16:35 Kilbeggan

Saturday 1 August 2020

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:0517:35

Paul & Carmel Fay Memorial Handicap Hurdle (80-109)

Off time: 16:36 | Winning time: 6m 11.5s

Ocean Glandore^p¹⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: D Hogan| OR: 102| CD

9/2

Course and distance winner who showed his well being here last time out when runner-up off a 3lb lower mark; consistent enough to go well and one for consideration.

Form: 1093-82

Lessofdnegativity⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: A J McNamara| OR: 101| C

12/1

Has struggled mainly in handicaps since winning a maiden hurdle here last September; is slowly drifting down the handicap but yet to prove he truly stays marathon trips.

Form: 0508P-6

So Near So Farhh^p1¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: C A McBratney| OR: 100

11/1

The win in a Down Royal handicap hurdle in January appears to be something of a one off with the victory surrounded by some dismal efforts; slight improvement last time and first-time cheekpieces may perk him up.

Form: 00165-3

Eimear^p¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Keith Donoghue| T: M J Smith| OR: 97| CD

8/11

Running well in defeat in a couple of starts over hurdles since racing resumed and won last time over fences at this track; can race here off a fair mark and certainly one for the shortlist.

Form: 260-421

So Enjoy²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: J Nash| OR: 97

12/1

Long-standing maiden who was running with great credit in a number of starts last summer, mainly at Downpatrick; showed his well being with useful effort last month at Bellewstown; excellent place claims.

Form: 2330-82

Mick Mixy⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr T D Geoghegan⁽⁷⁾| T: P W Flynn| OR: 96

18/1

Much improved effort at Limerick recently on the back of three disappointing runs to begin the season; worth closer inspection.

Form: 00-0782

Bye Bye O Bye^t⁸

Age: 13| Weight: 11-6| J: C P McNamara⁽⁵⁾| T: Michael C Griffin| OR: 94| CD

20/1

Won two long distance handicap hurdles around this time of year in 2019 but struggled subsequently; can race 5lb lower than last winning mark but needs to bounced back from below par run last time at Cork.

Form: 90-8039

Ballycastle Girl¹⁶⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: E Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: D P Dunne| OR: 92

80/1

Handicap debut; showed a little bit of ability on hurdles debut at Bellewstown last July but last two runs were poor; hard to see her getting competitive.

Form: 9P/480-

Rippon Lodge⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: D E Mullins| T: J P Ryan| OR: 91

20/1

Hints of ability in a number of career starts over hurdles since debut in November 2018; better effort last time at Cork but hard to see him getting too competitive on all known form.

Form: 349-P94

Baltygirl³³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Phillip Enright| T: M J Tynan| OR: 85

28/1

Front-runner who put in one of her better performances on her penultimate start at Sligo when finishing 3rd of 11 over 3m; pulled up when last seen in September and tough ask after long break.

Form: 90/FP3P-

Non-Runners

Robin Deuz Pois²⁴

Weight: 11-2| Age: 8

T: G Elliott J: Sean O'Keeffe

Forecasts

Eimear (8/11), Ocean Glandore (9/2), Robin Deuz Pois (8/1), So Near So Farhh (11/1), Lessofdnegativity (12/1), So Enjoy (12/1), Mick Mixy (18/1), Rippon Lodge (20/1), Bye Bye O Bye (20/1), Baltygirl (28/1), Ballycastle Girl (80/1)

EIMEAR is a recent winner over fences and can race here of what looks like a very fair mark on her return to hurdling. The mare stayed on strongly to win at this track last time and had already shown on her previous run that she is no slouch over hurdles. This entry looks a shrewd move by connections. Robin Deuz Pois is another whose hurdle's mark is lower than her chase mark and while she struggled on her seasonal reappearance last time at Bellewstown should be sharper here. So Enjoy is still a maiden but is consistent enough to suggest she will be challenging for minor honours at the very least.