Racecards
14:20 Gowran Park (IRE)
Kilkenny Handicap Hurdle (81-130)
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- €14,500 added
- Winner: €10,005
- 2nd: €2,320
- 3rd: €1,015
- 4th: €580
- Form 136-900
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer O McKiernan
- Jockey P W Flood
tracked leaders in 4th, improved to lead approaching 3 out, ridden and strongly pressed from next, kept on well under pressure from last, all out
- Form 7418-PP
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 119
slowly away and held up in rear, weakened from 3 out, tailed off
- Form 2215-42
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer C Byrnes
- Jockey D N Russell
2nd early, 3rd halfway, 4th after 3 out, soon ridden, kept on to go moderate 3rd after last
- Form 741-205
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer I R Ferguson
- Jockey A P Heskin
mid-division, progress into 6th after halfway, 2nd after 3 out, soon challenged, 3rd and no impression approaching last, no extra run-in
- Form 744-601
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 112
settled 3rd, improved into 2nd from 4th, 3rd 3 out, 2nd and ridden to challenge after 2 out, every chance from last, kept on well, just failed
- Form 18-8051
- Age 7
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer C A McBratney
- Jockey E J O'connell
held up towards rear, progress into 7th before 2 out, kept on from before last
- Form 3-50406
- Age 8
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer N Meade
- Jockey Paul Carberry
held up in touch, progress after 3 out, 6th approaching 2 out, ridden and no impression
- Form 0-08050
- Age 9
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer A Mullins
- Jockey D E Mullins
led, headed and weakened quickly approaching 3 out, tailed off
Karlu (GER)
13- Form 2151/00
- Age 9
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer J C McConnell
- Jockey B Browne
settled 6th, 7th 4 out, no extra from next
- Form 144F58
- Age 10
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer J J Murphy
- Jockey G Sheehan
held up in touch, progress into 6th 3 out, 5th before 2 out, kept on same pace
- Form 18-0706
- Age 7
- Weight 9-13
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer P Fenton
- Jockey S J Hassett
tracked leaders in 5th, lost place 3 out, soon no extra
- Form 3-00003
- Age 10
- Weight 9-12
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer P J Rothwell
- Jockey S W Jackson
always towards rear, eased from 2 out
- Form 037/0-6
- Age 7
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer J Morrison
- Jockey P F Mangan
towards rear, no impression from before 2 out, one pace
In depth
Verdict
The heavier the ground the better for Sole Witness, who ploughed through the Down Royal mud to land a handicap three weeks ago for which a 6lb rise doesn't appear excessive. MIGHT BE MAGIC was having only his sixth start over timber when beating Benash at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day. The runner-up was conceding lumps of weight but has won very easily since and the form looks strong enough for this. Jak Dream, who was beaten 12 lengths, looks held while the front-running Sounds Of Jupiter may be vulnerable to a finisher on the likely testing ground. Kilbrannish Hill scored over 2m5f on good ground at Perth last April and will probably find this on the short side.
Formwatch
Whodoyouthink (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Always behind, completely tailed off, 23rd of 26, well behind Final Approach (10-9) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-145 sft.
Some Slam (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) Led, headed 4 out, soon no extra and weakened, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Final Approach (10-9) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-145 sft, 26 ran.
Sounds of Jupiter (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Attempted to make all, jumped well, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon no impression on winner, 2nd of 3, 8l behind Rory Anna (10-9) at Limerick 2m 4yo hdl in Dec.
Kilbrannish Hill (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Mid-division, 12th approaching 4 out, 6th and progress approaching 3 out, 3rd into straight, soon ridden, no extra before last, 5th of 19, 18l behind Benash (11-12) at Naas 2m hcp hdl 8Evens23.
Might Be Magic 7-1 (9-13) Always prominent, 2nd halfway, challenged early straight, ridden to lead between final two flights, strongly pressed last, kept on best under pressure run-in to assert closing stages, won at Fairyhouse 2m hcp hdl 8Evens30 beating Benash (11-1) by 2l, 9 ran.
Sole Witness (IRE) 15-2 (11-7) Mid-division, headway into 5th 3 out, ridden to challenge in 2nd 2 out, soon led, kept on well from before last, won at Down Royal 2m cond hcp hdl 80-102 hvy in Dec beating Chino Valdes (10-11) by 3/4l, 18 ran.
Kid Curry (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Mid-division, ridden into 7th 3 out, no extra in 6th 2 out, kept on same pace, 6th of 18, 12l behind Another Palm (10-11) at Down Royal 2m 4f mdn hdl hvy in Dec.
The Last Stand 14-1 (11-9) Chased leaders early, soon dropped towards rear, completely tailed off, last of 12, well behind Lucky Spring (11-1) at Navan 2m hcp hdl 80-109 sft in Dec.
Karlu (GER) 33-1 (10-2) Always behind, 16th of 19, well behind Benash (11-12) at Naas 2m hcp hdl 8Evens23.
Matchbook (IRE) 16-1 (9-13) Held up in rear, no impression from 3 out, one pace, 8th of 14, 29l behind Rakamasi (9-11) at Naas 2m hcp chs 0-109.
Sunshine Haven (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Mid-division, mistake 4th, 8th halfway, in touch approaching straight, no extra from 2 out, kept on one pace, 6th of 18, 23l behind Belle Brook (10-13) at Thurles 2m mares mdn hdl.
Jak Dream 14-1 (9-10) Mid-division, 5th on outer halfway, ridden and no impression in 4th approaching last, kept on one pace without threatening, 3rd of 9, 12l behind Might Be Magic (9-13) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp hdl 8Evens30.
Ghareer (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Mid-division, 7th approaching 5th, no danger and kept on same pace without threatening from after 3 out, 6th of 12, 14l behind Jacks Island (9-10) at Clonmel 2m hcp hdl 80-109 in Nov.