14:30 Navan

Saturday 18 January 2020

All12:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:10

RacingTV FREE For A Month Handicap Hurdle (80-109)

Off time: 14:32 | Winning time: 5m 33.2s

Punitive²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 109

4/1

Not fully exposed and showed guts to justify the support he received when winning at Limerick in November; slightly unlucky to unseat rider last time out on handicap debut at Leopardstown; deserves another chance and one for the shortlist.

Form: 40-541U

Cherif De L'Isle^p1⁵⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 108| BF

11/10

Flourished since joining his current yard and nudged up just 1lb after finishing third over 2m6f at Navan last month. He ran out of steam close home that day but will appreciate the 2f shorter distance here; a big player if taking to the headgear.

Form: 150P/33

Bobbie The Dazzler⁴³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: L Lennon| OR: 104| D

33/1

Scored in a heavy-ground Ayr maiden hurdle over 2m4f earlier in November; Possibly a tough ask on her handicap debut but worth taking note of any market confidence.

Form: 096731-

Seskinane²¹

Age: 14| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr E Mahon⁽⁷⁾| T: B McMahon| OR: 98| C| D

13/2

Likable veteran but generally well held looking one paced on more than one occasion in plenty of opportunities in 2019; others preferred despite tumbling mark.

Form: 6404-98

Sir Bob^p1¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Mark Walsh| T: R Tyner| OR: 98

10/1

better known as a chaser and has been struggling in that sphere on latest two starts, this change of obstacles looks more in hope than expectation but worth a check in the market with first time cheekpieces applied.

Form: 2/22-8FP

Spancil Hill^p1²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: C A Landers⁽⁵⁾| T: M J McDonagh| OR: 97| D

11/1

Another who was not in particularly good form in 2019 over fences and hurdles; signs of life last time at Limerick when finishing 4th of 13 but difficult to make a confident case for on the balance of form.

Form: 0490P4

Exciting Oscar⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Danny Mullins| T: D Ahern| OR: 96

16/1

Not the most exciting candidate based on the efforts he has shown on the racecourse to date; lightly raced enough to be open to improvement but no obvious reason he will suddenly be capable of winning on handicap debut.

Form: 4/2-50F0

Diamond Grove³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Phillip Enright| T: E Cawley| OR: 95

10/1

Point-to-point runner-up never really involved in maidens at Naas, Punchestown and Fairyhouse late last year and probably best avoided at the current stage of his career.

Form: 2-000

Justice Jim^t⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: Michael G Cleary| OR: 85

20/1

Had shown very little in four racecourse appearance before showing some signs of ability when doing his best work in the closing stages of his latest start at Clonmel; place claims if improving again.

Form: 980P7

Forecasts

Cherif De L'Isle (11/10), Punitive (4/1), Seskinane (13/2), Sir Bob (10/1), Diamond Grove (10/1), Spancil Hill (11/1), Exciting Oscar (16/1), Justice Jim (20/1), Bobbie The Dazzler (33/1)

This could be a battle of the topweights with a slight preference give to PUNITIVE who was a touch unlucky last time out over course and distance when travelling well approaching four flights out: If putting that experience behind him he should go well. His main challenger may be Cherif De L'Isle who has not been treated too badly by the handicapper for finishing a fair third here in November. He would not want the ground to dry out to much but should go well. There are questions mark about both Bobbie The Dazzler and Justice Jim but market support for either would be a good indication of connection's confidence.