15:30 Navan

Sunday 16 February 2020

All13:2013:5014:2014:5515:3016:0016:3517:05

Navanracecourse.ie Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:31 | Winning time: 6m 49.50s

Flooring Porter^t⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: C P McNamara⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 119

10/1

Handicapper had probably got a grip of him based on performance last time at Leopardstown in December following wins in August and October; may find a few too good off similar mark.

Form: 071416

Castello Sforza⁹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁷⁾| T: P Roche| OR: 116

25/1

Not like anything near his best since returning from a two year absence last March; fair effort over course and distance last time but needs to improve to score off current mark.

Form: 03/0-409

Thunder Down Under³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: K Brogan⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 115| BF

6/1

Two good recent efforts at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown put him in with a chance here; still needs to improve his jumping but if ironing out his mistakes, he could go very close off current mark.

Form: 15-4832

Russian Bill^t²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 114

16/1

Has not won over hurdles in over five years and while he has had some recent success over fences, it takes a great leap of imagination to believe he would be capable of winning this despite a slightly improved effort last time out.

Form: 4-16403

Young Dev^p1⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 113| BF

10/1

Was in great form at the end of 2019 winning twice over fences and once over hurdles; beaten favourite at odds-on last time but clearly in form of his career and cheekpieces applied for first time.

Form: 6P6112

Miracle In Medinah^b1³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Mark Walsh| T: G Elliott| OR: 112

10/1

Lightly campaigned since his introduction four years ago (only raced 9 times in total); well beaten in three starts since returning from a break; hard to recommend even with first-time blinkers applied.

Form: 503/007

Oh'herewego^p⁸⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: Ricky Doyle⁽³⁾| T: V T O'Brien| OR: 111

20/1

Stepped up on previous efforts when winning over 3m at Tipperary off a 11lb lower mark. Holding his form well when last seen in November finishing second of the 17 runners ½L adrift of the winner at this venue on soft ground.

Form: P42162

Aircraft Carrier¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr D T Kelly⁽⁷⁾| T: L Comer| OR: 112

25/1

Useful on the Flat but shown very little in four starts over hurdles to date and looks out of his depth in this line up.

Form: 0697

Difficult Decision¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 110

9/2

Returned after a lengthy lay off in grand form winning twice in 2020 already at Clonmel and Limerick; up another 9lb here but that might not be enough to stop this in-form gelding and he will appreciate any more rain.

Form: 29/38-11

Champagne Harmony²⁵⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: A M King⁽⁷⁾| T: S J Mahon| OR: 109| C

66/1

Has finished just one race in his last nine appearances over hurdles or fences and was tailed off in that contest; very unlikely winner.

Form: P0PPP-P

Cherif De L'Isle^b1²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 109| BF

7/2

Has finished in third place on his last three outings and while his consistency is in his favour, the handicapper has been taking note; certainly Placepot material but may struggle to win.

Form: 50P/333

Eagle Roque⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: B J Cooper| T: P Nolan| OR: 98

14/1

Posted a career best effort when finishing second of 25 runners at Naas in December on his fifth handicap hurdle start; first time blinkers failed to spur him on when disappointing last time at Limerick and left off here.

Form: 0086-20

Peterstown³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: T Gibney| OR: 98

25/1

Appeared to be on the right track when running well at Naas three starts ago but that effort seems a flash in the pan considering her last two below par efforts; difficult to recommend but does have ability.

Form: 808-209

Seskinane²⁹

Age: 14| Weight: 10-6| J: Phillip Enright| T: B McMahon| OR: 98| C

14/1

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: 404-985

Beating The Odds³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: T Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: W J Austin| OR: 96

7/1

Point runner-up who has shown improvement with each of four runs over hurdles so far; best effort came last time out at Fairyhouse and looks a leading contender if improvement continues.

Form: 2-57662

Non-Runners

Ellipsism⁵⁰

Weight: 11-3| Age: 5

T: J P O'Brien J: J J Slevin

Forecasts

Cherif De L'Isle (7/2), Difficult Decision (9/2), Thunder Down Under (6/1), Beating The Odds (7/1), Flooring Porter (10/1), Young Dev (10/1), Miracle In Medinah (10/1), Seskinane (14/1), Eagle Roque (14/1), Russian Bill (16/1), Oh'herewego (20/1), Peterstown (25/1), Aircraft Carrier (25/1), Ellipsism (25/1), Castello Sforza (25/1), Champagne Harmony (66/1)

The hat-trick seeking DIFFICULT DECISION may be the answer here in a interesting contest at the County Meath track. Although being 18lb higher than when starting his winning spree at Clonmel in January, he seems at the top of his game and if showing just a little more improvement may have enough to land this contest. Ellipsism needs to bounce back from a below par run last time out but had previously shown form good enough to win another handicap despite rising in the weights. Beating The Odds is slowly improving with every race and if progressing again he could go well off a very light weight.