16:10 Cork

Sunday 16 April 2017

All14:0014:3015:0515:3516:1016:4517:2017:50

Easter Handicap Hurdle (0-145) (Grade B)

Off time: 16:12 | Winning time: 4m 32.50s

Jeannot De Nonant^b¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: C Brassil⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 138

20/1

Had failed to show any glimpses of his good French form until running into two rapidly improving horses in a hot race at Limerick last time. Finished clear of the fourth that day and the handicapper has raised him 2lb. Talented claimer booked to ride and has every chance now back up in distance.

Form: 4P0738-

Carrig Cathal³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 136

6/1

Has gone well in a couple of hotly contested races lately. Handicapper has had his say and may have put this out of his range unless astute trainer has found further improvement.

Form: 4BU324

Gusty Rocky¹⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Flynn| OR: 136

16/1

Hurdles record is 3-15. Suited to big fields and good ground but record indicates this first run after a break may be needed.

Form: P13543

Pique Sous^t²³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 134

13/2

Has not run over hurdles since contesting the 2013 Galway Plate. Has run to a good standard on the Flat more recently and he is an interesting runner for his powerful yard who have not landed this race since 2008.

Form: 161P/04

Burgas^t1²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: G N Fox| T: N Meade| OR: 133

14/1

Smart maiden/handicap hurdler last year, not disgraced in three runs over fences this term in amongst good horses and produced an excellent run over these obstacles at Thurles behind Open Eagle. Could be considered well handicapped if that form can be taken at face value.

Form: 234373

Bravissimo³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: N M Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 131

10/1

Had subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner Champagne Classic behind in third when landing his maiden at Limerick on Boxing Day. Down the field at Cheltenham himself when the stable had that barren spell over the opening days. Impossible to rule out.

Form: 3/1700

Justmemyselfandi⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: B T O'Connell| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 129

12/1

Has only had three runs over hurdles and the form of his Leopardstown victory suggests his handicap mark is about right. Remains open to improvement and stable took this last year.

Form: 332160

Lilshane²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: B J Foley⁽⁷⁾| T: T P O'Connor| OR: 123

16/1

Has a record of 3-33 and recent form has been patchy. Just denied last time and an 8lb rise leaves him requiring a career best in order to take this. Finds himself 3lb worse off with Miles To Memphis for his defeat at Navan in February.

Form: 2282P0-

Little Stevie^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Adrian Heskin| T: E Bolger| OR: 120

12/1

Found extra for the fitting of a tongue-tie last time when noted coming from a long way back to take third under a claimer. Gets stronger handling here and with solid claims based on his course win in November (third won next time).

Form: 218P39-

Pairofbrowneyes^p³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: R M Power| T: Barry J Murphy| OR: 120

8/1

Has been hit hard by the handicapper in recent months and now switches to hurdles where he is more leniently treated. Has the right man on board in going for this valuable prize.

Form: 232206

Bitview Colin^b,t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: P E Corbett⁽³⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 119

33/1

Appeared to be heading in the right direction at Navan a month ago but the blinkers/tonge-tie combination did not have the same effect next time.

Form: 3700-94

Conduct Yourself⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Brian Hayes| T: J E Kiely| OR: 119

25/1

Soft ground following a six month break can excuse a poor run last time. Her summer and autumn form, including a good second to the useful Peregrine Run, entitles her to more respect.

Form: 1372P1

Miles To Memphis^t⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: M A Enright| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 119

16/1

Was making his debut for new yard following a nine month absence when springing a 25/1 surprise two months ago. He is now 4-8 during a troubled career and has more to offer if staying sound. A 10lb rise for this still leaves him fairly treated based on his form in Britain.

Form: 57/P128-

Mr Boss Man²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Phillip Enright| T: N Slevin| OR: 118

25/1

Produced some good runs in the autumn on good ground which did not escape the handicapper. Reverts to hurdles having failed to make an impression over fences. Has something to find at the weights.

Form: 884-45F

Knockraha Pylon^t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: D Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: A Maguire| OR: 117

20/1

Form is very much a mixed bag. The best of her efforts over hurdles leave her with something to find.

Form: 222-451

Lachares¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: Rachael Blackmore⁽³⁾| T: Miss Ellmarie Holden| OR: 115

7/2

Has dominated his rivals in his last to starts and a 9lb rise for his latest Limerick success may not be enough to thwart his hat-trick bid. Connections expect further improvement on a sounder surface and that makes him one the leading contenders.

Form: 332113-

Next Bend¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: J M Moore| T: T Gibney| OR: 113

14/1

Back to his best when a comfortable winner last time. A 9lb rise and quicker conditions make a follow up less likely.

Form: 249410

Coolmill¹³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 9-10| J: C D Maxwell| T: D O'Shea| OR: 109

25/1

Has only made the frame twice since his last success 14 races ago. Looks up against it at this level.

Form: 53P00-0

Futuramic³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 9-10| J: Robbie Colgan| T: A Lynch| OR: 109

33/1

Best recent efforts have been over more extreme distances than this. Better handicapped over hurdles than fences and still to capitalise on this mark.

Form: 3P-F702

Forecasts

Lachares (7/2), Carrig Cathal (6/1), Pique Sous (13/2), Pairofbrowneyes (8/1), Bravissimo (10/1), Little Stevie (12/1), Justmemyselfandi (12/1), Burgas (14/1), Next Bend (14/1), Miles To Memphis (16/1), Gusty Rocky (16/1), Lilshane (16/1), Knockraha Pylon (20/1), Jeannot De Nonant (20/1), Conduct Yourself (25/1), Coolmill (25/1), Mr Boss Man (25/1), Bitview Colin (33/1), Futuramic (33/1)

MILES TO MEMPHIS won with something to spare at Navan in February and, despite a 10lb rise in the weights, now meets the runner-up Lilshane on better terms. That was his first run in several months and with better ground likely to prove more suitable, "Sneezy" Foster is taken to produce him right once more. Lachares is on a good run and has every chance of adding to his tally from the front. The Elliott and Walsh battalions have assembled a strong challenge and a case can be made for all their runners. Little Stevie and Conduct Yourself are a pair of outsiders who can be considered well treated if their autumn form can be taken literally.