16:00 Gowran Park

Saturday 30 September 2023

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:45

Jack Duggan Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 7m 2.30s

Happy Jacky¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Daniel King⁽³⁾| T: R Hackett| OR: 137

10/1

Useful hurdler who returned to form from out of the blue when second at Killarney (22.3f) in August. However, could only add to patchy recent record when fourth in 5-runner minor event at Galway (21.4f) 19 days ago.

Form: 2UP-024

Walking On Glass^p³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: P Roche| OR: 128| CD

12/1

Versatile sort who landed this race from 5 lb lower mark 12 months ago. Lines up this time around on the back of a string of consistent efforts on the Flat and no surprise to see him put up a good showing once more.

Form: U0UP-89

A Great View^p⁴⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 10-5| J: Mark Walsh| T: D Cullen| OR: 118| D

7/2

Veteran who finally took advantage of the handicapper's mercy when winning 9-runner handicap at Ballinrobe (25.7f) 47 days ago, clear entering final and winning readily. Remains with handicapping scope on old form and worthy of respect.

Form: 00-3891

Futurum Regem²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Dillon Maxwell⁽⁷⁾| T: H P Finegan| OR: 116

20/1

Creditable second of 13 in handicap (3/1) at Down Royal (12.8f, good to firm) 22 days ago. Still, others preferred now returned to timber.

Form: 00/8F08-

Noble Birth^t1²⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: C P McNamara| T: E McNamara| OR: 115

25/1

Dual winner over hurdles (at up to 25.7f) for Gordon Elliott last year. However, operating some way below best when last seen and break/yard switch needs to have perked him up ahead of this.

Form: 315909-

Quarry Rocco³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 114| D

9/4

Thrice-raced winner under NH rules. 9/4, won 14-runner novice hurdle at Ballinrobe (18f, good to soft) 33 days ago, meeting trouble between last 2 but still able to win cosily. Likely there's more to come now handicapping, not least stepped up to 3m.

Form: 1-041

Ringdufferin^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: Jordan Gainford| T: G Elliott| OR: 114

8/1

9/2 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, career best when winning 6-runner novice hurdle at Downpatrick (21.5f, soft) 15 days ago, very much having run of race. Makes handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 74-6421

Ballyglass Beauty¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: C G O'Dwyer⁽⁵⁾| T: L P Cusack| OR: 112| D

5/2

2 wins from 6 runs this season. 11/2, career best when winning 10-runner handicap hurdle at Listowel (24f, soft) 10 days ago, staying on well. No reason why he won't give another good account but he does tend to need things to fall just right.

Form: 0U1371

Non-Runners

Ambitious Fellow⁵⁶

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: Peter Fahey J: E A Fitzgerald

Forecasts

Quarry Rocco (9/4), Ballyglass Beauty (5/2), Ambitious Fellow (11/4), A Great View (7/2), Ringdufferin (8/1), Happy Jacky (10/1), Walking On Glass (12/1), Futurum Regem (20/1), Noble Birth (25/1)

A strong-looking handicap with the narrow vote in favour of BALLYGLASS BEAUTY. He produced a career-best effort when scoring with plenty to spare under this pilot at Listowel (3m) 10 days ago and his subsequent weight rise may not prevent another bold showing. Galway scorer Ambitious Fellow, A Great View and unexposed handicap debutant Quarry Rocco head up the dangers.