15:10 Naas

Saturday 20 June 2020

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:1516:4517:1517:45

Thank You To The HSE & Frontline Workers Handicap

Off time: 15:13 | Winning time: 1m 15.25s

(14)

Independent Missy²⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Rory Cleary| T: T Collins| OR: 85| D

16/1

Only had the four starts and it would be foolish to fully rule her out given the promise she showed when winning a Fairyhouse (6f; good to yielding) last year. Subsequent pair of efforts are best to be forgiven and market check advised.

Form: 2169-

(7)

Shatharaat⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Leigh Roche| T: A Oliver| OR: 83

9/1

Gone backwards in handicaps of late, but did run okay when leading until the furlong pole at Gowran Park (7f; good) on his seasonal reappearance last week. Drop back to 6f looks the right move on that evidence.

Form: 03750-9

(6)

Blairmayne²⁷⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-13| J: Killian Leonard| T: N Lupini| OR: 82| C| D

12/1

Gone well fresh in the past. Would have to be considered a leading contender given the form he ended last season in winning and running respectably in a couple of fiendishly competitive handicaps at the Curragh. Only 2lb above last winning mark.

Form: 106715-

(9)

Master Matt²³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Billy Lee| T: M J Smith| OR: 81| D

4/1

Inconsistent profile and looks vulnerable for win purposes given he has never won off a mark as high as this before. Limited evidence suggests he may just need this first run in 232 days, and others make greater appeal.

Form: 260037-

(13)

Opening Verse^t1³⁰⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: A Mackay⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Murphy| OR: 81

22/1

Eased in grade to make handicap debut on seasonal reappearance after failing to make any impression in 'Listed' company on final start last year. Should appreciate the drop in trip and useful that apprentice jockey takes 7lb off. On the shortlist.

Form: 6137-

(16)

Mokhalad^t¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Gavin Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: D English| OR: 80| CD

13/2

Threatened to take advantage of steadily declining handicap mark on a couple of occasions before the enforced break. Not in the same form on recent reappearance, but drop back to this trip looks the right move and he can't be fully discounted.

Form: 844-300

(11)

Wufud^t¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 79

11/1

Yet to convince in two starts since joining this yard. Is dropped back in trip from 1m to 6f which may see him fare more competitively but you would want him to show more encouragement before recommending him.

Form: 2550-07

(4)

Celtic Manor³⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Chris Hayes| T: G Donnelly| OR: 78| D

50/1

Looked promising for William Haggas when winning a novice contest and handicap last season. Disappointed when last seen though, and has since changed hands. Something to prove fitness-wise but of interest if popular in the market.

Form: 32/115-

(3)

Benedict Roezl²⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: O J Orr| T: E Lynam| OR: 77| D

8/1

Particularly interesting runner who has had just two starts. Progressed from debut when dropped back in trip on AW debut to win at Dundalk (6f; standard). That form has since been franked by the second and he is open to improvement in this sphere.

Form: 51-

(8)

Mr Scarlet^t⁸⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Robbie Colgan| T: S Lavery| OR: 77| C

22/1

Struggling for form and doesn't win very often (1-23). Hasn't tasted success for four years and two efforts that hinted at some minor promise came on the AW. In comparison, he has been woeful on turf recently so is confidently ruled out.

Form: 0004-50

(10)

Fit For Function^t¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Andrew Slattery⁽⁵⁾| T: J G Murphy| OR: 74| D

7/1

Continued his consistent run of form when runner-up over C&D after a short break. Finished just in front of Inflection Point then but that rival is open to greater improvement so it will be interesting to see how they finish this time round.

Form: 349312

(12)

Inflection Point^b¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Colin Keane| T: K P Cotter| OR: 73

9/2

Lightly raced and posted a much more encouraging effort when recently placed over C&D. Definite claims if able to build on that, and every chance he will improve since that was his first run for over a year.

Form: 9/346-4

(2)

Rattling Jewel¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 8-12| J: Wayne Lordan| T: M Hassett| OR: 67| D

40/1

Took advantage of a reduced mark when scoring for the first time in a while at Listowel (7f; soft) in September. Failed to build on that & has reverted to running poorly again since over 6f. Made low-key reappearance over C&D earlier this month.

Form: 01500-0

(15)

Paddytheirishman²²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 8-6| J: Alan Persse⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 45

150/1

Impossible to fancy given he is a 47-race maiden who remains in desperately poor form. Connections seemingly still don't know what his best trip is as he drops back from 1m2f to 6f for the first time. Best watched.

Form: 9U0890-

Non-Runners

(1)

Kodiqueen²⁵¹

Weight: 9-7| Age: 4

T: J G Murphy J: Gary Carroll

(5)

Mandolin Wind²⁸²

Weight: 9-6| Age: 6

T: L Breen J: Shane Foley

Forecasts

Master Matt (4/1), Inflection Point (9/2), Mokhalad (13/2), Fit For Function (7/1), Benedict Roezl (8/1), Shatharaat (9/1), Wufud (11/1), Blairmayne (12/1), Independent Missy (16/1), Kodiqueen (16/1), Mandolin Wind (20/1), Opening Verse (22/1), Mr Scarlet (22/1), Rattling Jewel (40/1), Celtic Manor (50/1), Paddytheirishman (150/1)

Plenty in with chances in this typically competitive 6f handicap. Kodiqueen ended last season on a sour note, but may have benefited from a 251 day break and could get involved, while Mandolin Wind would also be of interest if the market vibes are positive for her. Similar comments apply to Celtic Manor, and the drop in trip looks ideal for Shatharaat. Inflection Point and Fit For Function bring solid form to the table, and the former is likely to improve past the latter. However, BENEDICT ROEZL is unexposed & won when tacking this trip for the first time at Dundalk in October. He is taken to make a winning transition to the handicap sphere.