14:50 Down Royal

Tuesday 26 December 2017

All12:1012:4013:1013:4514:1514:5015:25

Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (80-102)

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 4m 24.9s

Global Fert^t⁴^{(ex 6)}

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: A W Short⁽⁴⁾| T: N C Kelly| OR: 90| D

6/1

Winner of a handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter (2m, soft) last Friday. Appeared to win with plenty in hand on that occasion and he looks likely to prove hard to beat despite carrying a 6lb penalty today.

Form: 490-741

Rock On Westie^h²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: R L Brennan⁽⁴⁾| T: Miss S Barkley| OR: 94

25/1

Fair effort in a first time hood (retained) when eighth in a maiden hurdle at Punchestown (soft-to-heavy) last month. Worth a check in the market on handicap debut.

Form: 0645/6-8

Cubomania^t¹⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: E M Roche⁽⁴⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 95

14/1

Well beaten in three maiden hurdles for Eugene O'Sullivan and a similar result on handicap debut on the Flat when last in action at Killarney (1m3f, good) in July. Chances he leaves that form well behind on handicap and stable debut.

Form: 7-80

Folly Dat²⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: D J McInerney⁽⁴⁾| T: R K Watson| OR: 90

10/1

Best effort in five runs for Gordon Elliott came when finishing 11L third at Ayr (2m, soft) in a maiden hurdle in February. Making her debut for a new yard and her first start in handicap company today.

Form: 80430-

Misty Millie^t¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: D J Hand⁽⁴⁾| T: G Donnelly| OR: 92

25/1

Sole victory on the Flat came on soft-to-heavy ground and hurdles efforts so far haven't been without promise. Market support would be interesting on her handicap debut.

Form: 550

Pound A Stroke^p²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: K J Brouder⁽⁴⁾| T: E McCarthy| OR: 89| D

4/1

Surprise winner of a handicap hurdle over 2m at Thurles (soft) last month. Cheekpieces worn for the first time on that occasion are retained today and he is interesting off a 7lb higher mark today.

Form: 907001

Rossmore's Pride¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: M W Bowes⁽²⁾| T: Christian Delcros| OR: 89

25/1

Placed in a novice hurdle for Ian Williams but absent for nearly three years subsequently. Well held on handicap debut last time and others make more appeal.

Form: 2/750-50

Loughnavalley^b¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: S J Gray| T: M L Fagan| OR: 88

9/2

Career best effort when finishing 2L third on heavy ground and wearing blinkers (retained) for the first time over this trip at Tramore earlier this month. Interesting if repeating that effort off a 2lb higher mark.

Form: 69-0003

Graineyhill¹²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: M Browne⁽⁴⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 87

20/1

Well held in all five completed hurdles outings so far including on handicap debut at Sligo (2m5f, soft-to-heavy) in August. Making his debut for a leading yard today.

Form: U07-068

Hide The Biscuit¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁴⁾| T: M Torrens| OR: 87

8/1

Dual point-to-point winner in autumn 2016 and ran well when finishing fourth over 3m1f at Ballinrobe (good) in a handicap hurdle in May. Well held in a maiden hurdle at Navan (2m4f, soft) earlier this month and drop in trip not certain to suit.

Form: 3506-40

Zagnzig⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: S J Crimin⁽⁴⁾| T: H Smyth| OR: 87

5/1

Maiden after 12 rules starts but has run well in handicap hurdles the last twice. Finished 4L fourth at Fairyhouse (2m4f, soft-to-heavy) last time out and he is interesting off the same mark today.

Form: 747534

Boston Babe^t⁸⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: C A Landers⁽⁴⁾| T: D J Barry| OR: 86

33/1

Failed to trouble the judge in five starts over hurdles so far including on handicap debut at Fairyhouse (2m4f, good-to-yielding) last time out. More needed on his return from a break.

Form: 9P078-0

In Our Blood¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: C M Leonard⁽⁴⁾| T: N McKnight| OR: 86

25/1

Maiden after 20 starts and finished 45L behind the winner when third of 11 at Clonmel (soft-to-heavy) last time out. Others have a more obvious chance today.

Form: 0003

Maureen's Star⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: C D Timmons| T: L Lennon| OR: 89

16/1

Fair form on good and yielding ground in handicap hurdles during the summer but well held on heavy ground at Ayr last time following a couple of point-to-point starts and others make more appeal.

Form: 555748

Shipwreck¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁴⁾| T: C A McBratney| OR: 86

25/1

Failed to complete in two of her three point-to-point starts this autumn and well held in a maiden hurdle at Navan (2m4f, soft) earlier this month. Making her handicap debut today.

Form: 90-PF50

Epsilon Indi^h,t1¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Ricky Doyle⁽²⁾| T: R P McNamara| OR: 88

25/1

Failed to trouble the judge in three outings over hurdles to date and is fitted with a tongue tie for today's handicap debut.

Form: 78057

Urbanist^p1²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: P E Corbett| T: S Nolan| OR: 80

25/1

Finished a promising 13L sixth over 2m at Fairyhouse (soft) on his penultimate outing. Well beaten since however and wears cheekpieces for the first time today.

Form: 800060

Forecasts

Pound A Stroke (4/1), Loughnavalley (9/2), Zagnzig (5/1), Global Fert (6/1), Hide The Biscuit (8/1), Folly Dat (10/1), Cubomania (14/1), Maureen's Star (16/1), Graineyhill (20/1), Misty Millie (25/1), Rossmore's Pride (25/1), Urbanist (25/1), Epsilon Indi (25/1), Shipwreck (25/1), In Our Blood (25/1), Rock On Westie (25/1), Boston Babe (33/1)

GLOBAL FERT won in the style of a horse capable of following up at Uttoxeter last week and he can defy top weight to take this competitive looking handicap hurdle. The selection was winning for the first time on that occasion and can defy a penalty today with fellow last time out winner Pound A Stroke the most likely to chase him home today. Zagnzig has been putting in some good efforts in defeat of late and he can finish third today.