17:45 Gowran Park

Saturday 24 July 2021

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:45

Leighlinbridge Handicap (45-65) (Div 2)

Off time: 17:46 | Winning time: 2m 1.10s

(8)

Dance Emperor¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Sam Ewing⁽⁵⁾| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 65

8/1

7/2, won 16-runner handicap at Navan (10f, good) 14 days ago, driven clear. Up 9 lb, but another bold show likely all the same.

Form: 238801

(5)

Prime Chief¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle⁽³⁾| T: J P Fahey| OR: 65

6/1

Latest win at Down Royal in June. 11/4, good 2½ lengths sixth of 16 to Clueless Hill in handicap at Navan (10f, good) 14 days ago. Place possibilities.

Form: 2/717-16

(9)

Dusty Winds³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Gavin Ryan| T: M C Connell| OR: 59

80/1

Creditable eighth of 15 in maiden at Leopardstown (15f, good to firm, 33/1) 37 days ago. Significantly down in trip. First run for yard after leaving Mark Fahey. Must improve.

Form: 066058

(11)

Duquesa Beach¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Siobhan Rutledge⁽⁷⁾| T: L Smyth| OR: 57| BF| CD

16/5

C&D winner. Latest win here in June. Good second of 21 in handicap at Leopardstown (9f, good, 6/1) 16 days ago. Can make presence felt.

Form: 445142

(13)

Heliaebel⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: M A Enright| T: L Breen| OR: 54

40/1

28/1, respectable eighth of 14 in handicap at this course (8f, good) 47 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 8860-08

(12)

Mokhles^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Luke McAteer⁽⁵⁾| T: A McCann| OR: 54

16/1

Tongue strap on for 1st time, bit below form sixth of 11 in handicap (33/1) at Naas (10f, good) 21 days ago.

Form: 800-756

(7)

Sweet November⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Ben Coen| T: J C McConnell| OR: 53

10/1

Tongue strap on for 1st time, 4½ lengths fifth of 15 to Duquesa Beach in handicap (33/1) at this C&D (good) 40 days ago.

Form: 900-905

(10)

Cross Step^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Wesley Joyce⁽⁷⁾| T: C Moore| OR: 52

50/1

Twenty-five runs since last win in 2017. Tailed-off fifteenth of 16 to Dance Emperor in handicap at Navan (10f, good, 20/1) 14 days ago, going off too hard. Has work to do.

Form: 0-09940

(6)

Gregory's Gift^p1¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Colin Keane| T: S Fahey| OR: 51

3/1

Creditable ninth of 21 in handicap (15/2) at Leopardstown (9f, good) 16 days ago, never nearer. Booking of Keane a plus. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Needs considering.

Form: 355439

(4)

Clueless Hill^p,t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Chris Hayes| T: L Comer| OR: 50

8/1

One win from 21 Flat runs. 1 win from 2 runs this year. 10/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, won 16-runner handicap at Navan (10f, good) 14 days ago.

Form: 4750-61

(3)

Guiding^p¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Mikey Sheehy⁽⁵⁾| T: S Nolan| OR: 45

22/1

Unreliable type. Very good tenth of 21 in handicap at Leopardstown (9f, good, 50/1) 16 days ago, left poorly placed. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 000080

(1)

Jess's Corner¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: C D Maxwell| T: T G McCourt| OR: 45

22/1

Respectable 4½ lengths tenth of 16 to Clueless Hill in handicap at Navan (10f, good, 12/1) 14 days ago. Merits consideration.

Form: 7000/50

(2)

Secret Wizard^p,t¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 8-10| J: Ciara Flynn⁽¹⁰⁾| T: P W Flynn| OR: 45| C

33/1

Course winner. Twenty-one runs since last win in 2019. Sixth of 9 in claimer (80/1) at Killarney (8.2f, good) 10 days ago. Others preferred.

Form: 0-05806

Forecasts

Gregory's Gift (3/1), Duquesa Beach (16/5), Prime Chief (6/1), Dance Emperor (8/1), Clueless Hill (8/1), Sweet November (10/1), Mokhles (16/1), Guiding (22/1), Jess's Corner (22/1), Secret Wizard (33/1), Heliaebel (40/1), Cross Step (50/1), Dusty Winds (80/1)

GREGORY'S GIFT remains a maiden following 18 attempts, but he has been threatening to come good in recent weeks and this could be the day when he delivers the goods. The 4-y-o was behind Duquesa Beach at Leopardstown last time, but he'll benefit from stronger handling here and the first-time cheekpieces may also help. Clueless Hill is second choice ahead of Duquesa Beach and Dance Emperor.