14:25 Down Royal

Tuesday 17 March 2020

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (80-95)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 5m 17.50s

Demophon¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sarah Kavanagh⁽⁴⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 95

33/1

0-30 on the Flat; has not troubled the judges on three hurdles appearance to date, being sent off at 100/1 on each occasion; interesting he is now in a handicap for the first time and worth a check in the market.

Form: P-000

Mary Of De Sorrows¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: P J Cawley| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 95

14/1

Full-sister to fairly useful jumper Niven, and related to other jumps winners, so not without interest but was majorly disappointing on all four racecourse appearances to date including on handicap debut last time at Leopardstown.

Form: 0089

Villa Moura¹⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: S A Mulcahy| T: D Hogan| OR: 95

40/1

Only seems to run intermittently these days; finished last of 13 when last seen in October; difficult to assess and another who chances may be reflected in the betting ring.

Form: 85-53F0

Wee Small Hours^t¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: K Brogan⁽²⁾| T: M Rice| OR: 95| D

28/1

Earlier progression appears to have levelled out in a number of dismal efforts last spring; returned from lengthy absence when finishing a distant 10th of 14 at Navan earlier this month; needs improvement.

Form: 375-850

Bellaney Gem³⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Dylan Johnston⁽⁴⁾| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 90

9/1

Generally struggled in maiden hurdles in the early start of his career and not much improvement when switched to handicaps; difficult to see him being involved on first start since April 2019.

Form: 608840-

Junius Brutus^p1⁵¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Dillon Maxwell| T: Caroline Mccaldin| OR: 90

22/1

Struggling son of Definite Article. Well held in a number of point-to-point and hurdling starts since November. Hard to make a case for.

Form: P5-U090

Plentiful^p¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: E Walsh| T: E Doyle| OR: 90

3/1

Cheekpieces (retained) seems to bring out a renewed effort out of the gelding at Clonmel earlier this month on the back of a string of disappointing efforts; certainly one of the more likely winners if repeating that performance.

Form: 08F093

Running Skeard¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: D P Holden| T: S G Walsh| OR: 90

22/1

Sent off a some big prices in a number of hurdle starts so far including on both handicap runs to date; eight-race maiden still looking no nearer to breakthrough success though latest run an improvement so has place chances.

Form: 870-004

Bracka Lily²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: D E Browne⁽⁴⁾| T: N C Kelly| OR: 89

10/1

Has been generally disappointing since winning at Downpatrick (2m6f) in August; races off a 1lb higher mark here but recent form does not suggest she is ready to get back to winning ways.

Form: 170988

Kristian Goingwel^v1¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Aidan Kelly⁽²⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 88

4/1

11-race maiden yet to hit the frame in eight starts over hurdles; showed some signs of promise last time out at Clonmel and perhaps the fitting of a first time visor can up his game; interesting.

Form: 086884

James Boru^t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Gary Noonan⁽²⁾| T: N C Kelly| OR: 87

18/1

Dual point winner but 0-11 over hurdles and yet to make the frame; dismal effort last month at Fairyhouse when pulled up; hard to get excited about.

Form: 5-F670P

Stoughan Cross^t²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: Liam McKenna| T: T Gibney| OR: 87

12/1

Off the mark over hurdles at the 20th time of asking when battling well in the closing stages to win at Punchestown last month; excellent chance to follow up given the general level of opposition.

Form: P70561

Rossmore's Pride³⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr J C Canavan⁽²⁾| T: Christian Delcros| OR: 86| CD

16/1

Veteran though relatively lightly raced over hurdles; has been below par on his last two starts but can race off a 5lb lower mark than when runner-up over 2m1f on Boxing Day; fair chance on best of his form.

Form: 43P-2P0

Anjilina^t⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: T N Brett| T: Caroline Mccaldin| OR: 83

50/1

Peak effort of four over hurdles so far was her 11L second in a mares' novice contest at Sedgefield over 2m4f on soft ground in March. Hard to fancy on any of five subsequent runs but starting to look tantalisingly well handicapped.

Form: 26-0PP0

Drumconnor Girl^h1⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: J R Wildman⁽²⁾| T: J J Lambe| OR: 83

33/1

A point-to-point winner who is 0-10 under Rules.; has struggled in handicap company recently; her latest appearance was here where she could only finish 15th of 17; first time hood here hoping to bring a change of fortune.

Form: 3P6090

Charlie Bit Me^p,t¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Gearoid Brouder| T: Madeleine Tylicki| OR: 92

9/1

Six-race maiden over timber who has not shown enough in recent outings to suggest he is capable of winning any time soon; perhaps huge step up in trip will help but hard to recommend.

Form: 468F09

Klassy Kay⁹²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: P J O'Hanlon| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 80

18/1

Only sporadically raced these days with no real show on latest pre-Christmas runs; has run well in the past at this track but hard to see her being involved in the finish.

Form: 5860-50

Forecasts

Plentiful (3/1), Kristian Goingwel (4/1), Bellaney Gem (9/1), Charlie Bit Me (9/1), Bracka Lily (10/1), Stoughan Cross (12/1), Mary Of De Sorrows (14/1), Rossmore's Pride (16/1), Klassy Kay (18/1), James Boru (18/1), Junius Brutus (22/1), Running Skeard (22/1), Wee Small Hours (28/1), Demophon (33/1), Drumconnor Girl (33/1), Villa Moura (40/1), Anjilina (50/1)

STOUGHAN CROSS made a successful return to hurdles last time and the trainer will be looking to take advantage of his reasonable handicap mark to follow up. The gelding stayed on strongly in the closing stages of that race at Punchestown and given the paucity of talent in opposition, he is taken to score again. Plentiful improved for the fitting of cheekpieces last time at Clonmel and if the equipment has the same effect then he can give the selection most to do. Anjilina is starting to look well handicapped on previous form and while her current form is poor, it is possible she may find some renewed vigour from somewhere and may be worth an each-way chance.