15:05 Navan

Saturday 15 May 2021

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:2517:55

Bellinter Handicap

Off time: 15:06 | Winning time: 1m 3.40s

(6)

Shabaaby^p¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Donagh O'Connor⁽³⁾| T: J F Levins| OR: 91

11/1

33/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, good second of 14 in handicap at Naas (5.9f, good) 19 days ago. Well in the mix if able to back that effort up with headgear retained.

Form: 9600-92

(8)

Gobi Desert⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁵⁾| T: W McCreery| OR: 88| C

20/1

Course winner. 16/1, thirteenth of 14 in handicap at Roscommon (7.3f, good to soft) 4 days ago. Significantly back down in trip with work to do.

Form: 1218/70

(9)

Strong Johnson²⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Scott McCullagh⁽⁵⁾| T: J H Scott| OR: 87| BF| CD

25/1

C&D winner. 5/2, twelfth of 13 in handicap at Cork (5f, good). Off 9 months. First run for yard after leaving Kieran Patrick Cotter and needs to bounce back.

Form: 24/1120-

(2)

Mrs Bouquet⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Ronan Whelan| T: J Davison| OR: 84| D

11/1

Latest win at Dundalk in November. Creditable third of 9 in handicap at Dundalk (5f, 13/2) 64 days ago. One for the shortlist.

Form: 04814-3

(5)

Tide Of Time^p⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Chris Hayes| T: E Lynam| OR: 84| CD

9/2

4-time course winner. 10/1, respectable seventh of 18 in handicap at Naas (5.9f, soft) 7 days ago. Cheekpieces back on now and not taken lightly.

Form: 4138-87

(3)

Ecclesiastical¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Colin Keane| T: T G McCourt| OR: 82| CD

11/2

Latest win at Dundalk in February and respectable eighth of 14 in handicap (14/1) at Naas (5.9f, good) 19 days ago. C&D winner and needs considering.

Form: 9-21538

(11)

Only Spoofing⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Gary Carroll| T: Kevin Coleman| OR: 80| CD

11/1

C&D winner but only twelfth of 18 in handicap at Naas (5.9f, soft, 50/1) 7 days ago. Has fallen to a workable mark, so not totally dismissed.

Form: 910-060

(1)

Ramiro²²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: G P Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: Ian O'Connor| OR: 79

22/1

7/2, eighth of 10 in handicap at Killarney (8.2f, soft). Off 7 months and needs to hit the ground running.

Form: 0/23118-

(12)

Sounds Of Spring^p1¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Billy Lee| T: K J Condon| OR: 74| BF| C

3/1

Course winner. 11/4, respectable fourth of 14 in handicap at Naas (5.9f, good) 19 days ago. Trainer going well. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Holds solid claims.

Form: 7031-34

(4)

Dragons Call³²²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Wayne Lordan| T: J Feane| OR: 72| CD

20/1

C&D winner. Fifteenth of 18 in handicap (66/1) at the Curragh (7f, good). Off 10 months. Down in trip and needs to bounce back.

Form: 1480/70-

(10)

Roxette¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: N G McCullagh| T: M Halford| OR: 71| BF

9/2

7f winner at Cork in April. Good third of 28 in handicap at the Curragh (6f, good to soft, 11/2) 12 days ago. Much respected dropped 2 lb now.

Form: 64/0103

Non-Runners

(7)

Ola Bonita¹⁵⁵

Weight: 8-9| Age: 4

T: A Slattery J: Andrew Slattery

Forecasts

Sounds Of Spring (3/1), Tide Of Time (9/2), Roxette (9/2), Ecclesiastical (11/2), Only Spoofing (11/1), Mrs Bouquet (11/1), Shabaaby (11/1), Ola Bonita (16/1), Dragons Call (20/1), Gobi Desert (20/1), Ramiro (22/1), Strong Johnson (25/1)

Lots with chances. ROXETTE arrives in good nick and on a handy mark so she gets the nod at the chief expense of course-winner Sounds of Spring who could provide a major threat if the fitting of cheekpieces eke out some improvement. Multiple course winner Tide of Time is another who merits a second look in a very open handicap.