Racecards
20:20 Dundalk (IRE)
Dundalk Stadium Handicap (47-65) (Div 2)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 1m 2f 150y
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Polytrack
- €5,600 added
- Winner: €3,850
- 2nd: €882
- 3rd: €378
- 4th: €210
- Form 16000-3
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer E Doyle
- Jockey M P Butler
mid-division, headway under 2f out, ridden into 3rd 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
- Form 33600-0
- Age 6
- Weight 9-12
- Official Rating 63
- Trainer M Halford
- Jockey G F Carroll
rear of mid-division, ridden into 6th 2f out, no impression 1f out, kept on one pace
- Form 402849-
- Age 6
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 57
- Trainer G Donnelly
- Jockey J A Heffernan
chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden in 8th 2f out, 6th 1f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 9846-22
- Age 4
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 59
- Trainer H Rogers
- Jockey P J Smullen
mid-division, headway into 4th 2f out, ridden in 5th 1f out, no extra final furlong
- Form 7622-02
- Age 6
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 52
- Trainer E Lynam
- Jockey W M Lordan
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden 2f out, under pressure in 4th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
- Form 7/0404-6
- Age 6
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 51
- Trainer P J Rothwell
- Jockey W J Lee
led and disputed, ridden and headed 2f out, no extra in 2nd 1f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 7/20237-
- Age 5
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 50
- Trainer A Mullins
- Jockey Johnny Murtagh
held up towards rear, pushed along 3f out, ridden into 9th 1f out, ran on well final furlong to 2nd on line
- Form 3/84080-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 52
- Trainer P Casey
- Jockey M C Hussey
chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden 3f out, no extra 2f out, weakened
The Reek
21- Form U97-0
- Age 4
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 51
- Trainer P Martin
- Jockey A P Thornton
mid-division, ridden 2f out, 8th 1f out, kept on final furlong
- Form 9/83-936
- Age 7
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 47
- Trainer A McGuinness
- Jockey S H James
chased leaders, 4th halfway, improved to lead 2f out, ridden and kept on well from over 1f out
- Form 43/04-50
- Age 7
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 47
towards rear for most, never a factor
- Form 070/076-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 48
- Trainer J S Bolger
- Jockey R P Cleary
soon led and disputed, ridden and weakened entering straight
Verdict
Elusive Express hasn't been able to get his head in front and connections try him over a much longer trip. He's quite well treated and will be an obvious threat if staying. Chebona Bula's third spot here last time was the first time he's been placed in a dozen starts on the surface and he's still a couple of pounds high in the weights while Blue Cross Boy has a poor strike-rate with just one victory in 34 starts. WORD FOR WORD has become expensive to follow and his lone success came over a year ago but he ran his best race for some time over slightly further here last week and is taken to go one better.
Formwatch
Chebona Bula 25-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, ridden into 5th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Tribes And Banner (11-9) at Dundalk 1m 4f Amateur Handicap (55-75) (4yo+) pol.
Saint By Day (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 5th 2f out, soon no extra and weakened, 12th of 14, 19l behind Mutasareb (9-13) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp 47-65 pol.
Rocky's Pride (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) Mid-division, ridden in 9th 2f out, no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace, 9th of 14, 6l behind Knockgraffon Lad (9-7) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp 47-65 pol in Dec.
Elusive Express (IRE) 2-1fav (9-6) Rear of mid-division, headway into 8th 2f out, ridden into 5th 1f out, kept on final furlong to press winner close home, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Cool Athlete (9-11) at Dundalk 1m hcp 47-65 pol.
Word For Word (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden to lead 1 1/2f out, headed under 1f out, no extra and kept on same pace, 2nd of 14, 2 3/4l behind General Bunching (9-4) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp 47-65 pol.
Ma Ani (USA) 8-1 (8-12) Chased leader in 2nd, ridden 2f out, no extra in 3rd 1f out, kept on one pace, 6th of 14, 13l behind Mutasareb (9-11) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp 47-65 pol.
Naked Cowboy (IRE) 8-1 (8-2) Prominent, close 3rd halfway, moderate 2nd 2f out, no extra from over 1f out, 7th of 18, 20l behind Jills Ballet (9-2) at Curragh 1m app hcp 50-85 sft in Oct.
Brecan Boy (IRE) 20-1 (7-12) Never a factor, ridden along in rear entering straight, 13th of 14, 15l behind Master Melody (8-9) at Dundalk 1m 3f 3yo hcp 47-75 pol in Dec.
The Reek 33-1 (8-11) Rear of mid-division for most, never a factor, 12th of 14, 24l behind Melodie D'amour (9-2) at Dundalk 1m 3f mdn stks pol.
Blue Cross Boy (USA) 12-1 (8-3) Mid-division, 8th halfway, 6th 3f out, ridden 2f out, stayed on into 3rd 1f out, no extra final furlong, 6th of 14, 5l behind General Bunching (9-4) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp 47-65 pol.
Cathrine De Medici (IRE) 7-1 (8-10) Mid-division, 7th halfway, 6th 3f out, ridden in 4th 2f out, no extra over 1f out, 10th of 14, 10l behind Heir To The Mint (8-11) at Dundalk 1m hcp 47-65 pol.
Optiflame (IRE) 20-1 (8-9) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden and no impression straight, 6th of 14, 12l behind Elwazeer (8-9) at Dundalk 1m hcp 47-65 pol in Dec.