Racecards
12:20 Thurles (IRE)
Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase (0-116)
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 2m 2f
- Going: Yielding to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- €12,500 added
- Winner: €8,625
- 2nd: €2,000
- 3rd: €875
- 4th: €499
- Form 703219
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer D Howard
- Jockey K C Sexton
led, clear after 3rd, reduced advantage halfway, headed before 2 out, soon no extra and dropped to 5th before last, weakened
- Form 75-8900
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer A Slattery
- Jockey S J Hassett
mid-division, 8th halfway, no impression approaching 4 out, moderate 9th after 2 out, kept on one pace
- Form 0-18441
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer C Roche
- Jockey J S McGarvey
chased leader, closer in 6th halfway, 5th 4 out and went 3rd after 2 out, under pressure and soon no impression on winner, no extra run-in
- Form 819-445
- Age 6
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer T O'Brien
- Jockey D E Splaine
chased leader in 4th, closer halfway and mistake 8th, slight mistake 3 out, no impression on winner in 4th before last where mistake, kept on one pace
- Form 4143-FF
- Age 8
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer P Byrne
- Jockey S E Butler
chased leader in 3rd, closer halfway, slight mistake 4 out, went 2nd 2 out but soon no impression on winner, under pressure and kept on one pace
- Form D01-580
- Age 8
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey M P Butler
mid-division, 7th halfway, no extra from 4 out, moderate 10th after 2 out
- Form 7F37-99
- Age 10
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer Michael Barry
- Jockey P D Kennedy
always rear, never a factor, no extra from 5 out
- Form 80-P000
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer M Hourigan
- Jockey M W Bowes
towards rear, 10th halfway, moderate 7th approaching 4 out, ridden and some progress in 6th before last, kept on run-in
- Form 331-776
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer J Monroe
- Jockey I J McCarthy
chased leader, 5th halfway, no impression in 6th after 3 out and moderate 7th before last, no extra
- Form 107R22
- Age 6
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer D Hassett
- Jockey B F Cawley
reluctant to line-up and slowly away, behind when pulled up before 6th
Steady Ed (IRE)
208- Form 0502-53
- Age 9
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer J J Walsh
- Jockey Brian Hayes
always towards rear, never a factor, no extra from 5 out
- Form P-37331
- Age 9
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer G M Doyle
- Jockey A F O'Neill
chased leader in 2nd, closer halfway, not fluent 3 out, progress to lead before next and soon asserted, kept on well run-in to draw clear, comfortably
- Form U674-84
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer Miss E Doyle
- Jockey A Ring
rear of mid-division, moderate 9th after 5 out, no impression in 8th approaching last, kept on one pace
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
FORITSA had been showing improved form before scoring at Wexford last month. The placed horses then fought out a finish on their next starts so the form looks decent and he can defy an 8lb rise which is halved by his rider's claim. Sitcom is making his handicap debut over fences after landing a beginners' event here last month. He's only five so there's more to come and he looks a danger. Bendala Bleu ran two very good races at Punchestown in October and the winning point-to-pointer is well enough treated to make his presence felt but Steady Ed is still a maiden after 17 starts over the bigger obstacles. Musawama went up a massive 10lb for winning here last month and was unable to cope in a much better race at Fairyhouse subsequently but Moiqen looked the likely winner when falling at Gowran and has a chance if staying on his feet.
Formwatch
Musawama (IRE) 9-2 (9-11) Led and disputed, headed and ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 13, 18l behind Sraid Padraig (10-13) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f in Nov.
Prince Of Milan (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Prominent, 7th from 6 out, no extra from after 3 out, 14th of 17, well behind Taken Twice (10-2) at Roscommon 3m hcp hdl 80-109 gf in Aug.
Sitcom (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Soon chased leaders, moderate 4th from 3 out, closed to challenge in 2nd from before last, soon gained narrow lead, pushed out to assert closing stages,, won at Thurles 2m 2f beg chs gd in Nov beating Kilcarry Bridge (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Captain Canada 16-1 (11-12) Mid-division, 6th 5 out, no impression from next, 5th of 10, 47l behind Darwins Fox (11-12) at Galway 2m 1f beg chs sft in Aug.
Moiqen (IRE) 11-1 (11-6) Soon chased leaders, 4th before 4 out, smooth headway and closed before straight, every chance in 2nd when fell 3 out, in a race won by Araglen Lad (10-10) at Gowran Park 2m 2f hcp chs 0-116 in Nov, 8 ran.
Beckwith Star (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Always towards rear, no impression from 4 out, never a factor, tailed off, 13th of 19, well behind Good Egg (11-3) at Navan 2m 4f hcp chs 0-116.
Colls Corner (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, 7th approaching 4 out, no impression from next, 9th of 16, well behind Not For Changing (11-2) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp hdl 80-109 sft in Nov.
Hans Crescent (FR) 20-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, 6th 5 out, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened, 10th of 19, 32l behind Good Egg (11-3) at Navan 2m 4f hcp chs 0-116.
Innocentman (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Close up, on terms before straight, headed from 2 out, soon no impression, slight mistake last, kept on one pace run-in,, 6th of 12, 12l behind Sitcom (11-5) at Thurles 2m 2f beg chs gd in Nov.
Bendala Bleu 9-2fav (10-6) Mid-division, headway in 5th entering straight, ridden into 2nd after 2 out, 2 lengths down when slight mistake last and drifted left, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 14, 4l behind Keep On Track (10-7) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-116 in Oct.
Steady Ed (IRE) 5-1 (9-11) Chased leaders early, slow 1st and 2nd, 6th halfway, improved to dispute 4 out, ridden to lead after 3 out, headed 2 out, no extra in 3rd when pecked last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Muzak (11-0) at Ballinrobe 2m 1f hcp chs 0-116 sft in May.
Foritsa (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Led, headed 2nd, disputed lead from 5 out, led 3 out, ridden and headed briefly after 2 out, regained lead before last, stayed on well run-in, won at Wexford 2m 6f hcp chs 0-102 sft in Nov beating Dog Barrel Hill (10-9) by 3l, 15 ran.
Reality Dose (IRE) 11-1 (10-3) Soon chased leaders, dropped to remote 6th before 4 out, beaten when impeded 3 out where left 5th, left 4th and kept on same pace from next, 4th of 8, 35l behind Araglen Lad (10-10) at Gowran Park 2m 2f hcp chs 0-116 in Nov.