Racecards
17:15 Kilbeggan (IRE)
Joe Cooney Memorial Hurdle
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 180y
- Going: Good to Yielding
- Surface: Turf
- €11,500 added
- Winner: €6,899
- 2nd: €2,300
- 3rd: €1,150
- 4th: €575
- Form 6333-16
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey L P Dempsey
led, slight mistake 3 out, headed from next and pushed along, dropped to rear approaching straight, no impression
- Form 64/5446-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer R K Watson
- Jockey D J O'Keeffe
chased leaders, soon 4th, closed from 3 out, 2nd after next, soon pushed along, not match winner from before straight, one pace
Ornua (IRE)
32- Form 8032-83
- Age 9
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey D Robinson
prominent early, soon raced in 3rd, not fluent 2 out, soon pushed along in rear, headway again approaching straight, soon no impression, one pace
- Form 8P300-8
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey P Townend
prominent, soon raced in 2nd, led from 2 out, pushed along and went on from before straight, stayed on well run-in, easily
- Form 4453-22
- Age 8
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 125
waited with in rear, closed on outer approaching 5th, soon tracked leaders, fell 6th
Verdict
Willie Mullins has two entries here. MISTER BLUE SKY won a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse last April after which he raced in strong company. He ran very well on the Flat at Galway last week so gets the nod despite Paul Townend choosing to ride Sayo. The latter's last victory was over fences at Galway in October but he ran well without getting the run of the race in a Grade B hurdle at the same track last week. Mengli Khan is better known as a chaser these days but had Jaime Sommers a length behind when scoring over the track and trip last month before a poor run back over fences at Galway. Ornua, last year's Grade 1 Maghull Novices' Chase winner at Aintree, was well beaten back over timber at Tipperary in June while Dolciano Dici hasn't won since scoring in France in 2016.
Formwatch
Mengli Khan (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, closed up approaching 3rd, soon 2nd, lost position from 2 out, pushed along from last, weakened straight, 6th of 7, 31 1/4l behind The Storyteller (11-5) at Galway 2m 7f sft in Jul.
Dolciano Dici (FR) 125-1 (11-12) Mid-division, moderate 9th after 5f, no extra final 3f, 11th of 18, dist behind Felix Desjy (11-12) at Navan 2m mdn Yielding in Jul.
Ornua (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Chased leader, led after 2nd, ridden and headed before 3 out, no extra in 2nd 2 out, 3rd and kept on one pace from before last, 3rd of 10, 18l behind Everlastingpromise (10-1) at Killarney 2m 1f hcp gd in Jul.
Sayo 9-1 (11-9) Close up, slight mistake 2nd, disputed lead at times and a little slow in jumping at times, slight mistake 7th, slightly impeded after 10th, soon lost position and kept on same pace, 8th of 18, 22 1/4l behind Great White Shark (11-1) at Galway 2m 7f hcp sft in Jul.
Jaime Sommers (IRE) 15-2 (10-1) Soon led, joined 3f out, ridden and strongly pressed over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 16, 3 1/4l behind Happy Company (9-10) at Leopardstown 1m 5f hcp gd in Aug.
Mister Blue Sky (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Dwelt and awkward leaving stalls, soon chased leader on inner, 7th halfway, headway over 1f out, not much room on rail final 150 yards, no extra, 12th of 20, 4 3/4l behind Princess Zoe (10-13) at Galway 2m 1f hcp sft in Jul.