18:00 Killarney

Thursday 20 July 2023

All17:0017:3018:0018:3519:1019:4020:15

Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (80-116)

Off time: 18:01 | Winning time: 4m 55.06s

Harvey's Quay⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Aidan Kelly⁽²⁾| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 114

9/1

20/1, good fourth of 14 in novice chase at Kilbeggan (19.4f, good to soft) 46 days ago. Not out of things back over hurdles from reduced mark.

Form: 5594-94

Imperial Ruler⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: P J O'Hanlon| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 114

12/1

Unseated rider first in handicap hurdle at Down Royal (20.4f, good, 5/1) 48 days ago. Was relatively tight in the betting on that occasion and this promises to reveal more.

Form: 121/54-U

Silvertown^b⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Kieren Buckley| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 113| D

20/1

One win from 24 NH runs. Cheekpieces on for 1st time, unseated rider in handicap chase at Punchestown (24f, good, 9/2) 40 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles.

Form: 7805-8U

Arabian King¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: B W Harvey| T: C Collins| OR: 112| CD

5/1

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. C&D winner. 10/1, first run since leaving Kevin Frost when respectable sixth of 15 in handicap hurdle at Tipperary (20f, good to soft) 14 days ago.

Form: 1965-6

Cozone^b²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: J Smith⁽⁴⁾| T: M J Smith| OR: 109

25/1

Struggling in staying handicaps on the Flat in recent weeks, again very slowly away and never in the mix when last of 14 in handicap here (16.8f) on Tuesday. Hard to warm to back over hurdles.

Form: 050P-

Rock On Pedro⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: K Callaghan⁽²⁾| T: E Doyle| OR: 109

20/1

Lightly-raced maiden over hurdles. 6/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time in this code, below form fourth of 9 in novice hurdle at Kilbeggan (19f, soft) 6 days ago. Return to better ground may help back in handicap company.

Form: 427-24

Fiveaftermidnight^b¹⁰⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: L A McKenna⁽²⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 108| C| D

33/1

Course winner. 12/1, good fourth of 13 in handicap chase at Downpatrick (28.6f, heavy) 109 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Down in trip. Blinkers back on. Others more persuasive.

Form: 13/5B74-

Penny Jar^p,t⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Patrick M O'Brien⁽⁴⁾| T: P Downey| OR: 107| D

11/2

Took form to a new level over hurdles last season, completing quick-fire hat-trick at Punchestown (21.7f) in November prior to good third at Navan (20f) in January. Should strip fitter for his return spin on the Flat 9 days ago and he's very much one to be interested in back over hurdles.

Form: P5/1113-

Centurion Steel^p,t⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Mike O'Connor| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 106

40/1

Pulled up in handicap chase at Limerick (25.5f, good to soft, 14/1) 56 days ago, tailed off when pulled up early in straight. Switches from chase to hurdles. Down in trip.

Form: U724P-P

Vale Of Glory³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Eoin G Kelly⁽⁴⁾| T: A Murray| OR: 106| CD

11/1

Landed this race from 9 lb lower mark 12 months ago and dispelled couple of lesser efforts when doubling career tally at Punchestown (15.8f) in May. Shaped as if still in good form for a long way when seventh at Downpatrick (17.3f) 33 days ago but mark does demand that little bit more.

Form: 1778-17

Away To Milan⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: J P O'Sullivan| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 102

10/1

17/2, career best when winning 14-runner handicap hurdle at Wexford (17.4f, good to soft) 50 days ago, in command run-in. 9 lb higher now but he remains low-mileage in handicaps and worth considering again.

Form: 0805-41

Navigator Jack^h,t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Mark McDonagh⁽²⁾| T: E Griffin| OR: 102| D

10/3

Creditable second of 15 in handicap hurdle at Bellewstown (20f, good, 5/1) 12 days ago. Not taken lightly.

Form: 00-5362

Nazine^b¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Cian Quirke⁽²⁾| T: M J McDonagh| OR: 102

28/1

Fifteen runs since last win in 2021. 14/1, offered little on back of 12 months off when fourteenth of 16 in handicap hurdle at Tipperary (16f, good) 14 days ago. Up in trip. Blinkers back on.

Form: 76/530-0

Our Bobby^h¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: E Walsh| T: J M Burke| OR: 102| D

5/1

13/2, career best when winning 11-runner handicap hurdle at Bellewstown (20f, good) 12 days ago, battling well. Has responded well to the application of a hood of late and not out of things despite career-high mark.

Form: F47-731

Tory Reel²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Gary Noonan⁽²⁾| T: E McCarthy| OR: 106

16/1

Twice-raced winner over hurdles. Seventh of 16 in handicap at Limerick (11.3f, good, 8/1) 27 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Up in trip. Makes handicap hurdle debut. Likely to improve. Engaged 8.20 here Wednesday.

Form: 15-

Non-Runners

Misstheamaria¹⁴

Weight: 10-0| Age: 5

T: Miss M M Gannon J: Philip Donovan

Forecasts

Navigator Jack (10/3), Arabian King (5/1), Our Bobby (5/1), Penny Jar (11/2), Harvey's Quay (9/1), Away To Milan (10/1), Vale Of Glory (11/1), Imperial Ruler (12/1), Tory Reel (16/1), Rock On Pedro (20/1), Silvertown (20/1), Cozone (25/1), Nazine (28/1), Fiveaftermidnight (33/1), Centurion Steel (40/1), Misstheamaria (50/1)

The most intriguing option could be PENNY JAR. An improved model when winning 3 of his 4 starts over hurdles last season, there's every chance he will be all the better for a recent return spin on the Flat at Tramore and he can confirm himself still on a good mark back over timber. Away To Milan, a good winner at Wexford in May, and Rock on Pedro head up the dangers, with Navigator Jack also worth a second look.