16:50 Leopardstown

Wednesday 10 April 2024

All13:1513:4514:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:50

Leopardstown Golf And Driving Range Handicap (47-65)

Off time: 16:53 | Winning time: 2m 13.24s

(12)

Velvet And Vine¹⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: Robbie Colgan| T: Miss Jennifer Anne Lynch| OR: 62

11/1

4/1, first run since leaving G. M. Lyons when creditable seventh of 14 in handicap at Dundalk (12f). Off 161 days. Back down in trip.

Form: 764837-

(16)

St Cianans Fire^t⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Hugh Horgan⁽⁵⁾| T: S Crawley| OR: 59| BF| D

13/2

2/1, creditable second of 14 in handicap at Dundalk (12f) 56 days ago. Back down in trip and worth a second look if arriving here in same groove.

Form: 0405-22

(6)

Ranko Express³¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: A J Slattery| T: A Slattery| OR: 58| BF| D

11/1

Much improved when making a winning handicap debut at Gowran (9.5f, soft) last May but not see since finishing midfield in big-field handicap back at that venue the following month. Remains less exposed than most at least so interesting if market vibes are positive.

Form: 889019-

(15)

Roman Palace¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Declan McDonogh| T: L Comer| OR: 55

22/1

Winner at Dundalk in January. 8/1, respectable seventh of 14 in handicap back at that venue (8f) 15 days ago, weakening 1f out. Each-way claims back on turf.

Form: 0427-17

(5)

Miss Aytan²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: S D Bowen⁽⁵⁾| T: J & T Kiely| OR: 54

14/1

Lightly-raced maiden on Flat. 66/1 and hooded for 1st time, good seventh of 14 in handicap at Dundalk (12f) 26 days ago. Down in trip. Makes turf debut.

Form: 80-67

(17)

Angel On Fire^t¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: C J MacRedmond⁽⁵⁾| T: P F McEnery| OR: 50

8/1

Winner at Gowran in October. 12/1, bit below form fourth of 13 in handicap at Naas (7f, heavy) 17 days ago, nearest finish. Step back up in trip very much a plus on that evidence and he could just be worth chancing to double his tally.

Form: 3015-04

(18)

Lisamaria¹⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Colin Keane| T: P W Flynn| OR: 49| BF

4/1

250/1, pulled up in novice hurdle at Punchestown (16.5f, soft) 146 days ago. Remains a maiden in this sphere but plenty of creditable in-the-frame efforts to her name last term and booking of Colin Keane a plus on return.

Form: 943730-

(1)

Saffronandblue^t¹⁷⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Ronan Whelan| T: M Brassil| OR: 49

7/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 9/1 and tongue strap on for 1st time, below form sixth of 16 in handicap at Gowran (9.4f, heavy). Off 177 days. Booking of Whelan a plus.

Form: 08806-

(2)

Atbay^b1¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: S Foley| T: M Fahey| OR: 47| BF

5/1

9/4, respectable fifth of 13 in handicap at Naas (7f, heavy) 17 days ago. Up in trip. Blinkers on 1st time and handicapper has given him a chance.

Form: 0247-45

(4)

Atlas^v⁶¹

Age: 11| Weight: 9-0| J: James Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: T G McCourt| OR: 47| C

40/1

Course winner. Thirty eight runs since last win in 2020. Respectable seventh of 14 in handicap at Dundalk (8f, 50/1) 61 days ago.

Form: 008-087

(19)

Man Is King^h,t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: D E Sheehy| T: Thomas Dowling| OR: 47

80/1

Remains a maiden after 20 Flat runs. 33/1 and hooded for 1st time, respectable eighth of 13 in handicap at Naas (7f, heavy) 17 days ago, not knocked about. Up in trip.

Form: 087-698

(13)

Pale Ale⁶¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: O McSweeney⁽³⁾| T: L Comer| OR: 47

80/1

Lightly-raced 4-y-o who has been absent since finishing last of 18 in a C&D handicap during summer of 2022. Market should prove a useful guide on this belated return.

Form: 96070/

(8)

So Messi^t⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: P Martin| OR: 47

8/1

Lightly-raced maiden on Flat who ran best race to date when second of 14 in handicap at Killarney (1m) in July. Minor promise in trio of starts in juvenile hurdles this winter but he could yet have a little more to offer back on the level.

Form: 900320-

(11)

Captain John Barry^t²³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: W J Lee| T: G Scott| OR: 52

18/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 14/1 and tongue strap on for 1st time, respectable seventh of 14 in handicap at Dundalk (8f). Off 7 months. Easy to look elsewhere. Reserve 1.

Form: 78077-

(3)

My Birthday Girl¹⁷⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Robert Whearty⁽⁵⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 49

28/1

Churchill filly who failed to match previous best when eighth of 16 on handicap debut at Gowran (9.5f, heavy) in October, never better than midfield. Remains early days with her at least. Reserve 2.

Form: 0058-

Non-Runners

(9)

Sapristi²⁰⁹

Weight: 10-1| Age: 4

T: Thomas Dowling J: J Cleary

(10)

Venetian⁴¹

Weight: 9-11| Age: 4

T: Sean Davis J: Gary Halpin

(14)

Pascalia³³

Weight: 9-10| Age: 4

T: J P Murtagh J: Ben Coen

(7)

Adhuil¹⁶³

Weight: 9-3| Age: 5

T: A A Howard J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Lisamaria (4/1), Atbay (5/1), St Cianans Fire (13/2), Saffronandblue (7/1), Pascalia (7/1), Adhuil (15/2), Angel On Fire (8/1), So Messi (8/1), Ranko Express (11/1), Velvet And Vine (11/1), Sapristi (12/1), Miss Aytan (14/1), Venetian (16/1), Captain John Barry (18/1), Roman Palace (22/1), My Birthday Girl (28/1), Atlas (40/1), Man Is King (80/1), Pale Ale (80/1)

ANGEL ON FIRE stepped up on his reappearance run and very much shaped like this step back up in trip would be very much in his favour when fourth at Naas 17 days ago. Interesting from this sort of mark, he shades the vote to come out on top. Atbay, who was one place behind the selection latest, is a threat with blinkers enlisted for the first time. St Cianans Fire and the returning So Messi are others to consider.