18:20 Kilbeggan

Thursday 20 April 2023

All16:1516:5017:2017:5018:2018:5019:20

KilbegganRaces.com Handicap Hurdle (80-109)

Off time: 18:20 | Winning time: 6m 5.5s

Pale Blue Dot⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: D King⁽⁵⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 109

15/2

Winner in hurdle at Bellewstown in August. Last of 5 in minor event hurdle (100/1) at Leopardstown (18.3f, good) 46 days ago. Back up in trip with more needed.

Form: 8316F5

Cheerful Chap⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: C Brassil⁽⁵⁾| T: N Dooly| OR: 106

7/1

Winner in hurdle at Tramore in December. 28/1, good ½-length second of 15 to Dr Val in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (24.4f, good to soft) 57 days ago. In the mix.

Form: 621882

Desert Heather^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr R W Barron⁽⁷⁾| T: D Queally| OR: 106| BF

7/1

Below form fourth of 11 in novice hurdle at Clonmel (19.5f, heavy, evens) 14 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut. Has work to do.

Form: 12F324

Dr Val^b1²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: B W Harvey⁽⁵⁾| T: E Sheehy| OR: 103

8/1

Winner in hurdle at Punchestown in February. 13/2, good fourth of 6 in minor hurdle at Wexford (24f, heavy) 20 days ago. Blinkers on 1st time. Merits consideration.

Form: 82P154

Simply Shabra^b⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Shane Fitzgerald⁽³⁾| T: A McCann| OR: 103

14/1

Blinkered for 1st time, close up when fell 4 out in handicap hurdle at Navan (20f, good to soft, 50/1) 47 days ago. No forlorn hope.

Form: 03PP0F

Yenillik¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Keith Donoghue| T: H Rogers| OR: 101

11/1

Fair sixth of 16 in handicap (11/1) at Bellewstown (14.3f, heavy) 14 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Can give a good account.

Form: 103730

Ballyglass Beauty^h³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Ellis⁽⁷⁾| T: L P Cusack| OR: 99| C

11/4

Course winner. Hooded for 1st time, encouraging third of 14 in handicap hurdle at Thurles (23.2f, soft, 9/1) 33 days ago, no extra late on (first run for 12 weeks). Has to be taken seriously.

Form: 134223

Champagne Monarch¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Mike O'Connor⁽⁵⁾| T: S Aherne| OR: 97

14/1

50/1, fair sixth of 16 in handicap hurdle at Cork (24.4f, good to soft) 11 days ago. Not easy to predict.

Form: U-600P6

He Fitz In^p²³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny Mullins| T: D E Fitzgerald| OR: 95| C

16/1

Course winner. Winner in hurdle here in June. 16/1, twelfth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Down Royal (24f, good). Off 7 months. Enters calculations if back on song.

Form: 65-4100

Townhill Penny^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Danny Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 94

8/1

28/1, good fifth of 23 in handicap hurdle at Naas (23.6f, soft) 21 days ago. Needs considering.

Form: 521895

Getaclan^h,t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: D McNamara| OR: 80

18/1

Remains a maiden after 19 NH runs. Below form fifteenth of 23 in handicap hurdle at Naas (23.6f, soft, 25/1) 21 days ago. Hood back on.

Form: P04680

Whip Whitaker²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: T Joseph Kelly⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 80

16/1

Ninth of 14 in novice hurdle (66/1) at Limerick (21f, heavy) 21 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 905599

Forecasts

Ballyglass Beauty (11/4), Desert Heather (7/1), Cheerful Chap (7/1), Pale Blue Dot (15/2), Townhill Penny (8/1), Dr Val (8/1), Yenillik (11/1), Champagne Monarch (14/1), Simply Shabra (14/1), Whip Whitaker (16/1), He Fitz In (16/1), Getaclan (18/1)

BALLYGLASS BEAUTY should be spot on after his encouraging Thurles third after a break so this course winner gets the vote in an open-looking handicap. Dr Val is also handily weighted and next on the list, especially if the fitting of blinkers ekes out more improvement, with in-form duo Townhill Penny and Cheerful Chap completing the shortlist.