16:00 Dundalk

Friday 11 December 2020

All16:0016:3017:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:30

Crowne Plaza Hotel Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Handicap (45-65)

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 2m 34.1s

(4)

Irish Poseidon^p1³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Sam Ewing⁽⁷⁾| T: M J Smith| OR: 64| CD

15/8

1 win from 2 runs this year. 11/10, won 13-runner handicap at this C&D 30 days ago, just holding on. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Claims once more.

Form: 212131

(12)

Morph Speed²⁸⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: R Coakley| T: John Hassett| OR: 62| CD

14/1

C&D winner in February who wasn't disgraced when seventh of 14 in handicap back here later that month. Absent since but fact he's gone well fresh previously so not ruled out.

Form: 67/7-17

(14)

Persian Lion²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Melanie Horsman⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Miss K Brown| OR: 62

18/1

One win from 23 Flat runs. Nineteen runs since last win in 2018. Creditable second of 14 in handicap at this course (10.7f, 10/1) 28 days ago.

Form: 029662

(10)

Take A Turn^p²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: M P Sheehy⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 62

9/1

Fifteen runs since last win in 2017. 6/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, creditable 1½ lengths second of 14 to Macaban City in handicap at this C&D 23 days ago, never nearer.

Form: 330462

(15)

Tham Luang^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Declan McDonogh| T: L Lennon| OR: 61

13/2

11/2, good head second of 14 to Aldente in handicap at this C&D 14 days ago. Knocking on the door in recent starts and claims again for all he remains a maiden.

Form: 030922

(6)

Kartayaz²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Gary Carroll| T: J C McConnell| OR: 63

9/1

Creditable 1½ lengths third of 14 to Macaban City in handicap (12/1) at this C&D 23 days ago, beaten only by a pair that came from further back. However, this another tough contest for the grade.

Form: 024093

(9)

Getaway Queen^p,t⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Colin Keane| T: D Budds| OR: 58| CD

16/1

C&D winner. Latest win at Tramore in August. 15/2, last of 14 in handicap hurdle at Clonmel (19f, heavy) 8 days ago. Booking of Keane a plus. Fair on the all weather, creditable on last Flat outing.

Form: 551483

(7)

Dashing Diamond⁵²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Wayne Lordan| T: M Hassett| OR: 58

33/1

Fell in juvenile hurdle (11/8) at Tipperary (16f, heavy) on NH debut 52 days ago. Makes polytrack debut. Fair on the Flat, very good on last Flat run.

Form: 883252

(8)

Aldente¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: D W O'Connor⁽³⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 53| CD

16/1

Improved on recent efforts to win 14-runner handicap at this C&D (40/1) 14 days ago by head from Tham Luang. The switch to positive tactics suiting. Now her task is to back that up.

Form: 900091

(5)

Sharjah^v¹⁷⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-4| J: A J Slattery⁽³⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 52| CD

14/1

3-time C&D winner. Thirty four runs since last win in 2018. Good second of 14 in handicap at Fairyhouse (12f, good, 7/1). Off 179 days. Visor back on.

Form: 626222

(3)

Solar System¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: K J Manning| T: L Breen| OR: 56| C

12/1

First run since leaving J. S. Bolger when career best when dead-heating in 14-runner handicap (9/1) at this course (10.7f) 18 days ago. Still low mileage so another good run not ruled out.

Form: 0000-71

(11)

Macaban City²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: M A Gallagher| T: G Hussey| OR: 50| CD

13/2

Won 14-runner handicap (9/1) at this C&D 23 days ago by 1½ lengths from Take A Turn, not needing to better modest form to get off the mark. Doesn't rate an obvious follow-up candidate.

Form: 305741

(13)

Elegant Lass^t⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Chris Hayes| T: T Gibney| OR: 45

18/1

Below form fifth of 17 in handicap hurdle (8/1) at Punchestown (16.4f, soft) 72 days ago, not aided by being taken on for the lead. Others make greater appeal back on the Flat. Reserve 1.

Form: 000/058-

(2)

Strip Light⁸⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: C J MacRedmond⁽⁷⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 64

50/1

Lightly-raced maiden on Flat. Creditable sixth of 14 in maiden at this course (8f, 10/1) 84 days ago, well positioned. First run for yard after leaving M. Halford. Makes handicap debut. Reserve 2.

Form: 0-486

Non-Runners

(1)

Bell Manannan⁴⁴

Weight: 9-2| Age: 5

T: J C McConnell J: Ronan Whelan

(17)

Sand Castle¹⁴

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: A Murray J: J A Heffernan

(16)

Navajo Ridge²⁸

Weight: 9-1| Age: 6

T: G Keane J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Irish Poseidon (15/8), Macaban City (13/2), Tham Luang (13/2), Kartayaz (9/1), Take A Turn (9/1), Solar System (12/1), Sand Castle (12/1), Bell Manannan (12/1), Morph Speed (14/1), Sharjah (14/1), Aldente (16/1), Getaway Queen (16/1), Persian Lion (18/1), Elegant Lass (18/1), Dashing Diamond (33/1), Strip Light (50/1)

A highly-competitive opener with the vote in favour of 3-y-o SOLAR SYSTEM. He showed improved form to get off the mark over shorter here recently and he may yet have a little more to offer now tackling 12f for the first time. Irish Poseidon, Sharjah and Dashing Diamond are just a trio of others to consider.