JESMOND Lodge was desperately unlucky not to land a nice pot over timber at Ballinrobe last week and can gain some compensation tonight at Roscommon.
John Ryan’s filly looked set to run out a cosy winner last time but crashed out at the final flight with the race at her mercy.
That came only a few days after landing a maiden hurdle at Sligo and connections look to have made a smart move switching back to the level now judging by her Flat mark.
She has to race from a couple of pounds out of the handicap proper in the Pyramid Bookmakers (Fillies) Handicap but a rating of 54 looks low.
The daughter of Tagula was placed over six furlongs last season, so is not short of pace, and that was off a mark of 67. She dropped a few pounds after that run but her final mark was still 59.
This ten furlong trip should suit back on the level, given that she’s been running over two miles over hurdles, and she is one of only a few runners coming into the race in form.
Liffey View has been running consistently and may be the danger. It was a decent effort to finish fifth behind easy winner Romiac at Galway and a step back up to ten furlongs should suit as she looked a touch one-paced then.
Alertness has been well held on her last couple of outings but should get closer now tackling handicap company for the first time.
The fact that she ran well to finish second over course and distance in a maiden here in June is a plus and it wouldn’t be a surprise if she ran a big race now.
The opening two-year-old auction race looks a decent enough contest and the maiden Last Waltz looks the pick getting weight from the couple of winners in the field.
She stayed on nicely on her debut at Cork over five furlongs on her debut and the step up in trip should suit now.
That form looks strong with the winner going on to score in Listed company since.
Roibeard won an ordinary enough looking race at Down Royal last month and has as stiff task under top-weight.
Henshaw won on his debut over course and distance before being outclassed upped to a Group 3 at Leopardstown. This is more his level and he could be the danger.
Experience may prove the difference for King Christophe in the three-year-old hurdle. He was third in the first juvenile hurdle here earlier in the month and that run should have sharpened up his jumping.
To Choose, a previous winner on the Flat here, looks on a nice mark returning to the level in the mile-and-a-half handicap while Ultimate Horseman deserves to get his head in front in the concluding maiden hurdle.
Selections:
5.15 Last Waltz (dbl) Henshaw
5.45 Joe Eile Strait Of Zanzibar
6.15 Jesmond Lodge (nap) Alertness
6.45 To Choose Grandma Dotty
7.15 King Christophe Officer Sydney
7.45 Presenting Mahler Kris Kindle
8.15 Ultimate Horseman Bay Of Freedom
