16:30 Dundalk

Friday 26 February 2021

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

Willie Buckley Memorial Handicap

Off time: 16:32 | Winning time: 2m 15.55s

(5)

Tartlette¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: S Crawley| OR: 90| CD

15/8

Three-time C&D winner. 2/1, career best when winning 4-runner minor event at this C&D 14 days ago, readily. This is more demanding.

Form: 29592-1

(9)

Tower Of Pisa²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Alan Persse⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 83| CD

13/2

Thrice-raced winner. C&D winner in December. 4/1, fourth of 10 in handicap at this course (12f) 21 days ago. Open to progress and she needs considering.

Form: 41-4

(8)

Spelga^v⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 80| CD

9/2

Three-time C&D winner. 5/2 and visored for 1st time, career best when winning 12-runner handicap at this C&D 9 days ago by 3¼ lengths from Blackstone Cliff, well positioned. Another bold show likely.

Form: 8426-51

(4)

Faakhirah²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Gavin Ryan| T: A McGuinness| OR: 78

6/1

15/2, bit below form sixth of 12 in handicap at this course (7f) 28 days ago. Significantly up in trip and minor place money may be his best hope.

Form: 4342-06

(1)

Landue¹⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Colin Keane| T: R K Watson| OR: 78

22/1

4/1 and blinkered for 1st time, respectable fourth of 8 in handicap at Newcastle (12.4f), needing stronger gallop. Off 171 days. First run for yard after leaving Marcus Tregoning.

Form: 340634-

(7)

Approach The City^h1⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Shane Foley| T: J McAuley| OR: 71

40/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 40/1, very good 3¾ lengths fourth of 12 to Spelga in handicap at this C&D 9 days ago. Hood on 1st time. Can make presence felt.

Form: 2/7-704

(2)

Blackstone Cliff^h,t⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: Siobhan Rutledge⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 68| BF| CD

10/3

C&D winner. Latest win here in February. 9/4, respectable 3¼ lengths second of 12 to Spelga in handicap at this C&D 9 days ago, not ideally placed. Has good chance on form.

Form: 415-212

(6)

Alhajjaj^h³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 8-6| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁵⁾| T: A McCann| OR: 53| CD

22/1

C&D winner. 11/1, creditable fourth of 14 in handicap at this C&D 37 days ago. Plenty to find on form.

Form: 00078-4

Non-Runners

(3)

Longclaw¹¹⁹

Weight: 9-6| Age: 4

T: J C McConnell J: Mr C McConnell

Forecasts

Tartlette (15/8), Blackstone Cliff (10/3), Spelga (9/2), Faakhirah (6/1), Tower Of Pisa (13/2), Longclaw (13/2), Landue (22/1), Alhajjaj (22/1), Approach The City (40/1)

BLACKSTONE CLIFF was unsuited by the steady pace when chasing home Spelga over C&D last week and, now 8 lb better off with that rival, he is taken to emerge on top this time. The selection's stablemate Longclaw has scored 3 times over hurdles since his latest run in this sphere and is feared off what looks a potentially handy mark, while the unexposed Tower of Pisa also enters calculations.