17:40 Bellewstown

Wednesday 30 August 2023

All16:0516:3517:0517:4018:1018:4019:1019:40

Bective Stud Tea Rooms & Apartments Mullacurry Cup Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:40 | Winning time: 4m 52.0s

Dartan^b,t¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J Smith⁽⁷⁾| T: M J Smith| OR: 130| BF| C

5/1

10/3 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, improved to win 13-runner handicap at this course (17f, good to soft) 1 day ago. Blinkers on 1st time over hurdles. Got to be respected if turned out again.

Form: 27/10-17

Gallant John Joe^t²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Phillip Enright| T: O McKiernan| OR: 129| D

12/1

Eighteen runs since last win in 2019. 28/1, pulled up in handicap hurdle at Galway (22.6f, soft) 25 days ago, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out. Big bounce back called for.

Form: 023-P2P

Act Of God^p²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: M M McDonagh⁽⁵⁾| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 126| CD

22/1

C&D winner. 40/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time in this code, fell in handicap hurdle at Galway (22.6f, soft) 25 days ago.

Form: F2516-F

Lake Winnipesaukee^h²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 123| D

16/1

Career best when winning 16-runner novice hurdle at Roscommon (19.8f, good to soft, 7/1) on hurdles bow 22 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut for a stiff-looking mark on the face of it but he's open to progress.

Form: 3344-31

Whatsavailable^t⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: M F Morris| OR: 123| D

22/1

Bit below form seventh of 12 in novice chase (12/1) at Kilbeggan (25f, soft) 47 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Can make presence felt.

Form: 1020-47

Uhtred⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 119

6/1

First run since leaving Dan Skelton when good second of 11 in handicap hurdle (9/2) at Killarney (22.8f, good) 40 days ago. Shortlist material.

Form: P963-62

Britzka^p,t²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Shane Fitzgerald| T: S Nolan| OR: 118

80/1

Two wins from 5 runs last season. First run since leaving Gordon Elliott when seventeenth of 20 in handicap hurdle (100/1) at Galway (16f, good) 26 days ago. Back up in trip.

Form: P5-0220

Art Of Silence¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Ricky Doyle| T: G Keane| OR: 116

25/1

Respectable eighth of 21 in handicap (5/1) at the Curragh (14f, good) 17 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Makes handicap hurdle debut in a deep race.

Form: 13U-341

Imperial Ruler⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁵⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 114

22/1

12/1, tenth of 15 in handicap hurdle at Killarney (20f, good) 41 days ago. Should be spot on fitness-wise after that.

Form: 21/54-U0

Andys Flame^p1,t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: B W Harvey⁽³⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 113

12/1

Good third of 11 in handicap hurdle at Killarney (22.8f, good, 6/1) 40 days ago. Cheekpieces added and this looks his optimum trip.

Form: 081/07-3

Presenting Lad^t¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: D King⁽⁵⁾| T: M M McNiff| OR: 111

14/1

Career best when winning 14-runner handicap hurdle at Ballinrobe (16.6f, good, 9/2) 16 days ago, driven out. Up in trip, which isn't certain to suit.

Form: 721331

Stilyker²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 110

11/2

Creditable fifth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Galway (16.7f, soft, 11/1) 24 days ago. Up in trip and not yet exposed for leading yard.

Form: 4P/1-015

Navigator Jack^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: E Griffin| OR: 109| D

15/2

10/3, career best when winning 12-runner handicap hurdle at Wexford (20.4f, soft) 19 days ago, cruising clear. Has to be taken very seriously.

Form: 536251

Bukhill⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 105

13/2

Winner over hurdles at Sligo in July. Below form seventh of 19 in handicap hurdle at Galway (16.6f, soft, 12/1) 30 days ago. Up in trip. Yard in good form.

Form: 54-417

Clifftop^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: J J Slevin| T: H Rogers| OR: 105| C

10/1

6/1, below form eighth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Sligo (20.4f, good to soft) 20 days ago. Bounce back required.

Form: 4/40-428

Non-Runners

Cerberus⁵⁵

Weight: 11-1| Age: 7

T: A Leahy J: C G O'Dwyer

Forecasts

Dartan (5/1), Stilyker (11/2), Uhtred (6/1), Bukhill (13/2), Navigator Jack (15/2), Clifftop (10/1), Andys Flame (12/1), Gallant John Joe (12/1), Presenting Lad (14/1), Lake Winnipesaukee (16/1), Whatsavailable (22/1), Act Of God (22/1), Imperial Ruler (22/1), Art Of Silence (25/1), Cerberus (25/1), Britzka (80/1)

STILYKER hasn't had much racing for Willie Mullins but there's a strong feeling that there's a bigger performance in him for this yard. He's awarded the tentative vote in an open contest, with Uhtred and Navigator Jack a couple of potential threats.