14:30 Downpatrick

Monday 26 August 2024

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Ulster Carpets Handicap Hurdle (80-95)

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 4m 22.20s

Ragmans Corner¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Jack Kearney⁽⁵⁾| T: G Keane| OR: 94| BF

15/8

7/4, very good second of 14 in handicap hurdle at Ballinrobe (16.8f, good to soft) 14 days ago, headed dying strides. Remains lightly raced and he's up to playing his part again on that evidence.

Form: 00685-2

Mr Sundancer^h³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Paddy Hanlon⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 93

13/2

Sixteen runs since sole success in bumper in 2021. Significant step back in right direction when third of 13 in handicap hurdle at Wexford (16.7f, good to soft, 11/2) 32 days ago. Hood back on and not discounted.

Form: 86-P563

St Denis's Well^p,t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Keith Donoghue| T: Ian Donoghue| OR: 91

4/1

Progressive, 4-time winner over hurdles/fences last season. Feasible to think he'll strip fitter for his return fourth in minor event over fences at Galway (22.5f) 3 weeks ago and he's lurking on a handy mark back over timber.

Form: 11716-5

Moulane West^t⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Phillip Enright| T: M M McNiff| OR: 89

3/1

One win from 27 NH runs. Creditable third of 8 in handicap hurdle at Sligo (20.6f, soft, 5/1) 5 days ago. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 00-3F33

Thunder Rose^p1²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Jake Coen⁽³⁾| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 89

50/1

Fifteenth of 16 in handicap hurdle at Cork (18.4f, good to soft, 20/1) 21 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Much more needed.

Form: U80-650

Red Striker¹³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: K Callaghan⁽⁵⁾| T: J Barcoe| OR: 88| D

16/1

Stepped up on his reappearance/yard debut effort when third at Naas (2m, soft) in April. However, below that level when seventh of 13 in handicap hurdle back at that venue later that month. Absent since.

Form: 839537-

Nawraq^p,t⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: P Cleary⁽⁷⁾| T: K Smith| OR: 87

25/1

Modest Flat performer who has finished well held all 4 starts over hurdles, including when eleventh of 13 in handicap hurdle at Sligo (17.4f, soft, 11/1) 5 days ago. More required.

Form: 0/000

Thebeautifulgame^p1¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Carl Millar⁽⁷⁾| T: C Collins| OR: 85

25/1

Eleventh of 12 in handicap hurdle (80/1) at Wexford (16.7f, good to soft) 17 days ago. Cheekpieces on for 1st time. Hard to make a case for on what she's achieved in this sphere to date.

Form: 0B-0000

Init Together¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Conor Stone-Walsh⁽⁵⁾| T: S Fahey| OR: 84

11/1

Creditable fourth of 14 in handicap at Gowran (9.4f, good, 9/1) 12 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles but will need to show more than previously in this sphere if he's to feature.

Form: 00P09/7

Non-Runners

Sandyman¹⁵

Weight: 12-0| Age: 8

T: J C McConnell J: Alex Harvey

Ivane³¹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: Ciaran Murphy J: E Walsh

Forecasts

Ragmans Corner (15/8), Moulane West (3/1), St Denis's Well (4/1), Sandyman (6/1), Mr Sundancer (13/2), Init Together (11/1), Red Striker (16/1), Ivane (16/1), Thebeautifulgame (25/1), Nawraq (25/1), Thunder Rose (50/1)

SANDYMAN shaped much better than the bare result on just his second start in handicaps when fifth over C&D 2 weeks ago, upsides when bad mistake last. Remaining open to improvement, he gets the nod to confirm the promise of that run. There is strength in opposition though, with Ragmans Corner and St Denis's Well others fancied to be firmly in the mix.