14:10 Down Royal

Wednesday 17 March 2021

All13:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:30

Powered By Bluegrass Horse Feeds Novice Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 5m 8.3s

Battle Of Actium^t1⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr H C Swan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 125| C

6/1

Lightly-raced winner under NH rules. 9/2, fourth of 6 in minor hurdle at this course (19.6f, heavy) 41 days ago. Yard having good spell so much respected on handicap bow with tongue tied now.

Form: 153-314

Shanroe^t¹³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr J C Barry⁽⁵⁾| T: K Thornton| OR: 123| BF

6/4

Progressive hurdler who arrives in excellent form from the Flat, fourth of 16 in handicap at Naas (14f) in November. Expected to be bang there back in this sphere.

Form: B767-12

Mighty Tom¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: T Cooper| OR: 121

11/1

Took a step back in right direction when fifth of 7 to Echoes In Rain in Johnstown Novices' Hurdle (28/1) at Naas (15.5f, soft) 17 days ago. Claims back up in trip.

Form: 313P45

Baltimore Bucko^h,t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr J J O'Neill⁽⁷⁾| T: Keri Brion| OR: 116

13/2

Latest win in hurdle at Pine Mountain in November. Below-par sixth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Gowran (20f, heavy, 7/2) 15 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 218336

All About Joe³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: M M McDonagh⁽⁷⁾| T: Colm Murphy| OR: 115

15/2

Tongue strap on for 1st time, only eighth of 13 in novice hurdle at Naas (19f, soft, 9/2) 32 days ago but had hopeless task from position. Makes handicap debut now and others are better treated.

Form: 20-62P8

Papal Lodge¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: D F O'Regan| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 115

9/2

Career best when winning 16-runner novice hurdle (4/5) at Punchestown (16.2f, heavy) 16 days ago. Bold bid expected now going into handicaps.

Form: 312521

Arthur's Baby^t¹⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: K J Brouder| T: M M McNiff| OR: 110| D

20/1

Latest win in hurdle at Listowel in September but (7/2) fell third in minor hurdle at Ballinrobe (21.8f, soft) 151 days ago. In the mix if improving her hurdling technique.

Form: 8-12U1F

O Connell Street^t³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 108

25/1

Lightly-raced hurdler. Tenth of 15 in handicap hurdle (40/1) at Naas (15.6f, soft) 32 days ago. Up in trip but faces difficult ask.

Form: 24/2-670

Copia Verborum^t⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Lambe| OR: 105

33/1

Lightly-raced maiden over hurdles. Up in trip for first go in handicaps but still very hard to make a case for off stiff opening mark.

Form: 7567

Forecasts

Shanroe (6/4), Papal Lodge (9/2), Battle Of Actium (6/1), Baltimore Bucko (13/2), All About Joe (15/2), Mighty Tom (11/1), Arthur's Baby (20/1), O Connell Street (25/1), Copia Verborum (33/1)

SHANROE looks the way to go here given he was still on the up when last seen over hurdles and has been in fine winning form on the level since. Papal Lodge is feared most on the back of his Punchestown victory, with Arthur's Baby a threat too if she can hurdle more fluently.