20:15 Dundalk

Friday 15 December 2023

All16:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:15

Happy Christmas From All At Dundalk Stadium Handicap

Off time: 20:16 | Winning time: 2m 33.79s

(15)

San Martino⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Aileen O'Sullivan⁽¹⁰⁾| T: S Millar| OR: 77

150/1

Seventeen runs since last win in 2020. 125/1, below form on first outing since leaving Peter Fahey after 11 weeks off when seventh of 8 in handicap at this C&D 7 days ago.

Form: 493-007

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(6)

Celtic Revival¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: James Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: E Lynam| OR: 76| CD

8/1

5-time C&D winner. 5 wins from 16 runs this year. 8/1, remained in good form when third of 11 in handicap at this course (16f) 2 weeks ago. Back down in trip.

Form: 251123

(13)

John Alexander^p⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Chris Hayes| T: L Comer| OR: 75| CD

15/2

C&D winner. 9/2 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, not disgraced when third of 8 in handicap at this C&D 7 days ago.

Form: 589473

(9)

Yokkell⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Siobhan Rutledge⁽³⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 75| C

16/1

25/1, proved better than ever and came home in front having been seen to better effect than the runner-up in 14-runner handicap at this course (10.7f) 9 days ago, all out. 3 lb higher and could go well again.

Form: 656341

(1)

Spy⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Jack Kearney⁽⁵⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 73

7/1

Unreliable type. 14/1, 2¼ lengths ninth of 14 to Yokkell in handicap at this course (10.7f) 9 days ago, never nearer. Each-way claims at best.

Form: 6-54039

(14)

Pittsford^h,t²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Halford & T Collins| OR: 74| C

3/1

Tongue strap on for 1st time, showed improved form when winning 14-runner maiden at this course (10.7f, 16/5) 4 weeks ago, just holding on. Makes handicap debut. Not taken lightly.

Form: 7051

(3)

Liquid Metric^b1,t⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Shane Markey⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A McCann| OR: 67

200/1

150/1, showed nothing after just 4 days off from hurdling when last of 14 in handicap at this course (10.7f) 10 weeks ago. Blinkered for 1st time.

Form: 63828-0

(12)

Oakley²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A Mullins| OR: 67| C

10/3

Bounced back to form to build on a promising debut for current connections when winning 14-runner handicap (8/1) at this course (10.7f) 23 days ago, rallying. Remains of plenty of interest around here.

Form: 13-2201

(16)

Turf Range^b¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Declan McDonogh| T: D Broad| OR: 67| CD

50/1

3-time C&D winner. 25/1, respectable eighth of 14 in handicap at this C&D 16 days ago. Others make more appeal.

Form: 000008

(5)

Alphonse Le Grande^t1¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Luke McAteer| T: A J Martin| OR: 66| C

20/1

Failed to improve on his Irish form when sixth of 12 in handicap hurdle at Ludlow (15.8f, soft, 11/2) 18 days ago. Tongue strap on 1st time. This a first start on the Flat for his current trainer.

Form: 346401-

(17)

Giselles Defence⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Robert Whearty⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 70

13/2

15/2, again ran creditably when ¾-length third of 14 to Yokkell in handicap at this course (10.7f) 9 days ago. Shortlist material.

Form: 524033

(2)

Miss Paloma²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Colin Keane| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 66| C

10/1

Didn't need to improve to get off the mark on first outing since leaving Sir Mark Prescott Bt after 26 months off when winning 14-runner handicap at this course (10.7f, 20/1) 3 weeks ago, driven out. Will remain of interest.

Form: 55863/1

(11)

Rodney Bay²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Leigh Roche| T: Joseph Murray| OR: 66

66/1

17/2, eleventh of 17 in handicap hurdle at Navan (20f, heavy) 27 days ago. Fair on the Flat, won at the Curragh in October.

Form: 40-5301

(7)

Believe In Science^p²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Rory Cleary| T: J S Bolger| OR: 62

16/1

Remains a maiden after 19 Flat runs. 10/3, underperformed when seventh of 14 in handicap at this C&D 3 weeks ago, unable to sustain effort. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 050747

Non-Runners

(4)

Cursory Exam²³

Weight: 8-13| Age: 5

T: D Bunyan & G O'Leary J: Reserve 1

(10)

Arctic Blaze¹⁴

Weight: 8-11| Age: 7

T: J C McConnell J: Reserve 2

(8)

Mosaaheb¹⁶

Weight: 8-7| Age: 5

T: J J Hanlon J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Pittsford (3/1), Oakley (10/3), Giselles Defence (13/2), Spy (7/1), John Alexander (15/2), Celtic Revival (8/1), Miss Paloma (10/1), Yokkell (16/1), Believe In Science (16/1), Mosaaheb (16/1), Alphonse Le Grande (20/1), Cursory Exam (20/1), Turf Range (50/1), Rodney Bay (66/1), Arctic Blaze (100/1), San Martino (150/1), Liquid Metric (200/1)

An ultra-competitive finale in which preference is for GISELLES DEFENCE, who has been knocking at the door in recent weeks and Gavin Cromwell's 3-y-o can make it thirteenth time lucky. Pittsford showed improved form to get off the mark at this track 4 weeks ago and he could emerge the main danger now handicapping, with Oakley and John Alexander another couple fancied to be in the mix.