20:05 Gowran Park

Wednesday 11 August 2021

All16:3017:0017:3518:0518:3519:0519:3520:05

McEnery Cup Handicap

Off time: 20:05 | Winning time: 2m 45.18s

(2)

Shoshone Warrior^t³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Hugh Horgan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 98| BF| D

11/1

5/2, bit below form third of 10 in minor event at Leopardstown (15f, good) 34 days ago. Merits consideration.

Form: 720-563

(5)

The Names Jock¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: M P Sheehy⁽⁵⁾| T: J E Kiely| OR: 90

18/1

33/1, thirteenth of 19 in handicap at Galway (16.8f, good to soft) 16 days ago. Back down in trip. Others more persuasive.

Form: 87-0720

(4)

Elite Trooper Grey^b²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Sam Ewing⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 86| D

18/1

1 win from 1 run this year. 14/1, career best when winning 9-runner handicap at the Curragh (12f, good) 25 days ago, pushed out.

Form: 22190/1

(6)

Beyond Happy⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 83| BF| D

3/1

1 win from 3 runs this year. Winner at the Curragh in June. 11/4, creditable second of 9 in handicap at Naas (10f, good to soft) 9 days ago, well positioned. Back up in trip.

Form: 829-312

(9)

Silaiyli³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford| OR: 93

10/1

Lightly-raced winner. Winner at Down Royal in June. 20/1, tenth of 13 in handicap at Leopardstown (10f, good) 34 days ago. Up in trip. Something to find on form.

Form: 90210

(3)

Sionnach Eile¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Gary Carroll| T: J G Murphy| OR: 83

6/1

Lightly-raced winner. 1 win from 3 runs this year. Winner at Sligo in May. Respectable ninth of 16 in handicap at Galway (11.8f, good to firm, 20/1) 11 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 3-219

(1)

Phoenix Cowboy²³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 80| BF

7/2

1 win from 2 runs this year. Winner at Ballinrobe in June. 13/8, good second of 7 in handicap at Ballinrobe (12.6f, good) 23 days ago, nearest finish. Yard in good form. Another bold show likely.

Form: 0/434-12

(13)

Palace Rock⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Chris Hayes| T: Francis Casey| OR: 79| BF| D

10/3

Lightly-raced winner on Flat. 1 win from 2 runs this year. Fairly useful winner at 16f over hurdles. Creditable fifth of 11 in handicap at Naas (10f, good to soft, 7/2) 9 days ago. Back up in trip.

Form: 82-15

(12)

Lightning Jock⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Rory Cleary| T: P McCreery| OR: 86

50/1

Thrice-raced winner. 66/1, first run since leaving Patrick Joseph Hayes when eighth of 9 in handicap at Naas (10f, good to soft) 9 days ago. Up in trip. Difficult ask.

Form: 41-8

(11)

Benkei¹⁵⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 8-6| J: Siobhan Rutledge⁽⁷⁾| T: H Rogers| OR: 72| D

100/1

Eighteen runs since last win in 2016. Ninth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Naas (19f, heavy, 66/1) 150 days ago. Off 150 days. Up in trip. Poor on last Flat outing.

Form: 3907/60-

(10)

Theory Of Music³²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: J A Powell⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 79

16/1

Lightly-raced winner. Winner at Limerick in June. Cheekpieces on for 1st time, last of 5 in minor event at Navan (10f, good, 13/2) 32 days ago. Back up in trip. Makes handicap debut.

Form: 6415

Non-Runners

(8)

Starlight Dream¹¹

Weight: 9-4| Age: 4

T: M J Smith J: W J Lee

(14)

Espouse¹⁵

Weight: 8-6| Age: 3

T: Mrs J Harrington J: T P Madden

(15)

National Ballet¹⁶

Weight: 8-6| Age: 3

T: A P O'Brien J: Wayne Lordan

(7)

Lord Erskine⁵

Weight: 8-6| Age: 8

T: H Rogers J: C P Hoban

Forecasts

Beyond Happy (3/1), Palace Rock (10/3), Phoenix Cowboy (7/2), National Ballet (9/2), Sionnach Eile (6/1), Silaiyli (10/1), Shoshone Warrior (11/1), Theory Of Music (16/1), Espouse (16/1), Elite Trooper Grey (18/1), The Names Jock (18/1), Lord Erskine (25/1), Starlight Dream (25/1), Lightning Jock (50/1), Benkei (100/1)

Preference is for PHOENIX COWBOY, who narrowly failed to add to his reappearance maiden success at Ballinrobe when going close on handicap debut there last month. A 2 lb rise for that effort looks fair and this 4-y-o probably has more to offer. National Ballet remains open to improvement and is next on the list ahead of Beyond Happy and Elite Trooper Grey.