14:55 Downpatrick

Sunday 9 August 2020

All14:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:1517:45

Randox Health Rated Hurdle

Off time: 14:54 | Winning time: 4m 23.90s

Pakens Rock^t¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: C A Landers⁽⁵⁾| T: B J Murphy| OR: 135

16/1

Three-time hurdles winner from a dozen attempts; likes some cut in the ground and was well-beaten 50-1 chance at Galway Festival on return from a break recently in a handicap.

Form: 4P150-0

Construct^p1,t³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 130| CD

25/1

2-4 over timber including C&D maiden last summer; tailed off in a handicap at Bellewstown (2m½f, good; 33-1) last month after a break. Cheekpieces are tried now and may do better back here.

Form: 115-0

Lever Du Soleil³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 127

16/1

Has done majority of his winning on the Flat; useful handicap hurdler placed seven times in 14 starts (one win); decent effort on chase bow at Kilbeggan last month after a break and may go well back over timber.

Form: 25420-5

Rasiym²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Paul Townend| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 126

4/1

Consistent since returning to action this summer and that was rewarded with a win at Kilbeggan handicap (2m, good to yielding; 3-1) off a mark of 116 last month. Did it well enough and champion jockey stays on board.

Form: 31840-1

The King Of Brega^p²⁶⁷

Age: 13| Weight: 11-3| J: D Robinson⁽³⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 126| C

80/1

Popular sort, teenager now and after winning twice at Thurles in late 2018/early 2019 there were plenty signs last year that age was starting to catch up. Back from a layoff and urge is to watch him for now.

Form: 3/95477-

Victoria Bay¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Ricky Doyle⁽³⁾| T: C Bowe| OR: 123| CD

4/1

C&D winner; waiting a while between drinks but has run well in last two starts when third in a Kilbeggan h'cap chase (2m4f, good) and filling same berth in 3m Galway Races h'cap hurdle (only headed late on). Chance is there down in distance.

Form: 5732-33

Causey Arch^t1¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: A W Short| T: C A McBratney| OR: 122

40/1

Won three times over hurdles in 2018 for Willie Mullins before progress stalled. Missed 451 days prior to stable bow in March and hasn't yet looked like winning in four runs. Tongue-tied here and not ignored.

Form: 2P8/6-47

Dollys Destination¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: C J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: Gary McGill| OR: 119

17/2

Gained second hurdles win at Navan in November (2m, soft to heavy); mixed bag afterwards but ran fine race on the Flat at Galway in a maiden recently and can be considered back over jumps as such.

Form: 210505-

Soldiers Hill^b,t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 119| CD

11/4

Bumper winner here a year ago and showed benefit of recent run to make it fifth time lucky by landing 2m6f maiden hurdle here last month in facile fashion (first-time blinkers, retained). Strong chance with 5lb claimer on board.

Form: 1448-61

King Pellinor^b,t¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 124

13/2

Winner of a Tipperary maiden hurdle in June (2m, good to yielding) and second next time at Ballinrobe before sound Flat run at Galway since. Improving four-year-old with plenty going for him here.

Form: FR-12

Politicise^p¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: A McGuinness| OR: 123

9/1

Winner of a maiden hurdle at Kilbeggan (2m4f, good to yielding) last month before beaten favourite at Gowran Park next time; giving away a lot of weight in Galway novice contest 10 days ago when caught late in the piece. Claims again.

Form: 625-132

Non-Runners

Humm Baby¹⁶

Weight: 10-12| Age: 8

T: M Hourigan J: C P McNamara

Ice Cold Soul¹⁰

Weight: 10-11| Age: 10

T: N Meade J: Reserve 1

Forecasts

Soldiers Hill (11/4), Rasiym (4/1), Victoria Bay (4/1), King Pellinor (13/2), Dollys Destination (17/2), Politicise (9/1), Humm Baby (10/1), Pakens Rock (16/1), Lever Du Soleil (16/1), Construct (25/1), Ice Cold Soul (25/1), Causey Arch (40/1), The King Of Brega (80/1)

The manner of victory for SOLDIERS HILL in a maiden here last month was striking, Gordon Elliott's charge seemingly taking well to the new headgear. That was over 2m6f but he also won his bumper around here over this distance a year ago and he looks set for a big run with his rider today taking off 5lb. Tipperary maiden winner King Pellinor and recent Galway second Politicise both have their claims, while Rasiym also merits some though with Paul Townend staying on board following last month's handicap win at Kilbeggan.