DundalkStadium.com Handicap

Off time: 18:30 | Winning time: 2m 39.10s

(4)

Grandmaster Flash^p,t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle⁽⁵⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 94| CD

11/4

Tongue strap on for 1st time, won 8-runner minor event (7/4) at this course (16f) 21 days ago, keeping on well. Down in trip and needs considering back in a handicap.

Form: 500-731

(6)

Kasperenko^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-13| J: Annalise Cullen⁽¹⁰⁾| T: D Cullen| OR: 93| D

22/1

First run since leaving K. J. Condon when respectable 10 lengths third of 8 to Grandmaster Flash in minor event (11/1) at this course (16f) 21 days ago, not ideally placed. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 23590-3

(2)

Jon Ess¹⁸¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Billy Lee| T: C O'Dwyer| OR: 90| CD

11/2

Five-time course winner. Two wins from 5 runs last year. 100/1, good tenth of 18 in handicap at Leopardstown (12.8f, good). Off 6 months. Good AW strike rate and he's not discounted.

Form: 9/11200-

(1)

Pure Nature⁹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Colin Keane| T: A McGuinness| OR: 91| CD

10/3

Three-time C&D winner. Three wins from 11 runs last year. Career best when winning 7-runner handicap at this C&D (9/2) in December, readily. Feared, for all that she's shot up 11 lb for that.

Form: 210191-

(5)

The Mouse Doctor^t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 8-12| J: Siobhan Rutledge⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 78| CD

9/4

11/2, won 10-runner handicap at this C&D 35 days ago, just holding on. 5 lb rise fair enough and likely to give another good account.

Form: 04728-1

(3)

Swift Verdict^b,t³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Shane Foley| T: W P Mullins| OR: 76| BF| CD

8/1

C&D winner in January. 10 lengths eighth of 10 to The Mouse Doctor in handicap (13/8) at this C&D 35 days ago, finding little. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 4375-18

Forecasts

The Mouse Doctor (9/4), Grandmaster Flash (11/4), Pure Nature (10/3), Jon Ess (11/2), Swift Verdict (8/1), Kasperenko (22/1)

PURE NATURE made it 3-4 over this C&D in good style when last seen in December and while an 11 lb rise will certainly make life tougher, she could be equal to the task. Jon Ess also boasts a good record here, but Grandmaster Flash and The Mouse Doctor, both successful at this course last month, rate the main dangers. Swift Verdict was disappointing behind the latter last time and looks vulnerable.