14:20 Navan

Saturday 14 March 2020

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:15

Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 4m 24.20s

Shumaker⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: C J Orr⁽²⁾| T: Paul Traynor| OR: 125| D

12/1

Started this season with a hat-trick of wins and got his head back in front on heavy ground at Fairyhouse in January off a 5lb lower mark. Well held in a couple of starts since and the handicapper looks to have the upper hand currently.

Form: 13P108

Ardamir²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: K Brogan⁽⁴⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 117

13/2

Bounced back to form on first start for current connections finishing within 1½L of the winner in a Naas 2m handicap hurdle last month. Will look to progress here.

Form: P58/37-2

Thereisnodoubt^h³¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: E O'Connell⁽⁴⁾| T: S Crawley| OR: 117| D

12/1

Not seen since May last year but the gelding did finish the previous season in good form winning two of his last four starts over hurdles between January and the spring. Market likely to be best guide on return to action.

Form: 0F151-7

Instant Return²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽²⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 123| D

2/1

Maiden after five starts, the Elzaam gelding has landed the spoils in each of his last two starts at Punchestown and Naas since the the turn of the year. 7lb rise unlikely to halt progression.

Form: 443211

Secret Cargo¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: F J Hayes⁽⁴⁾| T: P Fenton| OR: 102| D

50/1

Winner of one of his seven starts over hurdles but has found life a little tougher from his revised mark since landing a Tramore 2m handicap over 12 months ago. Plenty to find on recent offerings.

Form: 201P0-0

Muhaafiz¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-13| J: A W Short| T: V T O'Brien| OR: 101| D

11/2

Continues in good form following a 3L victory in a Naas 2m handicap hurdle last month. Second of 20 on his latest start at Leopardstown earlier this month and one to note in this contest.

Form: 6/6-6172

Bythesametoken^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁴⁾| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 100| CD

7/2

Sole career win in 14 starts over hurdles came over C&D in November off a 11lb lower mark. Solid and consistent form without winning has not halted the rise in weights and the gelding may find one or two better handicapped sorts lurking.

Form: 016324

Harvest Bow¹¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Dillon Maxwell⁽⁴⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 112

9/1

Continues to run well in defeat on both the Flat and over hurdles following a first win of her career in a Ballinrobe 2m2f maiden in September. Should make her presence felt.

Form: 2215

Resurrected Duke²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Gary Noonan⁽⁴⁾| T: T J Taaffe| OR: 98

20/1

Things not going the way for the Westerner gelding of late, yet to hit the frame in five career starts over hurdles. Profile suggests he is worth taking on again.

Form: 00806U

So Enjoy²⁰¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁴⁾| T: J Nash| OR: 98| BF

33/1

Long-standing maiden who was running with great credit in a number of starts last summer, mainly at Downpatrick. Bit more needed on return to action but enters calculations.

Form: 3-28233

Forecasts

Instant Return (2/1), Bythesametoken (7/2), Muhaafiz (11/2), Ardamir (13/2), Harvest Bow (9/1), Thereisnodoubt (12/1), Shumaker (12/1), Resurrected Duke (20/1), So Enjoy (33/1), Secret Cargo (50/1)

A change of fortune looks to be on the cards for ARDAMIR. The eight-year-old failed to hit the target in 24 starts for previous handler Laura Mongan before a pleasing effort at Naas over 2m last month on first start for Gordon Elliott. The gelding can hold off the attentions of his nearest rival Instant Return for trainer Jessica Harrington with the four-year-old coming here to attempt a hat-trick of victories. C&D winner Bythesametoken can compete with the Paul Traynor-trained Shumaker.