17:50 Downpatrick

Friday 6 May 2022

All17:2017:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:20

Randox Handicap Hurdle (80-102)

Off time: 17:50 | Winning time: 5m 42.00s

Embole^h³⁵⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Simon Torrens| T: N C Kelly| OR: 102| BF

50/1

Fifth of 6 in handicap chase (5/2) at Stratford (22.6f, soft). Off 11 months. Switches from chase to hurdles. First run for yard after leaving Dan Skelton with work to do.

Form: 11F43/5-

Lake Chad²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Brian Hayes| T: P Fenton| OR: 102

7/1

25/1, second of 13 in novice chase at Tramore (21.8f, good to soft) on debut over fences 25 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Can make presence felt.

Form: 7600B2-

Marshalled^p¹⁹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Mark Walsh| T: P Roche| OR: 101| BF

6/1

Two wins from 4 runs last season. Latest win in chase at Gowran in October. Below form sixth of 11 in handicap chase at Wexford (20f, heavy, 4/1). Off 6 months. Switches from chase to hurdles and needs to hit the ground running.

Form: 22/1516-

Building Bridges¹⁸⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr O McGill⁽⁷⁾| T: Gary McGill| OR: 99

28/1

Pulled up in handicap hurdle at Down Royal (24.1f, soft, 66/1), pulled up before 2 out. Off 6 months and needs to get back on track.

Form: 80/940P-

Doune Castle^t³¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: J S McGarvey| T: N C Kelly| OR: 99

22/1

One win from 3 runs last season. Winner in hurdle at Kelso in May. 9/4, respectable second of 11 in handicap hurdle at Cartmel (25.4f, good to soft). Off 10 months. Enters calculations.

Form: 099/412-

Hillary John¹³¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Shane Fitzgerald⁽⁵⁾| T: B R Hamilton| OR: 96| C

16/1

Course winner. First run since leaving Sean Curran when pulled up in handicap hurdle at Down Royal (17f, heavy, 20/1) 131 days ago. More required.

Form: 63004/P-

Son Of Mahler⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Phillip Enright| T: M M McNiff| OR: 95

11/4

6/1, first run since leaving Kieran Purcell when creditable sixth of 15 in handicap hurdle at this course (18.8f, good) 47 days ago. Not ruled out.

Form: 6558P6-

Katlaur⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Flanagan| T: C A McBratney| OR: 93

25/1

28/1, twelfth of 15 in handicap hurdle at this course (18.8f, good) 47 days ago. Others appeal more.

Form: 1P8960-

Battle Of Benburb¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: B Browne| T: J C McConnell| OR: 91

7/2

Eleven runs since last win in 2021. Seventh of 16 in handicap hurdle (12/1) at Kilbeggan (19f, good) 15 days ago, not knocked about. Well worth considering off a reduced mark.

Form: 5096P7-

Lily Light Foot²⁷³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: N Terrassin⁽⁷⁾| T: E & P Harty| OR: 91

5/1

11/2, creditable fourth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Wexford (24f, good). Off 9 months but still not taken lightly.

Form: 8/44U24-

Dont Doubt Me⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 90

14/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Sixth of 15 in novice hurdle at Clonmel (18.5f, soft, 9/1) 45 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut. Can give a good account.

Form: U75056-

Collaborating²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Shane Fenelon⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 89

28/1

Thrice-raced maiden over hurdles. 40/1, first run since leaving Ann Duffield when third of 6 in novice hurdle at Carlisle (19.3f, good) 20 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut. Should progress.

Form: 083-

Perfect Arch²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: C J Orr| T: J J Lambe| OR: 89

25/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 33/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time in this code, last of 3 in novice hurdle at Ayr (24.3f, good to soft) 24 days ago. Others appeal more.

Form: 00043-

Non-Runners

Mooney Boy⁶⁰

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: P J Rothwell J: Reserve 1

Top Basanta⁴⁷

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: D A McLoughlin J: Reserve 2

Think Positive⁷²

Weight: 10-13| Age: 8

T: P J Rothwell J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Son Of Mahler (11/4), Battle Of Benburb (7/2), Lily Light Foot (5/1), Marshalled (6/1), Lake Chad (7/1), Top Basanta (15/2), Dont Doubt Me (14/1), Hillary John (16/1), Doune Castle (22/1), Katlaur (25/1), Perfect Arch (25/1), Mooney Boy (25/1), Building Bridges (28/1), Collaborating (28/1), Think Positive (33/1), Embole (50/1)

Lots with chances but BATTLE OF BENBURB is worth siding with off a falling mark having caught the eye under considerate handling when sevenht at Kilbeggan. In-form Lake Chad is feared most back hurdling, with Dont Doubt Me not ruled out either now going into handicaps.