17:40 Leopardstown

Saturday 23 October 2021

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:40

Ardilea Handicap (50-80)

Off time: 17:44 | Winning time: 2m 9.47s

(14)

Estepona Sun^t²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: S D Bowen⁽¹⁰⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 80| CD

25/1

Fairly useful Flat winner. Proving consistent in maiden hurdles for present stable this summer and not ruled out for each-way purposes returning to the level.

Form: 562100-

(22)

Overheer⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Gary Carroll| T: J G Murphy| OR: 80| C

25/1

Course winner. Latest win at Gowran in June. 66/1, sixteenth of 20 in handicap at this course (12f, good to soft) 7 days ago. Needs to step up on recent efforts to figure.

Form: 116060

(2)

Rebel Tale⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Amy Jo Hayes⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 80

14/1

One win from 21 Flat runs. Creditable fifth of 14 in handicap at Dundalk (10.7f, 40/1) 8 days ago, tardy start leaving him less than ideally placed. Still, each-way possibilities.

Form: 605045

(13)

Takeachancejimmy¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: J Coen⁽⁷⁾| T: N Slevin| OR: 80

14/1

Latest win at Ballinrobe in July. Good fifth of 18 in handicap (20/1) at the Curragh (8f, soft) 13 days ago, nearest finish. Can go well again with a repeat back up in trip.

Form: 517005

(10)

Play The Game^h,t⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: Donagh O'Connor| T: J C McConnell| OR: 79| C

50/1

Course winner. 15/2, fifth of 6 in handicap chase at Cartmel (17.3f, good) 54 days ago. Fairly useful on the Flat, respectable on last Flat outing. Others more persuasive.

Form: 7044/0-5

(20)

Lord Park⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Sam Ewing⁽⁵⁾| T: M Halford| OR: 78| D

11/1

Winner at Sligo in June. Creditable close-up eighth of 14 in handicap at Dundalk (10.7f, 10/1) 8 days ago. Not discounted for each-way purposes.

Form: 317608

(17)

Malbas^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: D King⁽¹⁰⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 78

12/1

Career best when winning 15-runner handicap at Killarney (11.2f, soft, 9/1) 21 days ago by ½ length from Prime Chief. 8 lb higher mark to defy back in this more competitive environment, however.

Form: 710561

(16)

Sea Trout Reach^p¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Shane Kelly| T: W Durkan| OR: 78| BF

14/1

5/1, creditable third of 14 in handicap at Dundalk (12f) 15 days ago, sticking to task. Effecitve on turf and mark has eased a little more ahead of this.

Form: 082063

(12)

Pachmena^p²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Robert Whearty⁽⁷⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 77

9/1

Fourteen runs since last win in 2020. Creditable fourth of 11 in handicap (20/1) at Dundalk (12f) 22 days ago, no extra only late on. Drop back to 10f worth exploring and considered.

Form: 032274

(6)

Big Challenge⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: S Foley| T: R Donohoe| OR: 76

28/1

2 wins from 6 runs this year. Latest win at Ballinrobe in July. Last of 20 in handicap at this course (12f, good to soft, 100/1) 7 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 121290

(5)

Dublin Journal^t¹³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 80| BF| D

6/1

1 win from 2 runs this year. Winner at Naas in April. Very good second of 5 in handicap behind subsequent Group 3 winner at Gowran (9.5f) in June. One to be interested in on return.

Form: 5349-12

(7)

Prince Of Verona^p⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: James J Doyle| T: D Hogan| OR: 78| D

20/1

Winner at Naas in July. Respectable seventh of 12 in handicap (16/1) at this course (12f, good to soft) 7 days ago.

Form: 412057

(9)

Very Excellent^p¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: E J McNamara| T: A McNamara| OR: 74

22/1

11/2, bit below form ninth of 18 in handicap at the Curragh (8f, soft) 13 days ago. Back up in trip.

Form: 2/09249

(19)

Witham River⁵⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: S M Crosse| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 77

16/1

Eleventh of 12 in handicap at Lingfield (10f, AW, 10/1) 58 days ago, making no impression. Had previously shaped well when second in a Curragh maiden (10f) and he may yet bounce back.

Form: 464220

(15)

Star Image⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: N G McCullagh| T: T Mullins| OR: 76

50/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2020. 20/1, tenth of 12 in handicap at this course (12f, good to soft) 7 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 043200

(1)

Tudor City^t¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-8| J: W J Lee| T: A J Martin| OR: 72| D

4/1

Eighteen runs since last win in 2017. Creditable second of 14 in handicap at Dundalk (12f, 25/1) 15 days ago. Not taken lightly.

Form: 3-00342

(11)

Great Realisation⁶⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Declan McDonogh| T: E & P Harty| OR: 73

18/1

10/3, bit below form sixth of 15 in maiden at Bellewstown (7.8f, good) 60 days ago. Up in trip. Booking of McDonogh a plus. Makes handicap debut. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 5-36256

(23)

Old Tom Higgins⁷²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Chris Hayes| T: L Comer| OR: 72

40/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Thirteenth of 17 in handicap (22/1) at this course (9f, good to soft) 72 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 9400

(4)

Right Turn^b,t³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 72

11/1

10/1 and blinkered for 1st time, sixteenth of 17 in maiden at Gowran (9.4f, good to soft) 35 days ago. Likely type to bounce back.

Form: 522420

(18)

Stellar Spirit^t⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: L F Roche| T: J P Fahey| OR: 71

22/1

First run since leaving M. Halford when seventh of 9 in handicap (17/2) at Gowran (8f, soft) 5 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Back up in trip. Others more persuasive. Reserve 1.

Form: 403237

Non-Runners

(21)

Jo March³⁵

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: J P O'Brien J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

(3)

Prime Chief⁶

Weight: 9-7| Age: 6

T: J P Fahey J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

(8)

Nibiru⁸

Weight: 9-7| Age: 6

T: A J Martin J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Tudor City (4/1), Dublin Journal (6/1), Pachmena (9/1), Right Turn (11/1), Lord Park (11/1), Malbas (12/1), Jo March (12/1), Prime Chief (12/1), Rebel Tale (14/1), Sea Trout Reach (14/1), Takeachancejimmy (14/1), Witham River (16/1), Great Realisation (18/1), Prince Of Verona (20/1), Very Excellent (22/1), Stellar Spirit (22/1), Overheer (25/1), Estepona Sun (25/1), Nibiru (25/1), Big Challenge (28/1), Old Tom Higgins (40/1), Play The Game (50/1), Star Image (50/1)

DUBLIN JOURNAL hasn't been seen since finishing runner-up at Gowran in June, yet that form has been well and truly boosted since with the winner that day having landed the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood subsequently and he could be the answer operating from a 1 lb lower mark now. Pachmena, dropping in trip, Jo March and Right Turn are others fancied to be in the mix.