16:00 Leopardstown

Monday 2 March 2020

All13:1513:4514:2014:5515:2516:0016:30

Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 5m 46.80s

Bridge Native^t³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: C J Orr⁽²⁾| T: Mrs D A Love| OR: 109

11/2

Surprisingly returned to hurdles last time having been showing plenty of ability over fences; she ran well at Down Royal on that occasion; excellent chance and looks well handicapped at present.

Form: 457124

Dubai Devils³⁸³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: A W Short| T: P Stafford| OR: 109

20/1

Ran above expectation last time at Fairyhouse when putting some very moderate chase efforts firmly behind him; more on his plate here at the revised weights but with confidence high he may go well.

Form: P55/681-

Gunfire Reef⁸⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: C P McNamara⁽²⁾| T: Ms M Mullins| OR: 108

14/1

Last two outings have been over hurdles but he is arguably a better chaser; fairly lightly-raced these days and has to overcome a long absence here; fair chance but might just need this outing.

Form: P-74435

School Lane^b¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: D J Hand⁽⁴⁾| T: L Lennon| OR: 107

9/1

Still looking for a first career win, but twice runner-up at Downpatrick last year, including in the Ulster National; slightly below par on last three racecourse appearances but slowly creeping down the handicap.

Form: UP3855

Ask And Answer^t³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: E Walsh⁽⁴⁾| T: S Aherne| OR: 106| BF

5/2

Off the mark over the larger obstacles at the sixth time of asking when landing a Navan 3m handicap earlier this month off a 9lb lower mark; showed his well being when runner-up over slightly further last time; can go well again

Form: 066512

Blue Empyrean^p³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁴⁾| T: R K Watson| OR: 106

20/1

Former Gordon Elliott inmate who won a bumper for him over three years ago but has shown only limited flashes of form since then; latest efforts over hurdles and fences nothing to write home about; something to prove.

Form: 800-307

Golden Sunset³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁴⁾| T: N Madden| OR: 100

9/2

Turned round some below par efforts when showing good battling qualities to win at Down Royal last time out; much more needed here at the weights but with confidence up he is difficult to discount.

Form: 792UP1

Gone Galavanting²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁴⁾| T: P Roche| OR: 92

20/1

Has been struggling over fences since her debut at Naas in January; has her handicap mark now and it will be interesting to see how she fares but does not look confident betting material at present.

Form: 2794F0

Baby Bellini^t⁷⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁴⁾| T: I Madden| OR: 89

28/1

Generally disappointing hurdler who did show some promise on his chase debut at Clonmel in December but was well beaten when last seen over fences at Naas later that month; difficult to make a case for at this stage of his chase career.

Form: 600058

Witness Of Fashion^p³⁷

Age: 14| Weight: 10-1| J: T Ryan⁽²⁾| T: P Rooney| OR: 86| CD

12/1

Still running well in the latter stages of his career with the veteran visiting the winners enclosure as recently as November; capable of a big run if in the mood.

Form: P-61527

Captain Cruiser^t1⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-13| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽²⁾| T: L P Cusack| OR: 84

6/1

Has failed to get involved in six career chase starts over a variety of trips including a dismal effort on his latest start when pulled up at Navan; will need to raise overall profile to play a role in the finish.

Form: 59U08P

The Broom Squire^p⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Gary Noonan⁽⁴⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 82

50/1

135L defeat and pulled up twice in initial starts over fences since August does not fire any enthusiasm for the Whitmore's Coin gelding.

Form: 0P-00PP

Krisquin^b1⁵²

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: G P Brouder⁽⁴⁾| T: S Nolan| OR: 81

12/1

Winning pointer but hasn't shown very much under Rules in hunter chases and beginners chases. Hard to see him getting involved at this level even with the aid of first time blinkers.

Form: 2-UP9U8

Forecasts

Ask And Answer (5/2), Golden Sunset (9/2), Bridge Native (11/2), Captain Cruiser (6/1), School Lane (9/1), Krisquin (12/1), Witness Of Fashion (12/1), Gunfire Reef (14/1), Dubai Devils (20/1), Gone Galavanting (20/1), Blue Empyrean (20/1), Baby Bellini (28/1), The Broom Squire (50/1)

Topweight Bridge Native returns to chasing after a confidence boosting run over hurdles where she ran up to near her best at Down Royal. She had previously shown an aptitude for fences and may the answer in this contest where there is no obvious winner. Ask And Answer will have to deal with the negative of a slight drop back in trip but if showing the same enthusiasm he has produced on his last two runs then he may give the selection most to do. Veteran Witness Of Fashion needs to be in the mood to show his best these days but this generally reliable gelding is capable of winning if some of the younger and more fancied runners fail to run their race.