19:15 Clonmel

Thursday 2 September 2021

All16:1516:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:15

John Thomas McNamara Series (Q.R.) Handicap (45-70)

Off time: 19:16 | Winning time: 3m 48.30s

Excelcius¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr C Mullins⁽²⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 68

13/2

Sixteen runs since last win in 2018. Respectable fifth of 12 in handicap hurdle (22/1) at Killarney (17f, good to soft) 13 days ago. Significantly up in trip. Chance if rediscovering old form.

Form: 06-6454

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Machine Learner¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: Miss N C Hennessy⁽²⁾| T: J F Levins| OR: 68

5/1

First run since leaving Padraig Roche when fourth of 16 in handicap at Roscommon (12f, good to soft, 50/1) 17 days ago, finishing with running left. Has good chance on pick of form.

Form: 66/000-4

Ashqar^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr J P Kirwan⁽²⁾| T: D Queally| OR: 65| D

7/2

Remains a maiden after 17 Flat runs. Tenth of 16 in handicap hurdle (5/1) at Kilbeggan (18.2f, good to soft) 13 days ago. Fair on the Flat, 6/13 on last Flat run. Not easy to make a case for.

Form: 6000/06-

Ardamir^p⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: P F O'Donnell| OR: 58

9/1

Irresolute performer. Fourth of 14 in claiming hurdle (11/2) at Bellewstown (20.3f, good) 8 days ago. Fair on the Flat, bit below form on last Flat outing. Solid each-way chance.

Form: 58-0304

Twentybore^b⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr H C Swan| T: E Griffin| OR: 58

16/1

28/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time in this code, twelfth of 13 in handicap at Dundalk (12f) 52 days ago. Significantly up in trip. Blinkers back on. Others more persuasive.

Form: 804660

Drayton Cross^t1²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Miss F Leaney⁽⁴⁾| T: L Fowler| OR: 52

7/1

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, fourteenth of 15 in handicap (22/1) at Tipperary (12.5f, soft) 27 days ago. Tongue strap on 1st time. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 0/77730

Jazz Ranger¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Miss S Larkin⁽²⁾| T: J Fahey| OR: 52| D

25/1

Remains a maiden after 16 Flat runs. 9/1, below form eighth of 15 in handicap hurdle at Sligo (17.5f, good to soft) 16 days ago. Significantly up in trip. Modest on the Flat, poor on last Flat outing.

Form: 057924/

Aunty Audrey^b⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Mr D Kiely| T: P J Flynn| OR: 49| CD

13/2

17/2, tenth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Down Royal (16.9f, good to soft) 6 days ago. Up in trip. Modest on the Flat, creditable on last Flat run. Chance if rediscovering old form.

Form: 68-1006

Patrick Joseph¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Miss R Hogan⁽⁴⁾| T: D Broad| OR: 46

25/1

Remains a maiden after 26 Flat runs. Last of 7 in minor event (250/1) at Killarney (16.8f, good) 14 days ago. Every chance if back to best.

Form: 90/5-067

Happy Lad^b,t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Eoghan Finegan⁽⁴⁾| T: H P Finegan| OR: 45

9/1

16/1, seventh of 12 in handicap at Tramore (16f, soft) 19 days ago. Blinkers back on.

Form: 0-39697

Leahman²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Ms A Budds⁽²⁾| T: T O'Brien| OR: 45| D

10/1

18/1, last of 6 in minor event chase at Tramore (15.2f, good) 21 days ago. Modest on the Flat, respectable on last Flat run. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 8/725-57

Forecasts

Ashqar (7/2), Machine Learner (5/1), Excelcius (13/2), Aunty Audrey (13/2), Drayton Cross (7/1), Ardamir (9/1), Happy Lad (9/1), Leahman (10/1), Twentybore (16/1), Jazz Ranger (25/1), Patrick Joseph (25/1)

Solid recent form is thin on the ground in this handicap and MACHINE LEARNER looks the way to go. He showed next to nothing in 3 starts for Padraig Roche last year, but there were very encouraging signs on his belated reappearance on debut for new connections at Roscommon and moving back up in trip here will be in his favour. Patrick Joseph and Ardamir can fill the places.