19:35 Gowran Park

Thursday 8 April 2021

All16:0016:3517:0517:3518:0518:3519:0519:35

GowranPark1 Handicap (45-65) (Div 2)

Off time: 19:35 | Winning time: 3m 13.50s

Victory March^p²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: J M Sheridan⁽⁵⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 65

16/1

Fair form at best in handful of starts to date and not for the first time not seen to best effect when tenth of 11 at Dundalk (10.6f) last month. Remains one to keep an eye on.

Form: 7/0-5700

Bear Claws^t¹³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: E J McNamara| T: E McNamara| OR: 64

14/1

Flat/hurdles winner who wasn't disgraced when third at Navan (14f) in October, plugging on from 2f out. Below form over hurdles at Gowran the following month but not ruled out on return to action.

Form: 74451/3-

Varna Gold³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: Robbie Colgan| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 64

25/1

Maiden in this sphere who got off the mark over hurdles in a juvenile maiden at Killarney in October. Not disgraced on latest start in February but others make more appeal here.

Form: 703879

Merroir¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle⁽⁵⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 62

4/1

13/2, respectable 10¼ lengths eighth of 16 to All Class in handicap at Navan (13f, heavy) 12 days ago, that despite looking stretched by the trip. 1 lb lower now.

Form: 46-6378

Colonel Lesley^p²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: J Dullea| OR: 60

50/1

Modest winner at 2m over hurdles. Arrives on the back of a string of disappointing efforts over hurdles/fences and likely best watched on handicap debut in this sphere.

Form: 7/0-6

Dusty Winds⁸⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: C J MacRedmond⁽⁷⁾| T: M Fahey| OR: 60

25/1

Lightly-raced maiden on Flat. 33/1, eleventh of 14 in handicap at Dundalk (12f) 87 days ago, always behind. Needs to show more before becoming of interest.

Form: 009-0

Vitudurum¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Gary Carroll| T: J G Murphy| OR: 58

18/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2018. 18/1, fourteenth of 16 in handicap at Navan (13f, heavy) 12 days ago.

Form: 55340-0

Batalha^p¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Luke McAteer⁽⁵⁾| T: T G McCourt| OR: 57

50/1

Eighth of 14 in juvenile hurdle at Navan (16f, soft, 40/1) 17 days ago, running on. Back up in trip. Poor on last Flat outing.

Form: 7773-00

Metal Man^b¹⁹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Sam Ewing⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 56

13/2

Fair maiden on the Flat but better over hurdles, doubling tally in a Kilbeggan novice (25f) in September. Pulled up later that month but suspicion he remains with unfinished business in this sphere.

Form: 5798/67-

Nudge The Judge¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Colin Keane| T: R P Cody| OR: 50

7/1

Creditable 8¼ lengths sixth of 16 to All Class in handicap at Navan (13f, heavy, 25/1) 12 days ago. May well strip fitter for that run and she holds each-way claims with Colin Keane booked.

Form: 68/082-6

One Cool Choice^t²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: M A Gallagher| T: J P Fahey| OR: 46

40/1

Last of 13 in handicap (25/1) at Dundalk (10.7f) 27 days ago. Another needing to show more before becoming of interest.

Form: 9000-00

Alohamora^b1²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: Leigh Roche| T: J Nash| OR: 45

8/1

Pulled up in handicap chase (8/1) at Limerick (24.6f, heavy) 25 days ago. Blinkers need to have a positive effect making a belated return to the level.

Form: 065796/

Haunting Vocals^p,t⁹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: A J Farragher⁽⁷⁾| T: M Flannery| OR: 45| C

50/1

Course winner. 100/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, tenth of 14 in handicap at Dundalk (10.7f) 90 days ago. Up in trip.

Form: 5/0006-0

Miss Dancealot^p¹⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Gavin Ryan| T: G B Caldwell| OR: 45

25/1

Ninth of 14 in handicap at Dundalk (12f, 16/1). Off 146 days. First run for yard after leaving Jarlath P. Fahey and worth noting if market vibes are positive.

Form: 546379-

William of Wykeham^t¹⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Wayne Lordan| T: M M McNiff| OR: 45| BF

7/2

Lightly-raced maiden on Flat. Fairly useful winner at 3m over hurdles. Below form fifth of 11 in handicap at Navan (14f, soft) in October, merely plugging on.

Form: 960/5-

Mountain Fox^t⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: N G McCullagh| T: F Oakes| OR: 63

11/1

One win from 32 Flat runs. Tenth of 14 in handicap (28/1) at Dundalk (16f) 8 days ago. Entitled to be sharper for that run now. RESERVE.

Form: 12006-0

Non-Runners

Listening Mode³⁴

Weight: 10-0| Age: 5

T: B W Duke J: K J Manning

Winston Wolfe¹⁷

Weight: 9-10| Age: 7

T: A McGuinness J: Adam Caffrey

All Class¹²

Weight: 9-9| Age: 6

T: D P Dunne J: Nathan Crosse

Forecasts

William of Wykeham (7/2), Merroir (4/1), All Class (4/1), Metal Man (13/2), Nudge The Judge (7/1), Alohamora (8/1), Mountain Fox (11/1), Winston Wolfe (12/1), Bear Claws (14/1), Victory March (16/1), Vitudurum (18/1), Dusty Winds (25/1), Varna Gold (25/1), Miss Dancealot (25/1), Listening Mode (25/1), One Cool Choice (40/1), Colonel Lesley (50/1), Haunting Vocals (50/1), Batalha (50/1)

ALL CLASS didn't show a great deal in a handful of maidens but she was clearly well served by the longer trip when justifying market support at Navan 12 days ago and a repeat should see her thereabouts once more. Metal Man, William of Wykeham and Victory March are a trio of others fancied to feature.