14:19 Gowran Park

Saturday 15 February 2020

All13:1013:4414:1914:5415:2916:0416:39

Auto Boland Jaguar & Land Rover Waterford Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:19 | Winning time: 6m 2.40s

Envious Editor^h⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 119

16/1

Six-race maiden. Earlier promise of starts at Limerick and Navan appeared to have leveled out following a dismal effort at Leopardstown at the end of December. May be a little early to be writing off but more needed.

Form: 2620-49

Fakir^t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: O R Brown⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 121

11/1

Off the mark at the fourth time of asking for connections when landing a Limerick 2m novice hurdle over Christmas. Can be forgiven unseat on latest effort at Down Royal late last month and one for the shortlist on handicap debut.

Form: 1-5761U

Fit To Be Tied³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: N P Madden| T: N Madden| OR: 119| D

20/1

Won for the second time in his career when landing a Cork 2m4f handicap hurdle in November off a 6lb lower mark. Well held in a couple starts since but no surprise to witness improvement.

Form: 78-3175

Devil's Glen^t1³³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr T E Doran⁽⁷⁾| T: K H Clarke| OR: 116

66/1

Has failed to add to his win at Tipperary in May 2018 on hurdling debut over 2m. Lightly raced since and hard to fancy on first start since last March on stable debut.

Form: 8/15857-

Father Ailbe¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J B Kane⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 118

20/1

One from nine over hurdle, getting off the mark at the seventh attempt in a Limerick 2m handicap in November off a 9lb lower mark. Handicapper in firm control.

Form: 434104

The Church Gate^t³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Dillon Maxwell⁽⁷⁾| T: M J Smith| OR: 116| BF| D

12/1

Winner of three of his 23 starts over hurdles and has continued to run well in defeat in a couple of starts since November including finishing third of 12 beaten 4¼L behind Tokyo Getaway at Punchestown over 3m last month. Place claims.

Form: 4R2-453

Mister Fogpatches³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Danny Mullins| T: P A Fahy| OR: 115| BF

12/1

Won his first hurdle at the fifth time of asking for connections landing a Navan 2m6f handicap on soft ground off a 5lb lower mark in November. Beaten since off his revised mark and handicapper starting to relent already.

Form: 252185

Lilshane^b¹¹¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: T P O'Connor| OR: 114

50/1

Veteran who has won four of his 42 starts over timber. Poor form between August and October over the larger obstacles last year and hard to make a case for on return to action over hurdles.

Form: F-U0UP8

R'evelyn Pleasure²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Donagh Meyler| T: S O O'Brien| OR: 114| BF| D

25/1

131-rated handicap chaser the gelding has struggled over hurdles in a couple of starts since December. Very inconsistent these days and very little to be positive about.

Form: P3-F407

Gun Merchant³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 113

7/1

Comfortably landed Punchestown bumper last summer and not disgraced in four runs so far over hurdles, notably when distant 4th of 18 to useful Andy Dufresne at Navan in November. More needed.

Form: 218453

Miss Cognac⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: E Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 114| D

11/2

Off the mark at the fourth time of asking for connection, winning on handicvap debut at Limerick on St Stephens day off a 10lb lower mark. The daughter of Flemensfirth won by 8L and the handicapper has taken a dim view.

Form: 2-14501

Southerner^h⁴⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr W T Cronin⁽⁷⁾| T: William Cronin| OR: 112| D

14/1

Landed a double on his fifth start over timber when landing a Limerick 2m3f handicap hurdle on soft/heavy ground over Christmas off a 9lb lower mark. Life more difficult from revised rating.

Form: 8844/11

Bua Boy⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 113

25/1

Made a mistake at the last before rallying to win on racecourse bow at 16/1 at Cork last April. Beaten since including on a couple of handicap starts at Thurles and more recently at Leopardstown in December. Needs to improve significantly.

Form: 1-389

Key Commander³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: B J Foley⁽⁵⁾| T: E Doyle| OR: 112| D

8/1

Produced a decent effort over 2m3f to finish third of 17 beaten 9½L on soft/heavy ground in December before landing the spoils in a Punchestown over a similar trip last month off a 8lb lower mark. Another bold bid likely.

Form: 4F-0631

Rebel Early²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: W J Burke| OR: 110| CD

7/1

Winner of two of her last six starts over hurdles including on her latest start over C&D last month in a soft/heavy ground handicap off a 7lb lower mark. Bit more needed but enters calculations.

Form: 1-42U51

Encore Lui⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Mark Walsh| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 109

5/1

Improving sort has impressed in a number of starts when hitting the frame in a couple of starts at Navan before finishing third of 23 over a similar trip on soft ground at Leopardstown late last month. Can be expected to improve again.

Form: 06F-223

Even Flight²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Brian Hayes| T: P Fenton| OR: 108

16/1

Running well in defeat already this year including a 1L in a bunch finish at Fairyhouse last month. Considered to be only a matter of time before the six-race maiden enters the winners enclosure.

Form: 77F344

Moscowsowhat⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: C J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: J Dullea| OR: 104

20/1

Five-race maiden. Run at Limerick in November, finishing second of 14 beaten a head over 2m3f appears to be a bit of a 'one-off' looking at over profile of starts. Others preferred.

Form: 5-09927

Mc Alpine⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 102

14/1

Posted a career best effort to finish second of 15 beaten 1¼L in a Naas 2m3f handicap early last month. More progress possible and not dismissed.

Form: 6-42662

Baily Thunder^p¹⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Reserve 1| T: M F Morris| OR: 99

33/1

First Reserve: Rarely threatens to win a race Likely to find a few of the less exposed types too strong once again.

Form: 0-66527

Non-Runners

Turbojet⁴⁹

Weight: 11-6| Age: 9

T: D A McLoughlin J: A W Short

Spancil Hill²⁸

Weight: 9-13| Age: 10

T: M J McDonagh J: Reserve 2

Blanketontheground²³

Weight: 9-13| Age: 7

T: J J Walsh J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Encore Lui (5/1), Miss Cognac (11/2), Rebel Early (7/1), Gun Merchant (7/1), Key Commander (8/1), Fakir (11/1), Mister Fogpatches (12/1), The Church Gate (12/1), Mc Alpine (14/1), Southerner (14/1), Even Flight (16/1), Envious Editor (16/1), Moscowsowhat (20/1), Fit To Be Tied (20/1), Father Ailbe (20/1), Blanketontheground (20/1), Bua Boy (25/1), R'evelyn Pleasure (25/1), Turbojet (25/1), Baily Thunder (33/1), Spancil Hill (33/1), Lilshane (50/1), Devil's Glen (66/1)

The Noel Meade-trained MISS COGNAC can add to her win at Limerick on St Stephens day to win for the second time over hurdles. The daughter of Flemensfirth is aided by the 7lb claim of jockey Eoin Walsh to offset to 10lb rise from the handicapper. Rebel Early won on her latest start over C&D last month in a soft/heavy ground handicap off a 7lb lower mark is the clear danger in this contest. The Jessica Harrington-trained Envious Editor is better than recent efforts suggest while Fakir for trainer Joseph O'Brien should not be taken lightly on handicap debut.