18:55 Gowran Park

Wednesday 8 July 2020

All16:2516:5517:2517:5518:2518:5519:25

Supporting The Irish Jockeys Fund Handicap (45-65) (Div 1)

Off time: 18:57 | Winning time: 1m 47.59s

(16)

Lady In Lavender²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: E F Gallagher| OR: 65| CD

50/1

C&D winner back in September but not a very prolific winner. Struggling off higher marks since and needs plenty more based on latest last of 14 in 7f handicap here last month. 13lb above last winning mark.

Form: 3100-80

(12)

Plum Perfect²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: Ronan Whelan| T: T Collins| OR: 64| BF| D

6/1

Easy winner of 1m Dundalk maiden back in March but was caught by the draw last time on handicap bow at Leopardstown (1m). Eased 1lb and draw not the best once more but has some claims on best form.

Form: 420-218

(14)

Kinch^p¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: D W O'Connor⁽³⁾| T: J F Levins| OR: 63| D

16/1

Typically consistent on the AW at Dundalk but fair effort at Limerick was followed by poor 9L defeat at Tipperary (1m1f) last time. Back in trip is a plus however and should go close off current mark.

Form: 231439

(15)

Scorpion Black^v¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: D A McCormack⁽⁵⁾| T: D K Weld| OR: 62| CD

14/1

Winner over 7f here last term but struggling off higher marks since, including 10L 11th in 1m Naas handicap last month. Back down to last winning mark for this contest however and claims if re-finding best form.

Form: 6919-00

(6)

Raffaello¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Jack Cleary⁽¹⁰⁾| T: W McCreery| OR: 60| C| D

40/1

Narrow handicap winner last summer but failed to land a telling blow since, including 14L defeat at Naas (1m, good to yielding) last month. Now 4lb below last winning mark but turnaround in form is needed.

Form: 00U6-70

(2)

Clueless Hill¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Rory Cleary| T: L Comer| OR: 55

20/1

Had been struggling at this and higher levels previously, but gelding operation seemed to produce turnaround in form when 2L third at Tipperary (1m1f) in June. Effective at this trip too and only up 1lb for that effort. Claims.

Form: 04/7-803

(3)

Highway To Heaven¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: S Foley| T: T G McCourt| OR: 55| C

8/1

Winner at this track last Summer but struggled for consistency since. Put up poor effort last time when 12L fifth at Roscommon (1m2f) last month. Dropped 2f for this in bid to get back on track.

Form: 320-475

(8)

Newgirlintown^p³^{(ex 6)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: R Coakley| T: G O'Leary| OR: 52

4/1

Winner of two of her last three starts, and put up best performance to date when game winner of 1m2f Fairyhouse handicap three days ago. Versatile trip-wise and escapes a penalty in this contest for that victory. Leading contender.

Form: 46-2151

(7)

Small Town Boy¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: K J Leonard| T: J C McConnell| OR: 51

16/1

Long-standing maiden who has yet to really put in a strong performance, including when one-paced 8L fifth at Roscommon (1m2f) last time. Down 1lb for that effort and could have revival of career-low mark.

Form: 80008-5

(9)

Keep Believing¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 49| CD

5/4

On a losing streak that dates back to 2017 but starting to show signs of coming back into form. Hampered but kept on well to take sixth in 6f Fairyhouse handicap last month. Off the same mark in this but still needs to prove he stays the mile.

Form: 9/5700-6

(1)

Ben Alexander²⁹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Wayne Lordan| T: H Rogers| OR: 47

25/1

Yet to land a telling blow as of late and cost by slow start when 7L at Galway (1m) when last seen. Absent since September but eased 4lb in the weights to career basement mark. Plenty more needed.

Form: 7/00068-

(11)

Ask Katie^t²⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-10| J: T P Madden| T: T Cleary| OR: 45| D

100/1

Regressive sort since switching to the care of Thomas Cleary and offered little hope when 11L eighth in 1m4f Galway handicap last October. Not seen since and drastically drops back in trip in bid to try and find some form.

Form: 5/09008-

(5)

Hard Times¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 8-10| J: Sean Davis| T: F Costello| OR: 45| D

50/1

Tailed off in last two handicap starts for Phil Kirby in Britain and on last hurdles start, but outran 100/1 odds when 4L ninth in Naas handicap (1m) last month. Eased 7lb since however and probably still not good enough for this.

Form: 600/68-9

(13)

Pimstrel^p1²⁵⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: L F Roche| T: J P Fahey| OR: 45

100/1

Six-race maiden who has a tendency to put in some no shows, including when beaten 53L in 1m6f Naas handicap in October. Steps back 6f and in easier contest but still needs to find a mammoth amount on form.

Form: 040/900-

Non-Runners

(17)

Loaded²¹

Weight: 10-1| Age: 7

T: A McGuinness J: G M Ryan

(10)

Swiss Army Officer³

Weight: 10-1| Age: 5

T: Kevin Coleman J: Reserve 1

(4)

Tyriana³

Weight: 8-10| Age: 4

T: P J Flynn J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Keep Believing (5/4), Newgirlintown (4/1), Plum Perfect (6/1), Loaded (7/1), Highway To Heaven (8/1), Scorpion Black (14/1), Swiss Army Officer (14/1), Kinch (16/1), Small Town Boy (16/1), Clueless Hill (20/1), Ben Alexander (25/1), Tyriana (33/1), Raffaello (40/1), Lady In Lavender (50/1), Hard Times (50/1), Pimstrel (100/1), Ask Katie (100/1)

It could be a smart bit of placing by trainer Gerard O'Leary with Newgirlintown, who sets the form standard for her last victory three days ago and isn't penalised for that. If handling the quick turnaround she could prove tough to beat, but it is worth taking a chance on that with CLUELESS HILL. He looked a far better article after a gelding operation when keeping on well, albeit too lately, Tipperary last time and should be ridden prominently from a favourable draw. The duo of Kinch and Plum Perfect have some good handicap form but must overcome poor draw, while a case can be made for Scorpion Black, who returns to his last mark which saw him land a handicap at this track last term.