Racecards
20:30 Dundalk (IRE)
Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 1m 4f
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Polytrack
- €24,000 added
- Winner: €14,760
- 2nd: €4,560
- 3rd: €2,160
- 4th: €960
- Form 528442
- Age 5
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer G P Cromwell
- Jockey C T Keane
towards rear, 7th halfway, ridden and headway to 5th 1 1/2f out, kept on final furlong to 4th, no threat
- Form 237106
- Age 4
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer J S Bolger
- Jockey K J Manning
raced 4th on inner, no extra 2f out, weakened final furlong, eased final 100 yards
- Form 055233
- Age 6
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer K H Clarke
- Jockey R P Downey
towards rear, 8th halfway, ridden under 2f out, no impression, kept on one pace final furlong
- Form 60-1122
- Age 8
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer J E Kiely
- Jockey P J Smullen
ran 5th, 6th halfway, good headway to 2nd 1 1/2f out, ridden and edged left, strongly challenged leader 1f out, kept on well, not match winner close home
- Form 347154
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey Anastasia O'Brien
held up in rear, 9th halfway, travelled well into 3rd entering straight, ridden to lead 1 1/2f out, soon strongly pressed, kept on best final furlong
- Form 056655
- Age 5
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 86
settled 6th, 5th halfway, pushed along in 6th 4f out, dropped towards rear approaching straight, no extra under 2f out
- Form 449-191
- Age 6
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer M J Smith
- Jockey W M Lordan
tracked leader in 3rd, progress to 2nd 5f out, improved to lead briefly under 2f out, soon headed, kept on one pace final furlong
- Form 300700
- Age 9
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer D Hogan
- Jockey K J Leonard
awkward leaving stalls, raced in rear, pushed along in 11th halfway, no impression, no extra over 1f out
- Form 399247
- Age 6
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer Mrs P Dobbs
- Jockey N G McCullagh
pushed up to lead early, 3 lengths clear halfway, reduced advantage over 2f out, ridden and headed under 2f out, kept on same pace
- Form 3D4472
- Age 4
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer L Comer
- Jockey R P Cleary
pushed up to 2nd early, 3rd 5f out, ran wide on bend under 4f out, weakened to rear 3f out, eased entering straight, completely tailed off
- Form 086962
- Age 5
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 74
rear, 10th halfway, ridden and headway to 3rd 1f out, kept on, not trouble leaders
Verdict
Winter Lion is better known as a hurdler and ran at Cheltenham in October before making his stamina count and scoring over two miles here three weeks ago for which he's been raised 4lb. Runner-up Venezia is also better over further but POLITICAL POLICY (NAP) loves it around here. Gavin Cromwell's charge was in tremendous form here last winter winning four times and looked on the way back when chasing home Stronger Than Me a couple of weeks ago. He had Poitin and Jaqen H'ghar just behind with Ringside Humour a further two lengths away so should confirm the form. Rainbow Pride has joined Luke Comer from Sir Mark Prescott who campaigned him over much further this summer but a bigger threat may emerge in the shape of Ancient Sands. He's had five starts on this track and won four of them and was conceding Poitin 11lb when beaten three lengths in the other and has been in winning form over hurdles this summer.
Formwatch
Political Policy (IRE) 10-1 (9-10) Mid-division, 6th halfway, ridden and no impression over 1f out, went 2nd 100 yards out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Stronger Than Me (9-5) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Nov.
Ringside Humour (IRE) 8-1 (9-8) Led, pushed along and headed under 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Stronger Than Me (9-5) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Nov.
Poitin 8-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden under 2f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Stronger Than Me (9-5) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Nov.
Ancient Sands (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Mid-division, no impression and kept on same pace from last, 5th of 13, 8 1/2l behind Dalmatia (10-5) at Punchestown 2m hcp sft in Nov.
Jaqen H'ghar (IRE) 4-1 (9-1) Towards rear, 11th halfway, progress under 2f out and 4th 1f out, no impression inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 2l behind Stronger Than Me (9-5) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Nov.
Lusis Naturea 11-2 (9-1) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along 2f out and ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 11, 4l behind Stronger Than Me (9-5) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Nov.
Winter Lion (IRE) 11-1 (8-7) Soon tracked leader in 2nd, travelled well to lead entering straight, ridden over 1f out, kept on strongly, won at Dundalk 2m hcp pol in Nov beating Venezia (8-5) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Kalann (IRE) 50-1 (8-9) Always towards rear, never a factor, pushed along approaching straight and no impression under 2f out, no extra, last of 11, 9 3/4l behind Stronger Than Me (9-5) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp pol in Nov.
Carried (IRE) 10-3 (8-8) Broke well, soon raced 3rd, ridden under 2f out, weakened over 1f out, eased closing stages, 7th of 8, 5 1/2l behind Winter Lion (8-7) at Dundalk 2m hcp pol in Nov.
Rainbow Pride (IRE) 14-1 (9-12) Pulled hard, close up, ridden to chase winner over 2f out, stayed on one pace final furlong, 2nd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Glorious Legend (8-4) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp (5) sft in Sep.
Venezia (IRE) 8-1 (8-5) In rear, 7th halfway, pushed along in 6th 1f out, soon ridden, kept on well to 2nd close home, not trouble winner, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Winter Lion (8-7) at Dundalk 2m hcp pol in Nov.