 13.30s

Lean And Keen³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: M J Bolger| T: S Byrne| OR: 116| D

50/1

Recently seen finishing down the pack in a couple of AW starts at Dundalk, and took a heavy fall on his return to hurdles at Thurles last month.

Form: 4U24-9F

Song Of Namibia⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: P Merrigan| T: G Elliott| OR: 110

33/1

Won at Downpatrick in June, but last two efforts over hurdles have been woeful. Given a seven-week break since pulling up at Tipperary, and needs to have been turned around in the interim.

Form: 12060P

World Premier^t⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: N P Madden| T: N Madden| OR: 109| BF| D

25/1

Bumper winner who has not confirmed early promise in this sphere for Ben Pauling, and raced a bit too keenly when down the field here in September on latest Flat start. On a fair mark if he does bounce back, but risky.

Form: 513376-

Encore Lui¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Mark Walsh| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 107

8/11

Mixed bag over hurdles, but showed much improved form on second handicap start when second over C&D a fortnight ago. Will be hard to beat if building on that promising effort.

Form: 506F-2

British Art^h¹⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁷⁾| T: R K Watson| OR: 106

25/1

Second on four occasions since Down Royal win on Boxing Day, but he's still not the easiest to predict, and his strike-rate is not encouraging. Coming back from a lay-off here and others preferred.

Form: 5-25469

Spruced Up¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: B J Geraghty| T: E P Harty| OR: 106

12/1

Tailed off on her return, but showed promise on penultimate outing, and no surprise to see her do better now handicapping. Market will be revealing.

Form: 75-0

Staged Engagement⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Slevin| T: P E Collins| OR: 106| D

16/1

Bounced back to form when fifth of 13 in a novice at Downpatrick (2¼m) in September, but failed to build on that when down the pack at Fairyhouse last month, and is building up a patchy profile.

Form: 334P50

King's War^t¹⁶²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: M F Mooney| T: Mrs A Mooney| OR: 105

25/1

Off the mark at the fourth time of asking over fences when landing a 2½m Wexford handicap in June. Not so good at Downpatrick 10 days later, but his win came after a break, and he may have benefited from plenty of time off.

Form: 0079-15

Riverdene^p⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Ricky Doyle⁽³⁾| T: E Griffin| OR: 104

6/1

Finished fifth of 16 on his return at Fairyhouse, and matched that form with a creditable fourth of 15 to Fit To Be Tied at Cork last time. This looks a bit easier, and he ought to be on the premises.

Form: P895-54

State Of Cognac²⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 104| BF

10/1

Good third to Halsafari in a 2½m maiden at Fairyhouse earlier in the year, but unable to match that form in two subsequent starts. Needs to raise his game now handicapping, and opening mark is stiff enough.

Form: 468359-

Laureate^t²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: C A McBratney| OR: 95

18/1

Runner-up off this mark at Downpatrick in July, and seemed to excel herself when beaten 33L by Coeur Sublime at Down Royal last time. That effort probably flatters her, but her mark is fair enough.

Form: 226855

Tin Town Liz^h⁵¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Danny Mullins| T: R McNally| OR: 95

25/1

Point-to-point winner who didn't pull up any trees in three runs last season for Gerry Cosgrave. Lightly raced, and makes debut for shrewd yard, so market check is recommended.

Form: 124/9S5-

Bythesametoken^t1⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 89

8/1

Third in a 2½m maiden hurdle at Limerick in the summer, and has claims on that effort, but hasn't built on it. Well held at Fairyhouse on Tuesday, and trainer quickly reaches for a tongue tie.

Form: 763740

Forecasts

Encore Lui (8/11), Riverdene (6/1), Bythesametoken (8/1), State Of Cognac (10/1), Spruced Up (12/1), Staged Engagement (16/1), Laureate (18/1), King's War (25/1), World Premier (25/1), British Art (25/1), Tin Town Liz (25/1), Song Of Namibia (33/1), Lean And Keen (50/1)

Not a particularly deep contest at first glance, and if he improves on a promising C&D effort on just his second handicap start, ENCORE LUI is likely to make a bold bid. Riverdene has run respectably in a couple of stronger handicaps this autumn, and should be placed if continuing in similar vein, with Tin Town Liz and Spruced Up better than they've shown recently and worth a market check, the former starting out for a new yard, and the latter making his handicap bow for shrewd connections.