15:20 Downpatrick

Friday 20 September 2024

All14:1514:4515:2015:5516:3017:0017:35

Caleb & Ezra Starkey Handicap Hurdle (80-95)

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 4m 18.40s

Dark Voyager⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Kevin Sexton| T: Aidan Melia| OR: 95

66/1

40/1, pulled up in handicap hurdle at Wexford (24f, good to soft) 57 days ago, behind when pulled up between last 2. Down in trip. First run for yard after leaving Anthony McCann.

Form: 4/P64-0P

Single Edition^h,t⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Slevin| OR: 95

9/1

Tongue strap on for 1st time in this code, last of 7 in claiming hurdle (9/1) at Sligo (17.8f, soft) 43 days ago.

Form: 326/0-07

Sandyman⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Alex Harvey⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 94| BF

7/2

Promising individual. 2/1 and tongue strap on for 1st time, shaped better than result when fifth of 10 in C&D handicap (good) 40 days ago, upsides when bad mistake last. Considered.

Form: 008/4-5

Portnacoo²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H Smyth| OR: 93| C

9/2

1 win from 3 runs this season. 15/2, improved to win 9-runner handicap hurdle at this course (21.8f, good) 25 days ago. Respected despite a 9 lb rise.

Form: P79-651

King In Love²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: S Aherne| OR: 92

12/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. 50/1, eighth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Wexford (16.9f, good to soft) 21 days ago.

Form: 87-888

The Empty Kettel^p1,t⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: J J Slevin| T: G J Power| OR: 90

11/1

Below form seventh of 13 in handicap hurdle (11/2) at Wexford (16.7f, good to soft) 44 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time.

Form: 400-047

Portarlington^t⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: John Shinnick⁽⁵⁾| T: D Budds| OR: 89

10/1

14/1, thirteenth of 16 in handicap hurdle at Cork (18.4f, good to soft) 46 days ago, never travelling well.

Form: F30-600

Moneynabane^v1²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Keith Donoghue| T: Ian Donoghue| OR: 88| C

12/1

Course winner. 11/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, seventh of 11 in handicap chase at this course (19.4f, good) 25 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Visor on 1st time.

Form: 0-90407

Head For Home⁶⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Phillip Enright| T: O McKiernan| OR: 88

33/1

Thrice-raced maiden. 40/1, tenth of 14 in novice hurdle at this C&D (good) 67 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 700

Init Together²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: L A McKenna⁽⁵⁾| T: S Fahey| OR: 85

11/2

Very good second of 9 in handicap hurdle (11/1) at this C&D (good) 25 days ago, no match for winner. Expected to be bang there.

Form: 0P09/72

Ar Nos Na Gaoithe¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: J P O'Sullivan| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 83

125/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Eleventh of 14 in handicap hurdle at Kilbeggan (16f, good to soft, 125/1) 16 days ago.

Form: 0-00U0

Special Protector^b,t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: H Morgan| T: E Doyle| OR: 80

16/1

Tongue strap on for 1st time in this code, ninth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Wexford (16.9f, good to soft, 14/1) 21 days ago. Blinkers on 1st time over jumps.

Form: 7/09-P59

Finn Russell⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: C J Todd| T: Ian Williams| OR: 80

5/1

Fair Flat winner. Third of 16 in classified event (11/1) at Doncaster (8f, good to soft) 5 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Creditable on last hurdle outing. Respected British raider.

Form: 856-2

Non-Runners

Princess Preskina²

Weight: 11-8| Age: 5

T: H De Bromhead J: Rachael Blackmore

Ben Vrackie²

Weight: 11-0| Age: 9

T: Mrs C O'Leary J: Danny Mullins

Forecasts

Sandyman (7/2), Portnacoo (9/2), Finn Russell (5/1), Init Together (11/2), Single Edition (9/1), Portarlington (10/1), The Empty Kettel (11/1), King In Love (12/1), Moneynabane (12/1), Princess Preskina (14/1), Special Protector (16/1), Ben Vrackie (25/1), Head For Home (33/1), Dark Voyager (66/1), Ar Nos Na Gaoithe (125/1)

SANDYMAN was bang there until clouting the final flight here last time and it's surely only a matter of time before he's winning a handicap hurdle for John McConnell. Init Together, last-time-out course scorer Portnacoo and British raider Finn Russell may give him most to think about.