Racecards
12:30 Down Royal (IRE)
Irish Stallions Farms European Breeders Fund Beginners Chase
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Soft, Heavy in places
- Surface: Turf
- €12,000 added
- Winner: €8,280
- 2nd: €1,920
- 3rd: €840
- 4th: €480
- Form 130-3F7
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer C F Swan
- Jockey N P Madden
chased leaders, mistake 3rd, 5th when fell 7th
- Form 415-4F3
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer C A Murphy
- Jockey K C Sexton
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, closer in 2nd 3 out, ridden before 2 out, no impression on winner before last, kept on one pace
- Form 114/50F
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer I R Ferguson
- Jockey Liam McKenna
held up, mainly mid-division, ridden in 6th 5 out, left moderate 5th and hampered 3 out, left moderate 4th and hampered 2 out, no impression, kept on one pace to 3rd run-in
- Form 96-322F
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer S J Mahon
- Jockey M J Bolger
led, mistake 5 out, soon headed, ridden in 3rd 3 out, no extra in 4th before 2 out, left moderate 3rd, lost 3rd run-in
- Form 2/31272-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
held up early, slight mistake 6th, mid-division halfway, mistake 8th, soon dropped towards rear and weakened, pulled up before 4 out
- Form 70-4232
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 121
chased leaders, led after 5 out, ridden and asserted before last, kept on well
- Form B5P245
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer A Stronge
- Jockey J S McGarvey
held up towards rear, slight mistake 8th, ridden and no impression before 4 out, weakened and tailed off
- Form 31U-1F6
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer D H Kelly
- Jockey S W Flanagan
held up towards rear, slight mistake 6 out, progress into 5th before 4 out where mistake, ridden and no impression when fell 3 out
- Form 15/1312-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer C A McBratney
- Jockey B R Dalton
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden into 3rd before 2 out, no impression when fell 2 out
- Form 700F60
- Age 4
- Weight 11-0
always towards rear, ridden and no impression 4 out where slight mistake, weakened and tailed off
Verdict
Empire Of Dirt, a Listed winner over hurdles, came up against a couple of smart performers at Navan and shouldn't find this quite as tough. Smokey Joe Joe was a 66/1 chance when runner-up to Mr Fiftyone at Thurles last month and soon departed on his next start. Soweheard was a short-priced beaten favourite on his last three starts over timber and hasn't been seen since the summer of last year but has always had the look of a chaser. DOWN ACE did well over hurdles in the UK and should be winning soon over fences for Noel Meade. He's been making too many mistakes so far but a clear round of jumping can see him gain his first success over the bigger obstacles. Toye Native was in good form over hurdles when last seen over a year ago and she won't mind the conditions.
Formwatch
Drumlee (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in 8th and no impression approaching 3 out, kept on one pace, 7th of 18, 24l behind Lots Of Memories (11-12) at Navan 2m 1f beg chs.
Empire Of Dirt (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Led, ridden 3 out, headed before next, soon no impression in 3rd, kept on one paced, 3rd of 14, 24l behind Wounded Warrior (11-12) at Navan 2m 4f beg chs.
Leighinmohr (IRE) 50-1 (10-10) Settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, fell 5 out, in a race won by Sizing Coal (11-0) at Navan 2m 4f nov chs, 8 ran.
Smokey Joe Joe (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Disputing lead when fell 2nd, in a race won by Its The Ice I Like (9-13) at Navan 2m 4f hcp chs 0-116, 8 ran.
Soweheard (IRE) 4-5fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, not always fluent, ridden before 3 out, soon outpaced, stayed on to take 2nd after last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 11l behind Mr Satco (10-12) at Cartmel 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Jul '13.
Down Ace (IRE) 9-2 (10-10) Led, slight mistake 5th, bad mistake 6 out, clear entering straight, ridden and strongly pressed after 2 out, headed and bad mistake at last, kept on same pace in 2nd run-in, 2nd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Ros Brin (10-9) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp chs in Nov.
Shershewill (IRE) 33-1 (9-8) In rear, ridden 4 out, some progress into moderate 6th entering straight, soon no impression, 5th of 8, 44l behind Ros Brin (10-9) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp chs in Nov.
The Housekeeper (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Prominent, soon 4th, 3rd 4 out, no extra from after 2 out, 6th of 16, 44l behind Vautour (11-12) at Navan 2m 1f beg chs sft in Nov.
Toye Native (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) In rear and in touch, headway 4 out to go 2nd, one pace and held when mistake last, 2nd of 4, 5l behind Emily's Flyer (10-5) at Perth 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Sep '13.
The Last Hour (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, mistake 2nd, no impression from 4 out, never a factor, 12th of 14, well behind Wounded Warrior (11-12) at Navan 2m 4f beg chs.