14:20 Downpatrick

Saturday 17 June 2023

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:10

AJC Group Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (80-109)

Off time: 14:21 | Winning time: 4m 12.7s

Willyouwalkwithme²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: J P Shinnick⁽⁴⁾| T: H Smyth| OR: 108| CD

8/1

3-time C&D winner. Two wins from 6 runs last season. 20/1, good fourth of 13 in handicap hurdle at this course (18.8f, good to soft) 29 days ago. Big player on the back of that encouraging reappearance.

Form: 61091-4

Justicialism²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁴⁾| T: B R Hamilton| OR: 106

8/1

12/1, tenth of 13 in handicap hurdle at this course (18.8f, good to soft) 29 days ago.

Form: 02407-0

Vale Of Glory²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Eoin G Kelly⁽⁴⁾| T: A Murray| OR: 106

13/2

14/1, career best when winning 15-runner handicap hurdle at Punchestown (15.8f, good to soft) 25 days ago, pushed out. Up 6 lb but he's clearly in good nick.

Form: 51778-1

Moonovercloon¹⁸⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: J Smith⁽⁴⁾| T: M J Smith| OR: 105

3/1

Winner in bumper at Kilbeggan in September. Creditable fifth of 15 in handicap hurdle at Cork (20f, soft, 14/1). Off 6 months.

Form: 2156P5-

Craic Eile^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: M M McDonagh⁽²⁾| T: D Budds| OR: 102| D

13/2

Twelve runs since last win in 2021. Good second of 11 in handicap hurdle (10/1) at Tramore (16.6f, good) 15 days ago, going with enthusiasm. Not taken lightly.

Form: 5006-02

Monty's Way^t²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: M J Molloy⁽⁴⁾| T: G Stanley| OR: 102| D

25/1

25/1, eleventh of 13 in handicap hurdle at this course (18.8f, good to soft) 29 days ago. Must improve.

Form: 7068-90

Laishann^p1,t⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny Gilligan⁽⁴⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 101

16/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Respectable sixth of 17 in novice hurdle at Punchestown (16.2f, good, 18/1) 7 days ago, not knocked about. Cheekpieces on first time. Makes handicap debut.

Form: 4050/6

Downthecellar^b,t¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Kieren Buckley| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 99

18/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2021. Pulled up in handicap chase at Tramore (15.2f, good, 25/1) 15 days ago, pulled up before 2 out. Switches from chase to hurdles. Tongue strap back on.

Form: 4426F-P

Ask The Leader^t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: D M Christie| OR: 97| C

12/1

Course winner. 17/2, second of 13 in novice chase at this course (19.2f, good to soft) on debut over fences 29 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Tongue strap back on. Others more persuasive.

Form: 75010-2

Joshua Chamberlain⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Reilly⁽⁴⁾| T: G Keane| OR: 97

13/2

Respectable eighth of 13 in handicap hurdle (17/2) at Sligo (20f, good to soft) 4 days ago. Has work to do.

Form: 73880-8

Robindevidastar^b²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: D King| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 81

5/1

Thirteen runs since last win in 2021. Blinkered for 1st time, respectable seventh of 16 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (19.4f, good to soft, 11/1) 25 days ago, going off too hard.

Form: 62000-7

Non-Runners

Hide And Seek³⁶

Weight: 11-11| Age: 6

T: H De Bromhead J: Non Runner

Mac's Xpress²⁵

Weight: 11-5| Age: 5

T: Mrs J Harrington J: Conor Smithers

Forecasts

Moonovercloon (3/1), Hide And Seek (7/2), Robindevidastar (5/1), Joshua Chamberlain (13/2), Craic Eile (13/2), Vale Of Glory (13/2), Willyouwalkwithme (8/1), Justicialism (8/1), Ask The Leader (12/1), Mac's Xpress (14/1), Laishann (16/1), Downthecellar (18/1), Monty's Way (25/1)

This looks a strong race for the grade with WILLYOUWALKWITHME just about the most persuasive option as a triple C&D winner who ran a cracker on reappearance. Hide And Seek, Vale of Glory and Laishann head the opposition.