Racecards
15:40 Navan (IRE)
Simonstown Handicap Chase (0-109)
- 17 Runners
- Distance: 3m
- Going: Soft, Soft/Heavy in places
- Surface: Turf
- €10,000 added
- Winner: €6,900
- 2nd: €1,600
- 3rd: €700
- 4th: €400
- Form 232-324
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer E Doyle
- Jockey A F O'Neill
chased leaders, 5th after 8th, on terms 11th, led narrowly soon after 3 out, kept on well under pressure run-in
- Form P-FUP6P
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer L Whitmore
- Jockey J L Cullen
chased leaders early, 12th after 8th, mistake 11th, mistake 5 out, soon under pressure, 7th before straight, tight for room when mistake 3 out, no extra
- Form 0-46412
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer L Casey
- Jockey K C Sexton
led and disputed, slight mistake 6th, slightly slow and joined next, jumped slightly right 9th, not fluent 10th, headed from before 3 out, soon no extra
- Form 3-38956
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer A Mullins
- Jockey D N Russell
chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, 10th after 8th, impeded 12th, soon no danger, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 260-F73
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 104
soon mid-division, 7th after 8th, 8th before straight, mistake 3 out, no extra
- Form 04890-5
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer P G Kelly
- Jockey Mr S D Bohan
held up, 16th after 8th, pushed along 11th, soon no danger, tailed off
- Form 22008U
- Age 11
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 102
towards rear, slow jump 5th, soon pushed along briefly, 15th after 8th, reminders after 9th, impeded 12th, soon pulled up
- Form 09P-512
- Age 10
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 99
close up and disputed lead, slight mistake 11th, still on terms 3 out, soon narrowly headed, kept on without matching winner run-in
- Form 33-0U46
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer F Flood
- Jockey M A Enright
chased leaders early, 14th after 8th, impeded 12th, slightly slow 4 out, 9th before straight, moderate 4th 2 out, still in that position when fell last
- Form 200-011
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer J Dullea
- Jockey Mr D L Queally
prominent, slightly slow in jumping at times, 3rd after 8th, 4th before straight, moderate 3rd 2 out, soon one pace
- Form 38/6562
- Age 7
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer S Neville
- Jockey M P Fogarty
chased leaders, tended to jump left, 8th after 8th, fell 12th
- Form 14-8V21
- Age 9
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer P Stafford
- Jockey A J Fox
chased leaders, 11th after 8th, 6th before straight, no extra from after 3 out
- Form 1194-3F
- Age 9
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer S McConville
- Jockey R P Treacy
prominent, 4th after 8th, reminders 5 out, dropped to moderate 11th before straight, no extra, tailed off
- Form 60-F836
- Age 9
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer Peter L Kavanagh
- Jockey D J Condon
soon mid-division, 13th after 8th, pushed along 11th, impeded 12th, 10th before straight, no extra from 3 out
- Form 054697
- Age 9
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer V T O'Brien
- Jockey P T Enright
prominent early, slightly slow 5th, 9th after 8th, reminder after 9th, pulled up 12th
- Form U75-588
- Age 9
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer P J Rothwell
- Jockey Rachael Blackmore
held up, closer in 6th after 8th, 5th before straight, no extra from 3 out
- Form 0-606PU
- Age 11
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer Kevin McDonagh
- Jockey S J Crimin
towards rear, last after 8th, impeded 12th, no danger next, pulled up before 3 out
- Form 0P-F423
- Age 13
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 97
Verdict
Betterthanalright has only won once over fences, at Thurles last month where he had Its The Ice I Like 7l back in second, but went up 7lb before a very good effort over a slightly shorter trip back on the same track. He's been raised another 2l but should still give another good account. He finished 13l behind WEST OF THE EDGE at Tramore last month and should get a bit closer though the winner won again over hurdles on a return visit and is progressing so fast that a hat-trick beckons. The stamina-packed Gibbstown was sent to Ayr to land a minor handicap in testing going and his young rider's claim can see him competitive along with Distracted, who made an impressive handicap debut at Tramore on New Year's Day where she defied several mistakes to finish a close second.
Formwatch
Davy From Milan (IRE) 3-1fav (11-7) Chased leaders, jumped left and not fluent 7th, soon raced in 5th, 6th before straight, moderate 5th approaching 2 out and no impression, one pace, 4th of 16, 22l behind Cork Citizen (11-7) at Limerick 2m 6f hts chs in Dec.
