18:45 Sligo

Thursday 2 July 2020

All16:1016:4017:1017:4018:1018:4519:15

Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel & Lodges Enniskillen Handicap (50-80)

Off time: 18:45 | Winning time: 2m 53.97s

(11)

Squire's Tale^b⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: R P Downey| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 78| D

40/1

Has first start on the level for 1036 days. Evidently been very difficult to train as he has had just the six starts spread over four years. Beaten a long way over hurdles last week, but that may have been to blow away the cobwebs.

Form: 021/

(9)

Harvest Bow⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: O J Orr| T: N Meade| OR: 77

10/3

Drops down from 2m to 1m4f after finishing in midfield at the Curragh (2m; good). Form from last season shows she is better than that, and likely that she has more improvement left in her as a four-year-old.

Form: 65326-6

(1)

Powersbomb^t¹⁰⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-1| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: B McMahon| OR: 77| C

18/1

Not ran on the flat for almost two years. Struggling for form over jumps when last seen in March, and at the age of 10 given his exposed profile it would be a surprise were there not something else to side with.

Form: 331008/

(7)

Malbas¹⁰⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: James J Doyle| T: D Hogan| OR: 75

7/1

Won a weak event at Bellewstown (1m4f; good) in August, and subsequently failed to build upon that with a mounting string of poor efforts in defeat. Fitness to prove on return from 104-day break and others have less to prove.

Form: 16497-V

(2)

Sky Marshal²⁰⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: W J Lee| T: C Byrnes| OR: 73| D

5/1

Has enjoyed a decent time of things over jumps recently, and this represents his first run on the level for 627 days. Was a decent handicapper when last seen under this code for previous stable. Market check advised coming from this stable.

Form: 246253/

(8)

All's Quiet^t⁴⁸⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-9| J: C J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: N Slevin| OR: 71| D

66/1

In good form over 2m on the AW at Dundalk through the winter, and is on a 4lb lower mark on the turf. That makes him just 2lb above last winning mark but he may need the run.

Form: 6592/16-

(10)

Angel Fish^p²⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: P F McEnery| OR: 71

125/1

Yet to progress from promising handicap debut, and ended last season in desperately poor form when 12th of 13 at Naas (1m4f; heavy). Makes seasonal debut and others have a lot more going for them.

Form: 843270-

(4)

Rocky Blue⁵⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: D J Mullins| T: T Mullins| OR: 71

4/1

Was in tremendous form when last seen towards the end of 2018, and his most recent run on the flat he turned into a procession to win by eight-lengths. Returns from long absence off a 9lb higher mark but market informative.

Form: 062221/

(6)

Sicario¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M M McNiff| OR: 65

11/2

Returned to form when stepped back up to 1m4f at Leopardstown (1m4f; good) on first run after three-month break. 3lb higher mark to contend with but still 4lb below last winning mark so could be well handicapped if building on recent run.

Form: 64-8042

(3)

Take A Turn¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Ben Coen⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 65| C

4/1

Produced a solid reappearance run when third at Fairyhouse (1m4f; good to firm) last month. Could improve from that, and off an unchanged mark he is an interesting contender. Sole runner on the card for top trainer.

Form: 57/230-3

(5)

Ballydrislane²²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: K J Leonard| T: R K Watson| OR: 59

66/1

Unable to build upon promising handicap debut last time when only beating two rivals in 14-runner affair at Dundalk (1m4f; standard). Now has first run for 225-days and too much to prove to recommend on return to the track.

Form: 70950-

Forecasts

Harvest Bow (10/3), Rocky Blue (4/1), Take A Turn (4/1), Sky Marshal (5/1), Sicario (11/2), Malbas (7/1), Powersbomb (18/1), Squire's Tale (40/1), Ballydrislane (66/1), All's Quiet (66/1), Angel Fish (125/1)

Despite running an underwhelming race on her first run of the season on the level, Harvest Bow should be given another chance as she showed on multiple occasions last season she has the ability to go close in races like this. Sicario produced an improved performance to go close at Leopardstown last month, and should be involved. The most interesting contender is Rocky Blue who was on a sharp upward curve under this code before suffering an injury and it will speak volumes for his chances if he is popular in the market. The selection is TAKE A TURN who is Gordon Elliot's sole runner on the card and may come on from his encouraging reappearance effort at Fairyhouse.