15:15 Thurles

Thursday 23 November 2017

All12:3013:0013:3514:0514:4015:1515:50

Killinan Handicap Hurdle (80-95)

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 4m 8.80s

Excelli²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: L P Dempsey| T: A A Howard| OR: 94

13/2

Last seen over hurdles in January when well beaten 47L over 2m in a Leopardstown maiden hurdle on good ground. Worth a market check and not to be dismissed.

Form: 888-

Howaya Hurricane¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: R Loughran| T: G Keane| OR: 92

33/1

Modest 45-rated handicapper on the Flat and pulled up on last hurdles start earlier this month at Fairyhouse over 2m on soft ground. Possibly best watched on current form.

Form: F7/455-P

Simiel¹⁵⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: D Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 92

8/1

96-rated chaser from a powerful stable finished seventh of 18 well beaten 21L behind Just Janice when last seen over hurdles. Still only one from 10 over hurdles but can go well in this company.

Form: 966-07U

Fern Owl¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Phillip Enright| T: E Doyle| OR: 90| D

16/1

Four-race maiden hurdler who has been beaten a total of 140L in his last two starts including last time out at Naas when 10th of 12 runners. Others preferred.

Form: 0990

Apache Gold²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: A McCurtin⁽⁵⁾| T: J J Walsh| OR: 89

20/1

Modest 50-rated Flat handicapper who is without a win in three starts over hurdles and well beaten a total of 96L in his last two hurdle starts at Limerick in December. Looks a tall order on form shown.

Form: 7/00-

Lagenod²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: A E Lynch| T: R Sweeney| OR: 87

14/1

Emerged from the point-to-point ranks in September but has been well beaten in three hurdle starts not starting at less than 100/1. Others preferred.

Form: PPP-080

Oakfield Rose^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Flanagan| T: Eric Larkin| OR: 86

20/1

Given a modest rating of 86 following being beaten a total of 175L in three laboured hurdle starts over October and earlier this month. Needs to improve to play a role here.

Form: 501/000

Punches Pious²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: T Doyle| OR: 86

12/1

Modest 50-rated handicapper on the Flat when last seen in October. Returns to hurdling for the first time since finishing 14th of 17 beaten 35L in a Roscommon maiden hurdle over 2m in August 2014. Tough ask here.

Form: 660/

Fairy Court^t²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁷⁾| T: S O'Farrell| OR: 83

33/1

Record of 1-32 and last six starts have been particularly poor. Mark is beginning to drop accordingly but he is difficult to enthuse over.

Form: PP-0009

Hunters Vision^b,t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 82

20/1

Unplaced in 17 starts over timber and beaten out of sight in both recent starts after a layoff. Blinkers are retained following being pulled up last time out. Hard to fancy.

Form: 47P-00P

Musical Ava²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: M P Burke⁽⁵⁾| T: J M Burke| OR: 81

13/2

Failed to build on her sixth of 18 here last month when finishing sixth of 18 beaten 12½L behind Turasoir. Looks one not to be trusted.

Form: 588666

Shine In Dubai²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: A W Short⁽⁷⁾| T: P Hogan| OR: 81

8/1

No sign of progress in seven outings over timber this year, remaining unplaced after 12 starts under rules and hard to fancy.

Form: 857087

Loch Luatha^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: D P Holden⁽⁷⁾| T: L Young| OR: 80

11/2

Improved performances on his last two starts here last month and last time out at Clonmel over an extended 2m in a handicap hurdle when second of 15 beaten 4L earlier this month. Worth a market check.

Form: 048452

Rock On Lilly^h²³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: J J Slevin⁽³⁾| T: T Donohue| OR: 80

11/2

Modest 81-rated handicap hurdler who has been generally inconsistent. Place positions in this class and over the distance but still tough ask on seasonal debut.

Form: 49/3626-

Scotch Quay¹³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: E Griffin| OR: 83

12/1

No show in two point-to-points, three maiden hurdles and well beaten 28L finishing 12th of 18 on handicap debut at Roscommon. Needs to improve significantly.

Form: P-80880

Shantelle^b1⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Brian Hayes| T: R Donohoe| OR: 80

50/1

Poor form throughout her 11 race career, and whilst this is just her fourth start in a handicap connections could well be left frustrated again.

Form: 0-F590P

Demi Plie¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: J S McGarvey| T: C Roche| OR: 92

20/1

First Reserve: Struggled since returning to hurdling at Downpatrick and in a Punchestown maiden over 2m4f before falling at the third last time out. Will need to improve to figure.

Form: 0-40F

Non-Runners

Sheperds Cave¹⁴

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: D Hogan J: S A Mulcahy

The Ballyboys²⁰

Weight: 11-4| Age: 7

T: R Hackett J: B J Foley

Mister Butler⁴

Weight: 11-9| Age: 7

T: D Hogan J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Loch Luatha (11/2), Rock On Lilly (11/2), Musical Ava (13/2), Excelli (13/2), Simiel (8/1), Shine In Dubai (8/1), Scotch Quay (12/1), Punches Pious (12/1), Lagenod (14/1), Fern Owl (16/1), Oakfield Rose (20/1), Apache Gold (20/1), Demi Plie (20/1), Hunters Vision (20/1), The Ballyboys (20/1), Sheperds Cave (20/1), Mister Butler (25/1), Fairy Court (33/1), Howaya Hurricane (33/1), Shantelle (50/1)

Rock On Lilly likes to get on with things so will ensure a true-run 2m handicap contest with possibly Hunters Vision and Mister Butler chasing behind the pace of the leader. LOCH LUATHA has produced two solid runs around this distance recently and will look to improve here. Excelli ran well on the Flat last time out and can be given a chance on his return to hurdling while Simiel could grab a place here.