12:30 Navan

Sunday 15 December 2019

All11:3012:0012:3013:0013:3014:0514:3515:10

Tara Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)

Off time: 12:30 | Winning time: 5m 16.70s

Cracking Smart^p,t¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 148| D

25/1

Frustrating time over the larger obstacles in a number of starts since October as he returns to hurdling here. Yard have landed the spoils in this encounter in two of the last three years.

Form: 0-82F8P

Mengli Khan^p,t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 148| C

14/1

Early promise of his novice season over fences appears to have leveled out in a couple of below-par efforts at Down Royal and Gowran Park last month. Winner of three of his nine starts over hurdles and capable of a decent effort in this company.

Form: 334-944

Dolciano Dici²²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 134

16/1

Eight-race maiden yet to hit the frame in three starts over hurdles. Fifth of 12 beaten 6½L when finding no extra at Punchestown when last seen in April. Probably best watched on this occasion.

Form: 7P564-5

Top Moon²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 138| D

9/4

Won for the second time over hurdles when landing a Cork handicap on soft ground over a similar trip last month beating Morosini 3¾L. Bit more needed but enters calculations.

Form: 35-1221

Count Simon^b⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Brian Hayes| T: G Elliott| OR: 131| D

25/1

Winner of three of his 20 starts over hurdles with the Rip Van Winkle gelding hitting the frame on a further eight occasions. Well held and never a factor in three starts since August and needs a chunk of improvement to play a part here.

Form: 113567

Present In Court¹⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 129

40/1

Winner in point-to-point, bumper and on a couple of occasions in hurdling company. Best watched on return to action here following a number of below-par efforts over timber and fences in the summer.

Form: 1211-0P

Sky Marshal⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Phillip Enright| T: C Byrnes| OR: 128

12/1

Improving hurdler who has produced a number of consistent efforts since August over a variety of distances. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 231229

Moskovite^p¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Donagh Meyler| T: D Hogan| OR: 127| BF| CD

8/1

Winner of a Sligo chase in September the daughter of Flemensfirth was running with plenty of credit in Grade 3 contests over hurdles at Clonmel and Limerick in the early part of the year. Successful over C&D 12 months ago and can go well.

Form: 5P-4142

Dom Dolo⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Sean Flanagan| T: K H Clarke| OR: 126

11/1

Winner of a novices' contest over 2m7f at Thurles 12 months ago the Special Kaldoun gelding needs to step up on recent efforts at Galway to get involved here.

Form: 511P/0-4

Barwell⁴¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: K J Brouder⁽³⁾| T: K H Clarke| OR: 125| D

16/1

Not seen since winning a Wexford 2m4f contest in October last year on hurdling debut. Infrequent visits to the track will not be helping the gelding as he bids to progress in the game.

Form: 1-

Awayinthewest¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: N P Madden| T: P A Fahy| OR: 124

25/1

Only won twice over hurdles in 29 starts and comes here on the back of a couple of dismal efforts at Punchestown and Thurles last month. Plenty of questions to answer at present.

Form: 623354

Alfa Mix²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 127

8/1

£42,000 4-y-o out of a 3m1f hurdle winner. Off the mark at the fifth time of asking on his third start over hurdles when landing a Tramore maiden in impressive fashion before a creditable effort in novice company last month. More needed.

Form: 096415

Allez Kal²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: Ms L O'Neill| T: J Barcoe| OR: 122| D

14/1

Winner of three of her 17 starts over hurdles but the daughter of Kalanisi has been finding things a little tough of late. Looks opposable in current form.

Form: 7/141-58

Drumacoo¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 9-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: M Hourigan| OR: 120

8/1

Dismal form in three starts since April before bouncing back to form in a Fairyhouse handicap hurdle on soft ground over 2m4f last month finishing second of 13 runners. Not the most reliable of sorts and others look more convincing.

Form: P/0P-562

Golden Jewel^t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: E Cawley| OR: 120| D

10/1

Three victories from 16 starts over hurdles including hitting the frame over C&D but the Brian Boru gelding is without success since a Tipperary win in May 2018. Appears to have a bit to prove in a race of this nature.

Form: 08648-0

Non-Runners

Sayo²⁸

Weight: 11-7| Age: 5

T: W P Mullins J: Paul Townend

Forecasts

Top Moon (9/4), Alfa Mix (8/1), Drumacoo (8/1), Moskovite (8/1), Sayo (8/1), Golden Jewel (10/1), Dom Dolo (11/1), Sky Marshal (12/1), Mengli Khan (14/1), Allez Kal (14/1), Dolciano Dici (16/1), Barwell (16/1), Cracking Smart (25/1), Awayinthewest (25/1), Count Simon (25/1), Present In Court (40/1)

A race that was first run six years ago with trainer Gordon Elliott landing the spoils in 2016 and 2017. Two of his four runners in this years renewal Cracking Smart and Mengli Khan can give decent accounts of themselves returning to hurdles from a number of disappointing efforts over the larger obstacles recently. Preference is for the improving Joseph O'Brien-trained TOP MOON who can make it three out of five over hurdles since his debut at Kilbeggan in August. Winner of a beginners chase in September, Moskovite won a maiden hurdle over C&D this time last year and is another of interest returning over timber while a bounce back to form for Sky Marshal would not surprise.