18:30 Kilbeggan

Monday 13 June 2022

All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Paul & Carmel Fay Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:31 | Winning time: 3m 55.4s

Annexation^t²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: C Brassil⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 137| CD

11/2

Won this corresponding event last year. Probably remained in form when eighth of 19 in handicap at the Curragh (10f, good to soft, 8/1) 23 days ago, unsuited by way race developed. Switches from Flat to hurdles.

Form: 25/F100-

All Those Years¹⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Simon Torrens| T: C Byrnes| OR: 125| D

15/2

Career best when winning 7-runner rated novice hurdle (9/4) at Cork (16f, heavy) 5 months ago, finding extra to edge ahead close home. Clearly not the easiest to train but there's plenty of ability under the bonnet so he's fancied to feature on handicap debut.

Form: 1234/1-

Vado Forte²²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: C P McNamara| T: G Elliott| OR: 125| D

22/1

Made a winning start for this yard at Limerick in October but tailed-off fifth of 6 to Envoi Allen in Grade 2 chase at Down Royal (19.6f, soft) next time. Off 7 months. Switches from chase to hurdles.

Form: 44P4/15-

Dark Spark^p⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Richard Condon⁽⁷⁾| T: M Winters| OR: 122| CD

5/4

2-2 at this venue, winning a bumper on debut and scoring over C&D last August. Also won 6-runner minor event (22/1) at Listowel (13f, good to soft) on Flat debut 8 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Cheekpieces back on. Fancied to make his mark on handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 42134U-

Bal De Rio²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: S A Mulcahy⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 120| D

40/1

40/1, probably needed the run after 12 months off when eleventh of 14 in handicap hurdle at Tipperary (20.4f, good to soft) 25 days ago. Down in trip. May take a step forward here.

Form: 3159/1-0

Mandarin Monarch^p⁶⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Shane O'Callaghan⁽⁷⁾| T: A McNamara| OR: 119| D

15/2

Fairly useful hurdler who returned from a lengthy absence to score readily at Navan in March. Showed nothing on sole start for A. J. McNamara at Aintree a couple of months and has rejoined his former trainer.

Form: 2280/1P-

Two Shoe Tom^t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁵⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 116

6/1

9/1, career best when winning 7-runner handicap hurdle at Ballinrobe (18.5f, good to soft) 14 days ago, staying on to lead final 50 yds. Up 6 lb but respected nonetheless.

Form: 1463-F1

Too Bright^t¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: N J Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 117

13/2

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. 10/1, stepped up plenty on comeback run when fourth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (16.2f, good) 16 days ago. Will need more to land this, though.

Form: 140-4

Non-Runners

Hurricane Cliff⁴⁸

Weight: 11-1| Age: 6

T: H De Bromhead J: C G O'Dwyer

Forecasts

Dark Spark (5/4), Annexation (11/2), Two Shoe Tom (6/1), Too Bright (13/2), Mandarin Monarch (15/2), All Those Years (15/2), Hurricane Cliff (8/1), Vado Forte (22/1), Bal De Rio (40/1)

DARK SPARK made a winning start on the Flat 8 days ago, and with Michael Winters' charge 2-2 at this venue, he can make a successful transition to handicaps with top 7 lb claimer Richie Condon booked to ride. The main danger could be All Those Years, who justified strong support returning from another long absence when scoring at Cork back in January but has been off the track since. Vado Forte and last year's winner Annexation can fight out third spot.