13:55 Dundalk

Tuesday 3 December 2019

All13:5514:2514:5515:2516:0016:3017:0017:30

Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Handicap (45-65) (Div 1)

Off time: 13:58 | Winning time: 2m 36.38s

(3)

Dance Emperor⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: S T McCullagh⁽⁵⁾| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 65

20/1

One from 26 in all starts on the Flat including a couple of starts on the AW when in the hands of trainer Ed Walker. Market check on debut at this track.

Form: 420908

(1)

Make Good^t¹¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Rory Cleary| T: J C McConnell| OR: 64

20/1

Running well in defeat in a couple of starts on the AW at Lingfield when in the care of trainer David Dennis last spring. Winner at Nottingham in July and could be of interest in the market on stable debut.

Form: 226615

(13)

Storm Steps¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: W J Lee| T: T Doyle| OR: 64

4/1

Five-race maiden. Encouraging third of 14 beaten 3¼L on AW debut last month over C&D behind Getaway Queen. Will look to progress here.

Form: 4-0573

(2)

Spelga^h¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 64| C

5/4

Off the mark for connections at the 10th time of asking on his second start at the venue before backing that up winning once again last month off a 6lb lower mark. Leading player but caution stepping up in trip.

Form: 600411

(4)

Lady Boomerang¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Jessica Maye⁽¹⁰⁾| T: J Geoghegan| OR: 56

33/1

Still to get on the board in four starts at this venue but the daughter of Helmet ran with credit in a couple of defeats at the track last month. Possibly best watched taking a big step up in distance.

Form: 3-00577

(17)

Pivotal Man^h,t⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: R Coakley| T: J C McConnell| OR: 56

66/1

12-race maiden who has failed to hit the frame in four starts at this track. Has his own ideas about the game, refusing to race at Leopardstown in October before a petulant performance at Punchestown over hurdles last month. Opposable.

Form: 76000R

(9)

Shelter³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: A McNamara| OR: 58

20/1

Slight improvement on third career start at the beginning of last month finishing sixth of 12 beaten 6½L at this venue over a 1m trip. Market likely to be the best guide stepping up in distance.

Form: 707

(12)

Lady Rosebud⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: G M Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: P Martin| OR: 53| BF| C

14/1

Experienced runner around the bends of Racecourse Road winning five of her 27 starts at the venue. Disappointing as beaten favourite when last seen here in September. May find this tough.

Form: 234520

(16)

Ingleby Mackenzie^t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Declan McDonogh| T: E Doyle| OR: 52| BF| D

14/1

Beaten 4L on first start at this track in September finishing sixth of 13 over C&D. Disappointed as beaten favourite over a similar trip on a visit to Wolverhampton last month when fifth of 12. Looks up against it.

Form: 005065

(8)

Mademoiselle Penny^b¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: K J Manning| T: P J Flynn| OR: 51| C| D

16/1

Without a win in eight starts over C&D but has proceeded to hit the frame on a couple of occasions. Ran her best race for sometime when running Spelga to 3L over 1m2½f last month. Place claims.

Form: 053404

(5)

Gizi Gazelle³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: N G McCullagh| T: E O'Connell| OR: 45

33/1

Miserly return of a sole win from 17 starts on the Flat including three defeats at this venue, the latest of which coming over 1m in September. Tough ask stepping up in trip and others preferred.

Form: 090700

(7)

Harvey Specter¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁵⁾| T: R Donohoe| OR: 45

13/2

Career best effort on this surface came in a 1m2½f handicap last month finishing second of 13 beaten 1½L behind Rockview Roman. More progress possible stepping up in trip.

Form: 244532

(14)

Early Strike^p,t¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Chris Hayes| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 45

8/1

Mixed bag of results this term with an improved effort posted over C&D before another below-par effort last month. Hard to construct much of a case for the gelding.

Form: 440239

Non-Runners

(6)

Carried¹¹

Weight: 9-10| Age: 9

T: R K Watson J: Nicole Smyth

(11)

Misty Mountain²⁷

Weight: 8-8| Age: 5

T: J J Lambe J: Reserve 1

(10)

Ragtime Red²⁷

Weight: 9-3| Age: 4

T: A McCann J: Reserve 2

(15)

Schoolboy Error⁵³

Weight: 9-3| Age: 6

T: S Nolan J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Spelga (5/4), Storm Steps (4/1), Harvey Specter (13/2), Early Strike (8/1), Ragtime Red (12/1), Lady Rosebud (14/1), Ingleby Mackenzie (14/1), Carried (14/1), Mademoiselle Penny (16/1), Misty Mountain (16/1), Schoolboy Error (16/1), Shelter (20/1), Make Good (20/1), Dance Emperor (20/1), Lady Boomerang (33/1), Gizi Gazelle (33/1), Pivotal Man (66/1)

Trainer Mick Halford has a 35% win and place strike rate in the first two weeks of December at this venue since 2016 and his Sir Percy gelding SPELGA can land the opener to continue his own rich vein of form. The three-year-old has won his last two starts over 1m2½f but can defy his revised mark as he steps up in trip in a weak looking contest. Storm Steps for trainer Tim Doyle ran with credit behind Getaway Queen over C&D last month and can compete with Harvey Specter for remaining prize money. Schoolboy Error, three-time C&D winner deserves consideration if making the line-up.