Loch Dara (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, slight mistake 6th, towards rear and not fluent next, last at 8th and inclined to jump left from there home, tailed off before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Portrait King (11-6) at Punchestown 3m 1f Am hcp ch sft, 7 ran.
Betterthanalright (IRE) 2-1fav (10-5) Led, headed after 6th, 3rd 3 out, left 2nd next and soon disputed, under pressure and headed run-in, kept on one pace, 2nd of 7, nk behind Kilcrea (11-1) at Thurles 2m 6f hcp chs 0-123.
Zuccotti Park (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Led, joined 5th, headed and not fluent 4 out, dropped to 6th and pushed along before straight, no impression when slightly impeded 2 out, no extra, tailed off, 6th of 10, well behind Val De Ferbet (11-11) at Fairyhouse 3m beg chs sft in Dec.
He Rock's (IRE) 16-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, no impression after 3 out, left moderate 3rd next, kept on one pace, 3rd of 7, 20l behind Kilcrea (11-1) at Thurles 2m 6f hcp chs 0-123.
Two In A Row (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Towards rear, pushed along and no impression in 7th before 4 out, jumped right 2 out and left moderate 5th, no extra, 5th of 10, 28l behind Black Zero (10-12) at Thurles 2m 2f cond hcp chs 0-116 hvy in Dec.
Cherryantor (IRE) 25-1 (10-3) Mid-division, mistake and unseated rider 7th, in a race won by Sword Fish (11-1) at Fairyhouse 3m 1f hcp chs sft, 11 ran.
Its The Ice I Like (IRE) 9-4fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, 3rd after 3 out, no impression in 2nd and mistake last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 18, 7l behind Betterthanalright (11-5) at Thurles 3m hcp chs 0-102 hvy in Dec.
Miss Xian (IRE) 11-2 (11-3) Disputed lead early, jumped slightly left 3rd where 3rd, slightly slow 6th, 4th 3 out where not fluent, 5th 2 out, soon no impression, one pace, 6th of 10, 14l behind Treacy's Star (9-13) at Punchestown 2m 4f cnd hcp chs (0-109) sft.
West Of The Edge (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) Raced 4th, mid-division after 2nd, improved and on terms at 3rd, 3rd halfway, led narrowly 8th, pressed 3 out, ridden 2 out, driven after last, stayed on well, won at Tramore 2m 5f hcp hdl 80-102 sft beating Change The Rules (10-6) by 2 1/4l, 11 ran.
Distracted (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Raced 5th, slight mistake 4th, bad mistake 9th, progress to 4th after 4 out, ridden into 3rd 2 out, stayed on to lead at last, kept on same pace, headed close home, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Tyrone House (11-1) at Tramore 2m 6f hcp chs 0-95 sft.
Gibbstown (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) In rear, outpaced from 12th, headway before 4 out, went 3rd before 2 out, soon chased leader, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy beating Trouble In Paris (10-0) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Kerrib Castle (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Close up, fell 3rd, in a race won by Ardmillan (10-7) at Down Royal 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Town Pond (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Towards rear, never a factor, 12th 5 out, pushed along in 8th before 2 out, kept on one pace, 6th of 18, 20l behind Betterthanalright (11-5) at Thurles 3m hcp chs 0-102 hvy in Dec.
Fureys Cross (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, 9th halfway, 5th 5 out, no impression and slight mistake next, no extra, 7th of 18, 38l behind Betterthanalright (11-5) at Thurles 3m hcp chs 0-102 hvy in Dec.
Cross To Boston (IRE) 25-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, improved into 2nd halfway, mistake 8th, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 8th of 11, well behind Black Zero (11-10) at Limerick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-109 in Dec.
What A Island (IRE) 33-1 (9-13) Hampered and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Betterthanalright (11-5) at Thurles 3m hcp chs 0-102 hvy in Dec, 18 ran.
Montana Slim (IRE) 4-1fav (9-3) Held up in rear, slight mistake 3rd, progress into 6th and ridden 3 out, moderate 4th after 2 out, left 3rd at last, no extra, 3rd of 11, 5l behind Sword Fish (11-1) at Fairyhouse 3m 1f hcp chs sft.