13:20 Thurles

Saturday 21 December 2019

All12:1012:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase

4YO plus | 2m 2f | Soft (Yielding in Places) | 11 Runners | Turf

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr L P Gilligan⁽⁴⁾| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 125

Has shown fairly useful form over fences the last twice, including when fourth at Fairyhouse on his latest start last month. Hurdling more recently, no surprise to see a bold bid back over fences.

Form: P-44342

Charlie Stout^t³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: E O'Connell⁽⁴⁾| T: S Nolan| OR: 123| C| D

Winner of a Galway beginners contest in September the Spadoun gelding has been running well in defeat in decent company of late. Appears to have plenty going for him here.

Form: 6-32123

Damut^b⁵⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: B J Foley⁽²⁾| T: M Winters| OR: 119

Pulled up on latest start in a Galway 2m6f handicap chase when last seen in October. Remains with just the one win from 23 starts over the larger obstacles and hard to consider.

Form: 25-354P

Effernock Lad⁷⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Ricky Doyle| T: G Keane| OR: 118

Generally in good form over the summer landing the spoils in two of his five starts including success in a Sligo handicap chase off a 6lb lower mark in September. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 71541U

Roconga³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁴⁾| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 118

Without a win in 14 starts over the larger obstacles but the Rakti gelding usually runs his race and merits plenty of respect representing leading connections.

Form: 33-7345

Archer's Up^t1,v²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Gary Noonan⁽⁴⁾| T: P Neville| OR: 111

Hard to make a case for following a couple of dismal chasing efforts last month beaten 64L and 48L. Needs to bounce back in a big way to have a say in this contest.

Form: 7-18706

Crazywork De Vassy⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: B Browne⁽²⁾| T: M J McDonagh| OR: 111

Initial promise fell away in a couple of starts earlier this year following a 449-day break. Struggled back from another absence over C&D in October and needs to step up to play a part here.

Form: 21/54-P0

My Manekineko⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁴⁾| T: J Nash| OR: 111

Still without a success in 17 starts over the larger obstacles with the Authorized gelding having little or no luck in a number of starts since September. More likely than some to run his race.

Form: 632326

Barna Venture^t¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: P J Cawley⁽⁴⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 109| CD

C&D winner, running with plenty of credit in a number of chase starts since October. A little off the pace at Tramore earlier this month but is better than that run suggests.

Form: 078639

Capture The Drama⁴⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-3| J: M M McDonagh⁽⁴⁾| T: Aengus King| OR: 102| D

Distance winner and successful on eight occasions from 51 starts over fences. Veteran has not won for a while and now races 6lb below last winning mark.

Form: 4P779P

Sanibel Island^p¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: A W Short| T: S J Mahon| OR: 95

Now without a win in 15 starts over fences for the Scorpion gelding. Well down the field in three starts since October and appears to have a mountain to climb in this company.

Form: 750954

Forecasts

Glamorgan Duke (11/4), Charlie Stout (10/3), My Manekineko (5/1), Effernock Lad (5/1), Damut (10/1), Barna Venture (10/1), Roconga (12/1), Archer's Up (25/1), Sanibel Island (25/1), Crazywork De Vassy (33/1), Capture The Drama (33/1)

The solid and consistent MY MANEKINEKO can get off the mark for connections at the 18th time of asking over the larger obstacles. The Authorized gelding who will be turning 11 in a week or so has been running with credit in a number of starts since September and can get the better of Glamorgan Duke who produced a gallant effort in a Grade 3 novice hurdle last month. Charlie Stout has a win at this venue on record can compete for the remaining minor honours with Damut and Effernock Lad.