14:00 Clonmel

Thursday 7 December 2017

All12:2512:5513:3014:0014:3515:1015:45

Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (80-95)

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 5m 35.80s

Ned's Indian^p¹⁰⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Rochelle Murphy⁽⁴⁾| T: Don Cashman| OR: 95

16/1

Multiple winner on the Flat, but has shown little worthwhile form over hurdles. Potential to improve now handicapping, but his record shows he is better on faster surfaces than this. Stable took this last year.

Form: 0-75F99

Sunset Sadie^t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: E O'Connell| T: E O'Connell| OR: 91

14/1

Winner at Cork (2m, heavy) in March when trainer disclosed she would improve over further. Should be better for two runs back from a break which have earned a slight drop in the weights.

Form: 5514-90

Ali Bin Nayef^p⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: John J Fitzpatrick| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 89| D

9/4

Stayed on to win in a very pleasing manner at Fairyhouse last month with cheekpieces refitted. Showed that was no fluke when just denied next time and due to go up 3lb in future races.

Form: 007912

Ballymadun⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: D J Hand| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 89| D

16/1

Landed a gamble at Gowran Park when helped by fallers. Failed to build on that next time and others look better handicapped.

Form: 09-8010

In Our Blood³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: A W Short| T: N McKnight| OR: 88

25/1

Should be competitive off this mark having achieved a Flat rating of 60 during the summer. No show in three maiden hurdles but this looks more his level.

Form: 000

Demi Plie¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: K J Brouder⁽²⁾| T: C Roche| OR: 87

16/1

Has looked modest on the Flat and in five runs over hurdles. Best effort came over this trip at Downpatrick and potentially better than her latest run over 2m indicates.

Form: 0-40F0

Battling Spirit^h³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Katie O'Farrell| T: Jonathan Sweeney| OR: 86

6/1

Well supported here last month on return from a two month break. Made ground from well off the pace to finish a never nearer fifth and will undoubtedly come on for the run. Well handicapped on his best form and hard to dismiss.

Form: 20475/5

Alices Man^b,t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Liam McKenna| T: J P Ryan| OR: 82| BF

6/1

Winner at Hexham over 3m when improving for the application of blinkers and the longer trip. Likely to find this too sharp. Stable took this in 2013.

Form: 088614

Ballea Fox³²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr J Mulvihill⁽²⁾| T: S Spillane| OR: 81

33/1

Tailed off on last two starts over hurdles and needs to step up considerably now sent handicapping over a longer trip.

Form: 7-00

Secret Approach²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: C M Leonard⁽²⁾| T: N McKnight| OR: 81

12/1

Possibilities on his Sligo fourth in August, but well beaten in three runs since. Needs to return to that form to have any chance and that is looking unlikely.

Form: 964736

Jimmyjames¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: R M Short⁽²⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 80

16/1

Shaped better than his finishing position indicates last time when returning from a layoff. Yet to make the frame in 12 starts but that could be rectified if fulfilling the promise of that run.

Form: 05P-005

Loch Luatha^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: D P Holden⁽⁴⁾| T: L Young| OR: 80| BF

5/1

Has bumped into two easy winners on his last two starts. Remains on the same mark with improvement expected over this trip judged on his point-to-point and chase form.

Form: 484522

Miss Mcilroy^t³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: A J Flaherty⁽⁴⁾| T: G T Lynch| OR: 80

14/1

Showed improved form during the summer and produced a personal best at Ballinrobe in September. Needs to bounce back from two more modest performances since and the step up in class may be too much.

Form: 546306

Forecasts

Ali Bin Nayef (9/4), Loch Luatha (5/1), Battling Spirit (6/1), Alices Man (6/1), Secret Approach (12/1), Miss Mcilroy (14/1), Sunset Sadie (14/1), Ballymadun (16/1), Jimmyjames (16/1), Ned's Indian (16/1), Demi Plie (16/1), In Our Blood (25/1), Ballea Fox (33/1)

ALI BIN NAYEF has returned to form since the application of cheekpieces and he brings the pick of the recent form into this. He will be racing off higher marks in future and that makes him hard to oppose. Jimmyjames , Loch Luath and Sunset Sadie are likely to improve for this longer journey, but a bigger threat may come from Battling Spirit. The ten-year-old caught the eye on his return from a lengthy absence and is well handicapped on his best form.