14:53 Navan

Saturday 29 February 2020

All13:4514:1814:5315:2816:0316:3817:13

Athboy Handicap Hurdle

4YO plus | 2m 4f | 14 Runners | Turf

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 115| CD

Has improved for each run since starting his hurdles career and has already won twice at Limerick and over course and distance; up in the weights again but going in the right direction and difficult to gleefully oppose.

Form: 0-541U1

Our Boy Boru⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: D J Hand⁽⁷⁾| T: J Woods| OR: 114| C| D

Was off the track for a year after winning at Down Royal in early 2018 and was not disgraced at Naas on his reappearance finishing 4th of 15; fair effort last time from out of the handicap at this track and remains capable.

Form: 4631/48

Askann^p⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: M Torrens| OR: 111

Best efforts of late have come over three miles but with conditions set to be very testing then she may still have a squeak given her overall consistency.

Form: 0-2U162

Amaulino¹⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁷⁾| T: R K Watson| OR: 110

Winner of the Ulster National over fences at Downpatrick in March before being pulled up around Aintree in a handicap; last seen returning from long break in August and no reason why he will be ready here after an even longer break.

Form: 7411P-7

Minx Tiara⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: O R Brown⁽⁷⁾| T: D M O'Brien| OR: 109| D

Won her maiden at the second time of asking for connections when landing a Wexford 2m4f contest in June. Has been running well in defeat in four starts over hurdles since October; deserves a win for her consistency.

Form: 392232

Even Flight¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: P Fenton| OR: 108

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 seven-race maiden enters the winners enclosure and appears weighted to do so.

Form: 7F3443

Dawson's Gate³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Mark Walsh| T: E P Harty| OR: 107

Well beaten and no impression in four dismal efforts over hurdles so far since the Robin Des Champs gelding's debut in October including on first start in handicap last time at Naas; unlikely winner on balance of form.

Form: 5008

Seskinane¹³

Age: 14| Weight: 11-0| J: Phillip Enright| T: B McMahon| OR: 105| C| D

Took advantage of tumbling handicap mark to score well last time at this track over 2m7f; more needed now by the likeable veteran now the handicapper has had a say but solid place claims nevertheless.

Form: 04-9851

Secret Cargo³⁸¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: F J Hayes⁽⁷⁾| T: P Fenton| OR: 103

Won a 2m handicap at Tramore at the start of the year on soft ground; has found things tougher off revised mark; has been eased by the handicapper but maybe not by enough for win purposes.

Form: 0201P0-

Wee Small Hours^t⁷⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: M Rice| OR: 98| CD

Earlier progression appears to have leveled out in a number of dismal efforts last spring; returned from lengthy absence when finishing a distant fifth of 13 at Fairyhouse in December; could be another toiling day.

Form: 5375-85

Spancil Hill^p¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: C A Landers⁽⁵⁾| T: M J McDonagh| OR: 96| D

Finished fairly close to Punitive over course and distance in January and is 7lb better at the weights; let himself down next time at Punchestown but fair chance back at this track and hard to discount.

Form: 90P447

Nobel Joshua^p⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: L P Dempsey| T: G Elliott| OR: 104

Not disgraced on handicap debut at Limerick late last month but failed to show necessary progression last time out at Naas; probably worth giving another chance to and is respected given connections.

Form: 996526

Need For Gold⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: E Cawley| OR: 86

Barely shown anything in seven starts and pulled up having made mistakes at Limerick when last seen. Hard to fancy.

Form: 800P-0P

Just Another Lady^t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: V T O'Brien| OR: 80

Rarely finishes a race these days and likely to struggle once again from so far out of the handicap.

Form: 7/P-P0PP

Forecasts

Punitive (4/1), Askann (9/2), Seskinane (5/1), Minx Tiara (6/1), Even Flight (10/1), Dawson's Gate (10/1), Our Boy Boru (10/1), Amaulino (10/1), Nobel Joshua (10/1), Wee Small Hours (14/1), Spancil Hill (14/1), Secret Cargo (25/1), Need For Gold (25/1), Just Another Lady (50/1)

PUNITIVE is a hurdler who has progressive profile and he may not have stopped winning just yet. A winner over course and distance here last month, the six-year-old does not have too many outstanding rivals to get the better of and can come out on top once again. Minx Tiara is a very consistent mare and is likely to be in the firing in the closing stages. Veteran Seskinane delivered a deserved win last time at this track and repeat of that effort would give him very solid place claims. Spancil Hill is another older horse with decent place claims.