Racecards
13:25 Thurles (IRE)
Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 2f
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- €18,500 added
- Winner: €11,396
- 2nd: €3,534
- 3rd: €1,684
- 4th: €758
Pumbaa (IRE)
93- Form 5170P-F
- Age 10
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer J M Burke
- Jockey A McCurtin
prominent and led briefly after 3rd, 3rd halfway, lost place before 3 out and soon no extra, behind and pulled up before 2 out
- Form 210-68F
- Age 9
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer S J Mahon
- Jockey Ricky Doyle
prominent early, mid-division halfway, pushed along and no extra after 3 out, towards rear and slight mistake next, behind and pulled up before last
- Form 53227P
- Age 10
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer A L T Moore
- Jockey D J McInerney
towards rear, headway into 4th approaching straight, pushed along and slight mistake 2 out, ridden and no impression approaching last where slight mistake, no extra
- Form 239F56
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 118
mid-division, 4th halfway, pushed along and no impression after 3 out, no extra after 2 out, towards rear when mistake and unseated rider last
- Form 670P16
- Age 10
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer Aengus King
- Jockey D P Holden
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along and no extra after 3 out
- Form 0312-44
- Age 10
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer J J Mangan
- Jockey C J Orr
towards rear, pushed along and no impression before 4 out, some headway early straight and ridden in 6th approaching last, kept on one pace run-in, never a factor
- Form 62U584
- Age 6
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey Sean O'Keeffe
rear of mid-division, 8th halfway, some headway after 3 out and 5th entering straight, no extra after 2 out
- Form 45-P31U
- Age 8
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer D Hogan
- Jockey R P Treacy
tracked leaders, 2nd halfway, headway to lead approaching straight, ridden and headed approaching last where slight mistake, no impression on winner run-in
- Form 474533
- Age 10
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer P M Cloke
- Jockey C A Landers
towards rear, some headway early straight and 7th approaching last, kept on one pace run-in, never a factor
- Form 672322
- Age 9
- Weight 9-13
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer M Hourigan
- Jockey A W Short
tracked leaders, headway to lead 4th and 4 lengths clear halfway, headed approaching straight, ridden in 3rd after 2 out and no impression when slight mistake last, no extra
- Form 05P233
- Age 7
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer P Carey
- Jockey K J Brouder
led, headed after 3rd and dropped to mid-division before halfway, headway into 3rd after 3 out and pushed along to lead approaching last, ridden to assert run-in and stayed on well
In depth
Verdict
Several of these have won over the course including BARNA VENTURE, a convincing winner over the trip last month before falling at the second at Naas on Tuesday. He had four lengths to spare over Fairymount Boy in the former event but Michael Hourigan's consistent performer is entitled to get closer at the revised weights as should Seskin Flyer, who was only just behind in third. Gentleman Duke's victory on the track was over the minimum in 2013 but this is his sort of trip and ground and he's won from higher marks. Bellgrove has been very busy on good ground since scoring over the minimum at Tramore in August and is invariably thereabouts while Balbir Du Mathan has some smart form to his credit but needs testing ground.
Formwatch
Pumbaa (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Waited with well off pace, slight mistake 2nd, moderate 6th when fell 3 out, at Clonmel 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Sep.
Balbir Du Mathan (FR) 33-1 (10-9) Soon led, not fluent 6th, soon joined, slight mistake 3 out, headed approaching straight, weakened and fell 2 out, at Fairyhouse 2m hcp gd in Dec.
Gentleman Duke (IRE) 33-1 (9-12) Mid-division, dropped to rear and under pressure at 7th, behind and pulled up before 3 out, at Navan 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Dec.
My Manekineko 33-1 (12-0) Led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, last of 6, 34 1/2l behind Master Work (11-10) at Leicester 2m hcp (4) gf in Dec.
Capture The Drama (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Led, joined 4 out, pushed along and headed after next, no extra from 2 out, weakened, 6th of 11, 34 3/4l behind Mick The Jiver (11-2) at Fairyhouse 2m 7f hcp Good - Yielding in Dec.
Winter Magic (IRE) 4-1 (12-2) Mid-div, clsr in 6th frm 1/2way, clsr bef 3out, went clr en 4th well bef 2out, 15l 3rd & no ex 2out, drpd 4th nr fin, 4th of 16, 23 1/4l behind Cloudy Morning (12-2) at Ballindenisk 3m sft in Dec.
Loupgarou (FR) 25-1 (11-12) Mid-division, closer in 6th halfway, ridden into 3rd 2 out, no impression on leaders before last where slight mistake, kept on one pace, 4th of 15, 8 3/4l behind R'evelyn Pleasure (11-12) at Clonmel 2m Yielding in Dec.
Barna Venture (IRE) 9-2fav (11-6) Tracked leader in 2nd, pecked on landing and unseated rider at 2nd, at Naas 2m hcp Yielding in Dec.
Bellgrove (IRE) 6-1 (10-11) Close up and disputed lead, mistake 3rd, slight mistake 5th, on terms last, headed run-in and kept on without matching front pair, 3rd of 10, 3l behind Lacken Bridge (10-7) at Gowran Park 2m hcp Yielding in Nov.
Fairymount Boy (IRE) 9-4fav (11-7) Mid-division early, 6th after 6th, closer in 3rd approaching 3 out, 2nd after 2 out, no impression and kept on same pace from last, 2nd of 11, 4l behind Barna Venture (11-7) at Thurles 2m 2f hcp gd in Nov.
Seskin Flyer (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Mid-division, good headway 3 out and soon led, pecked badly and headed next, ridden and no impression on winner approaching last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 16, 5 1/4l behind Rocky's Silver (11-2) at Tramore 2m 5f hcp hvy in Dec.