18:45 Tramore

Tuesday 9 July 2024

All17:1017:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:20

GAIN The Advantage Series Handicap

3YO plus | 1m 4f | Yielding to Soft | 8 Runners | Turf

(1)

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: A J Slattery| T: A Slattery| OR: 73| CD

Hurdles winner who displayed a good attitude when landing this race 12 months ago. Largely held form well over hurdles earlier this year and he's best not judged too harshly on his chase debut effort at Tipperary 7 days ago. Type to bounce back.

Form: 041048-

(7)

Expound^p,t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: D King⁽⁵⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 73

Won 8-runner maiden at Ballinrobe (9.7f, good, 5/1) 15 days ago, getting first run and all out to hold on. Should give another good account back in handicap company.

Form: 243801

(8)

Desert Friend¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Ben Coen| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 69

Won 11-runner handicap (11/2) at Ballinrobe (13f, good) 15 days ago, leading inside last ½f and pushed out. Possibilities again up 6 lb.

Form: 39-8851

(4)

Snapius^b¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: M P Sheehy| T: J Nash| OR: 68

50/1, seventh of 11 in handicap at the Curragh (10f, good to soft) 10 days ago, leading briefly 2f out and weakening soon after. Others more persuasive.

Form: 39-9007

(6)

Spy⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Sean Davis| T: C Byrnes| OR: 68

Has proved temperamental but comes here in good nick, shaping better than bare result when seventh of 11 in handicap at Roscommon (10.3f, good to firm) 7 days ago, meeting trouble but finishing off his race well. One to note, particularly if the market speaks in his favour.

Form: 390-547

(5)

Forlio^t⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Colin Keane| T: P W Flynn| OR: 64

Overcame a 19-month absence (well backed) when successful in 14-runner handicap at Limerick (11.2f) in May. May have found race coming too soon at Tipperary later that month and he's been given a 6-week break ahead of this. Bounce back distinctly possible.

Form: 6455/10

(2)

Rushford^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: C Horgan⁽⁷⁾| T: T R Hughes| OR: 56

15½ lengths ninth of 11 to Desert Friend in handicap at Ballinrobe (13f, good, 28/1) 15 days ago, weakening final 1f. Good deal to prove at present.

Form: 600-809

(3)

Kings Prince^b²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: W Joyce⁽⁵⁾| T: E Sheehy| OR: 54| D

Twenty runs since last win in 2021. Fifteenth of 16 in handicap at Limerick (17f, good to firm, 66/1) 27 days ago. Back down in trip.

Form: 260-000

Forecasts

Expound (11/4), Desert Friend (3/1), Spy (7/2), Forlio (6/1), Dark Note (6/1), Snapius (14/1), Rushford (16/1), Kings Prince (25/1)

EXPOUND is versatile as regards trip and having belatedly opened his account in a Ballinrobe maiden 2 weeks ago, he shades the vote to continue the good work returned to handicaps. Fellow last-time-out winner Desert Friend and last year's winner Dark Note head up the dangers, with Spy another to note.