16:00 Gowran Park

Saturday 7 March 2020

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:40

Holden Plant Rentals Shamrock Handicap Chase (Grade B)

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 4m 54.20s

Tikkanen Express¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Phillip Enright| T: J Dullea| OR: 134

8/1

Missed a year after winning at Punchestown (2m6½f, good) in October 2018 but back to winning way at Thurles (2m½f, soft; 10-1) just 16 days ago on third run back. 6lb higher but will be suited by stiffer test of stamina and shortlisted.

Form: 231-651

Debuchet³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Danny Mullins| T: Ms M Mullins| OR: 133| BF

7/1

Winner on chase debut but a beaten favourite each time since; needs to put in a very below par effort last time out at Leopardstown behind him but deserves another chance.

Form: 20-1239

Spider Web⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: D J Mullins| T: T Mullins| OR: 131

20/1

Has been pulled up on five of his last six starts over fences; does have ability and has been given a slight chance by handicapper but completion rate is a huge worry for betting purposes.

Form: P2P3PP

Triplicate^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 129

7/1

Fair form over hurdles last season; has been showing reasonable form over fences since debuting in November; this looks tough on handicap debut but is open to improvement.

Form: 45-3635

Velocity Boy²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: William P Murphy| OR: 128

7/1

Won for the second time over fences when landing a Fairyhouse 2m1f handicap chase on yielding/soft ground at the end of last month off a 5lb lower mark; revised weight took its toll last time at Naas and possibly similar story here.

Form: 309714

Diamond Turf^p,t³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 124

9/2

No great shakes over hurdles but has put in four respectable efforts over fences of late; only narrowly beaten last time out and although up in the weights could still be open to improvement.

Form: 3P-3342

The Long Mile²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 124| C

5/2

Has been a revelation since landing a Naas 2m handicap off an 20lb lower mark in December; won well last time out and extra trip should not inconvenience him; definitely one to consider with confidence high,

Form: 370121

Allardyce^p³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: T Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 121| C

11/1

Gained a third chase win and his second of the season at Naas on penultimate start but struggled off revised mark last time at Leopardstown; difficult to write off totally but others preferred.

Form: 79131P

Alfie's Choice²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: E McNamara| OR: 116

12/1

Fair hurdler on his day; has found things tougher over fences including in a handicap last time out here behind The Long Mile; open to improvement but may need some more help from the handicapper.

Form: 51-3784

Presenting Mahler¹⁶⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 9-13| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: J P Ryan| OR: 109| D

33/1

Form of her Down Royal win in May has completely deserted this mare in a number of dour performances over fences; handicap mark continues to fall but hard to confident at present on back of long break.

Form: 6PU790

Forecasts

The Long Mile (5/2), Diamond Turf (9/2), Debuchet (7/1), Triplicate (7/1), Velocity Boy (7/1), Tikkanen Express (8/1), Allardyce (11/1), Alfie's Choice (12/1), Spider Web (20/1), Presenting Mahler (33/1)

DIAMOND TURF was unlucky to be run out of it close home last time out at Down Royal and a repeat of that effort could see him being one of the leading players in this contest. He has been raied a few pounds for that performance but still looks on the upgrade. The Long Mile has been a revelation this year but arguably the handicapper has finally caught up with him and he must race here 20lb higher than when winning at Naas in December. Alfie's Choice finished behind him last time out and is closely matched at the weights. Should he be able to show an improved performance he can turn things around.