16:55 Dundalk

Friday 21 February 2020

All16:5517:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Kentucky Derby Qualifier At Dundalk February 28th Apprentice Handicap (45-65)

Off time: 16:58 | Winning time: 2m 36.21s

(16)

No Trouble^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: S M Crosse| T: N C Kelly| OR: 63| CD

9/4

Won for the second time at this venue when landing a 5K handicap over C&D off a 10lb lower mark beating 13 rivals 2¾L. Life a lot more difficult from revised mark.

Form: 9319-21

(2)

Trump Card^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: C G O'Dwyer⁽⁷⁾| T: C O'Dwyer| OR: 57| CD

10/1

C&D winner. Struggled last summer both on the Flat and over hurdles. Well held when never threatening leaders in a couple of starts over C&D since December.

Form: 10095-0

(6)

Wave Walker^h⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: C J McGovern| T: A McCann| OR: 58

50/1

Vast improvement needed based on a couple of poor starts for new connections since joining from the Sylvester Kirk yard in December.

Form: 56/090-8

(15)

Cliara^h,t¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Siobhan Rutledge⁽⁴⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 55| D

10/1

Off the mark for connections at the sixth time of asking on an AW surface landing a Wolverhampton 1m4f handicap earlier this month off a 9lb lower mark. Yet to hit the frame in five starts at this venue including three over C&D.

Form: 75466-1

(7)

Tio Esteban^h1³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: W T Byrne⁽⁴⁾| T: W J Martin| OR: 52| BF

16/1

Career stats of one from 11 starts, not disgraced in sole start here last month finishing sixth of 14 beaten a little over 6L running at 1m. Needs to improve in first-time hood.

Form: 5401-68

(14)

Drummer¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Paddy Harnett⁽⁴⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 51

12/1

Mixed bag of efforts in six career starts on the Flat since a debut run at Roscommon in August. Ran with credit over C&D earlier this month and worth a check in the market.

Form: 057-035

(1)

Ally Cay⁹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Ben Coen| T: D Wall| OR: 52

25/1

Not seen since November but claims based on her third of 14 beaten 1L over C&D in October when in the care of trainer Gavin Cromwell. Best watched on stable debut.

Form: 773038-

(4)

Natch^p,t⁹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Nathan Crosse| T: J C McConnell| OR: 50

33/1

Never a factor over C&D when last seen in November. First time cheekpieces unlikely to bring about the required amount of improvement needed to play a role here.

Form: 477470-

(12)

Magic Sea³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: J P Shinnick⁽⁴⁾| T: Mrs S Dawson| OR: 49

8/1

Without a win in five starts on an AW surface but has posted a couple of decent efforts when hitting the frame over C&D previously. Not seen at this venue for 11 months but is fit from hurdling campaign.

Form: 369000-

(11)

Caronda¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Emma Louise Doyle⁽⁷⁾| T: T Doyle| OR: 48

8/1

Posted her best effort for sometime when finishing second of 14 not beaten far over C&D earlier this month. On to consider.

Form: 5237-72

(3)

Sharjah^b¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 8-11| J: Andrew Slattery| T: A Slattery| OR: 47| BF| CD

3/1

C&D winner, successful in three of his 40 starts over the combination. Not beaten far in a couple of starts last month and earlier this but racing 25lb lower than last winning mark remains a concern.

Form: 675-362

(5)

Lady Of Luxury^t²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: D E Sheehy| T: E Doyle| OR: 46

16/1

Six-race maiden on the Flat including a couple of defeats at this track previously. Ran with credit here last month and could appreciate the step up in trip here.

Form: 54050-3

(17)

Early Strike^p,t⁸⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Ms N A Kane⁽⁷⁾| T: D Murphy| OR: 45

20/1

Mixed bag of results this term with an improved effort posted over C&D when last seen in December finishing second of 13 beaten 2¾L behind Spelga. Could go well if fit from break.

Form: 402392-

Non-Runners

(8)

Del Campo¹⁹³

Weight: 9-12| Age: 6

T: J F O'Shea J: Scott McCullagh

(9)

Griffyndor¹⁴

Weight: 9-10| Age: 5

T: J C McConnell J: Reserve 1

(10)

Duke Of Waspington⁴²

Weight: 9-6| Age: 7

T: A McCann J: Reserve 2

(13)

Cape Agulhas¹⁴

Weight: 9-0| Age: 6

T: W J Martin J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

No Trouble (9/4), Sharjah (3/1), Caronda (8/1), Magic Sea (8/1), Cliara (10/1), Trump Card (10/1), Drummer (12/1), Griffyndor (14/1), Tio Esteban (16/1), Lady Of Luxury (16/1), Early Strike (20/1), Del Campo (20/1), Ally Cay (25/1), Cape Agulhas (25/1), Duke Of Waspington (25/1), Natch (33/1), Wave Walker (50/1)

The Andrew Slattery-trained SHARJAH can land the opener from the front. The 10-year-old is a three-time winner over C&D has not been beaten far in a couple of starts in the last month and can get first run on the field at they turn for home at the expense of No Trouble who will have to negotiate through the field from stall 16. The Tim Doyle-trained Caronda and the returning Early Strike can compete for the remaining place while Ally Cay can go well at a price.