15:25 Limerick

Friday 1 December 2017

All12:4513:1513:4514:1514:5015:2515:55

Follow Limerick Races On Facebook Handicap Hurdle (80-116)

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 6m 39.5s

Apache Jack¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: A E Lynch| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 116

10/1

Form has been a real mixed bag of late and his lack of consistency has to be a worry. His last few starts over hurdles have also been below oar and he comes here facing stiff test under the burden of top weight.

Form: P50-3P0

Seskinane¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr E Mahon⁽⁷⁾| T: B McMahon| OR: 116| D

7/1

Generally been in good form since winning at Navan in April but not won over 3m since his point-to-point days. Finished a remote third latest, so also needs to be better that effort.

Form: 662653

Ben Brody¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: D J McInerney⁽⁵⁾| T: S Byrne| OR: 114

16/1

Won a bumper and a maiden hurdle in April/May but both recent starts in handicaps have been below his best. Dropped 2lb since his latest run and has a 5lb claimer in the saddle, but still has a bit to prove just now.

Form: 61-1577

Canaly^b¹²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-8| J: M A Enright| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 112

20/1

In good form at the start of this year but his performances have dipped markedly and both his last two efforts leave an awful lot to be desired. Hard to recommend on recent evidence.

Form: 62P-0P0

Cherif De L'Isle¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S A Bramall| OR: 112

33/1

French import, who won a three runner event on his debut on these shores last October. Raced just twice since and disappointed both times. Another with plenty to prove at the present time.

Form: 8/1-50

Let's Twist Again^b,t¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 112| D

9/4

Won twice and placed three times this year, things have dropped into place over the course of 2017. An 8lb rise for winning at Punchestown obviously complicates matters but the gelding is in the form of his life and may still have more to offer.

Form: 220121

After Aspen^p¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: A W Short⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 107

6/1

No match for Let's Twist Again at Punchestown last month but is 8lb better off at the weights and could very feasibly get a lot closer. Worth a betting check at least.

Form: 37PP-64

Capture The Drama¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: Aengus King| OR: 107| D

20/1

Form has almost been all or nothing in recent times with a couple of decent performances punctuated by efforts where the gelding has been pulled up. Another with form to reverse with let's Twist Again, so a bit to find on that score too.

Form: 0PP340

Nicat's Benefit¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: R Loughran| T: Miss E Lalor| OR: 107| D

25/1

Won a bumper and a maiden hurdle, so knows what to do when she gets her head in front. However, she was a tailed-off fifth last time and comes here with a lot to find on a literal reading of that effort.

Form: 18-0055

Isodon^p,t¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 104

12/1

Lightly raced over hurdles but yet to really make an impact as a jumper and his latest start leaves him with a lot of ground to make up on a few of the others. Hard to recommend this time around.

Form: 539-580

Gold Smoke^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: C A Landers⁽⁷⁾| T: E M O'Sullivan| OR: 102| D

16/1

Won on heavy ground at Listowel in September but held in two subsequent runs. The handicapper has shown a little leniency since her last run but it will still take a big effort from here on these terms. The trip suits ideally though.

Form: 135167

No Pressure Pat²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: C M Leonard⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Fahy| OR: 98| D

8/1

Enjoyed a good spell (recently had the beating runners who take their chances elsewhere on this card), so has to be respected a horse in good form. Ran as if weighted to the hilt latest, though, which creates a stiff test on the same terms today.

Form: 097-118

Presentingoscar²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Mr W T Cronin⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Walsh| OR: 98

11/2

Took advantage of a decent opportunity to win from a 4lb lower mark at Clonmel last month - the soft ground presented no problems on that occasion. Up again in the weights and significant rain would go against him, but fair place claims otherwise.

Form: 90-U741

Hes Our Vinnie^p,t1¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: D E Splaine| T: T O'Brien| OR: 96| CD

20/1

Not completed any of his three starts since returning from a long break. Reverts to hurdles with the tongue tie and cheekpieces combination but has way too much to prove to be considered as a reliable betting proposition.

Form: 604-PFP

Forecasts

Let's Twist Again (9/4), Presentingoscar (11/2), After Aspen (6/1), Seskinane (7/1), No Pressure Pat (8/1), Apache Jack (10/1), Isodon (12/1), Ben Brody (16/1), Gold Smoke (16/1), Canaly (20/1), Capture The Drama (20/1), Hes Our Vinnie (20/1), Nicat's Benefit (25/1), Cherif De L'Isle (33/1)

LET'S TWIST AGAIN already holds a number of these on recent evidence and, while he will hit the buffers at some point, his profile stands out as the most reliable option from this modest bunch of rivals. After Aspen is better off at the weights with the selection on this occasion and makes more appeal as a potential party pooper than No Pressure Pat, who is in great heart just now but the handicapper possibly has him where he wants him to be just now.