13:50 Leopardstown

Tuesday 26 December 2017

All12:1512:4513:1513:5014:2014:5515:30

Cardinal Capital Handicap Hurdle (80-116)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 4m 35.90s

Cogryhill^t¹⁷³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: R Loughran| T: A J Martin| OR: 116

33/1

Picked up some very nice form for Gordon Elliott but hasn't been able to build on that since switching to this yard. Others hold more convincing claims based on recent form.

Form: 313P-00

Russian Roulette^p1⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: C O'Brien| OR: 114

9/1

Slightly unlucky in-running at Punchestown last time when looking to double up on a recent Fairyhouse victory. On the same mark here and should give another good account.

Form: 2-38416

Jefferson Davis¹³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: E Doyle| OR: 115| C

20/1

Capable performer on his day this trip may suit him better than many of his rivals here, but this is still a big ask off his current handicap mark.

Form: 414256

Champagne Pat^t⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: A E Lynch| T: Jonathan Sweeney| OR: 113| BF

6/1

Placed in two big field handicap hurdles so far this season, both over slightly shorter than this. On a workable mark but needs to prove he stays this far.

Form: 1668-23

Ineffable^t¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: S A Shortall⁽³⁾| T: R Sweeney| OR: 111| C

33/1

Maiden hurdle winner at Tramore in April but well-beaten at Ballinrobe since and performances on the Flat recently have done nothing to suggest he is returning to form.

Form: 4651-7

From Eden^p²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: A J Flaherty⁽⁷⁾| T: V T O'Brien| OR: 110

40/1

Maiden winner at Fairyhouse earlier in the year but yet to land a blow in handicap company and is only 4lb lower than his opening mark now.

Form: 345800

Balinaboola Steel³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Brian Hayes| T: G J Power| OR: 106

33/1

Would have finished closer than sixth at Navan last time if jumping better, but that has to be a concern in this bigger field with the longer trip not sure to suit.

Form: 820856

Sir Carno^p1³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 109

10/1

Has looked a handicapper in the making with two performance in maiden hurdles so far. Down in trip slightly with conditional rider claiming a useful 7lb on handicap debut. Cheek pieces on.

Form: 34-57

Edification¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: R P McNamara| OR: 108

25/1

Went close in a minor maiden hurdle in August but mostly moderate hurdle form since and is left with something to prove.

Form: 44800

Highandmighty²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: P D Kennedy⁽³⁾| T: S Byrne| OR: 105

12/1

Impressive winner of a maiden hurdle at Thurles last month having run okay on debut over obstacles. Progressive option on handicap debut.

Form: 15-5881

Oh Me Oh My¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: T Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: Ms M Flynn| OR: 105

33/1

Falling over fences the last twice unlikely to have done her confidence any good, though she was running fairly well at Clonmel last time when coming down. Not completely ruled out.

Form: 2556-FF

Killasser Boy²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Robbie Colgan| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 106

20/1

Moderate Flat maiden who is lightly-raced over hurdles and makes his handicap debut here, but will need to produce his best run yet off this opening mark.

Form: 3-36

Cardhu³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Tyner| OR: 102

14/1

Hasn't been able to build on a promising handicap debut at Navan in March, including when well-beaten at that same course lat time. Handicapper hasn't shown much leniency but step up in trip may help.

Form: 7002/5-0

Miss Sassie^t³³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: J M Moore| T: P Nolan| OR: 105

14/1

Winner of a 2m hurdle who returns to the smaller obstacles after poor chase effort last time. 5lb higher than when winning in September and handicapper looks in charge for now.

Form: 015339

Sparky Stowaway⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: S G McDermott| T: T Mullins| OR: 99

10/1

Not disgraced in handicaps so far, including a good effort on heavy ground at Gowran two starts ago. On a similar mark now and could go close, but may appreciate further rain.

Form: 453036

The Brig¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: M P Burke⁽⁵⁾| T: J G Coogan| OR: 99

50/1

Never serious threatened in maiden company and just as poor on handicap debut last time. Others readily preferred in this competitive affair.

Form: 5306P0

Cerealice^t⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: D F O'Regan| T: A Fleming| OR: 97

10/1

Well-beaten in two maiden hurdles so far despite what the form figures suggest. Drop in trip is a positive but still has something to prove on handicap debut.

Form: 3224/54

Golden Jewel¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: E Cawley| OR: 97

8/1

Winner on heavy at Fairyhouse last time out. Steps up in trip slightly here having been raised 9lb but comes here off the back of a good performance and wouldn't mind further rain.

Form: 800-01

Black Ice^h³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: I J McCarthy| T: J Feane| OR: 96| D

25/1

Both wins on heavy ground and most recent came two years ago. More exposed than many of these and didn't impress over fences last time out.

Form: UP446-0

Banksoftheshannon²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: M A Enright| T: E Griffin| OR: 96

12/1

Ran just fairly in three maiden hurdles before failing to land a blow on handicap hurdle at Thurles last time out. Dropped just 1lb and appears to be owner's second string based on jockey bookings.

Form: B8879

Seaweed¹⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Donagh Meyler| T: A J Martin| OR: 92

12/1

Showed marked improvement from handicap debut when finishing a fairly close fourth at Bellewstown last time out in the hands of this jockey. On a similar mark now and claims if continuing that progression.

Form: 0060-04

Bective Cave^t¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: R E O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: M J Smith| OR: 91

20/1

Capable performer on his day but 5lb higher than his most recent (and highest) winning handicap mark and others look more attractively treated.

Form: 104086

Coherent^t⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Jack Kennedy| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 93

20/1

0/11 over hurdles so far and has never really threatened despite showing some signs of ability. Hasn't been given much help from the handicapper and best watched.

Form: 503856

Sillogue Pio³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: Mr S F O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: G A Kingston| OR: 88

25/1

Only one of his seven performances over hurdles so far has shown any significant promise, and that was a weaker race than this; best watched.

Form: 004P04

Toor General^h1,t⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Liam Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 86| BF

25/1

Could only finish fifth at Tramore last time despite being sent off favourite. Back to handicap company now but needs a first-time hood to have a positive effect to have a say.

Form: 7-0U095

Getaway Rose^b1⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: R M Short⁽⁷⁾| T: Ms M Mullins| OR: 89

16/1

Improving type who was in the process of running a big race when parting company with the rider two out at Fairyhouse last time. Could progress again in first time blinkers.

Form: 56906U

Non-Runners

Celebrity Status⁵⁴

Weight: 11-3| Age: 5

T: C O'Dwyer J: Mr D L Queally

Clondaw Farmer⁵³

Weight: 10-10| Age: 8

T: J J Hanlon J: R Deegan

Emily Square¹¹

Weight: 10-1| Age: 4

T: T Mullins J: Unknown Jockey

Forecasts

Champagne Pat (6/1), Golden Jewel (8/1), Russian Roulette (9/1), Sparky Stowaway (10/1), Sir Carno (10/1), Cerealice (10/1), Banksoftheshannon (12/1), Highandmighty (12/1), Seaweed (12/1), Miss Sassie (14/1), Cardhu (14/1), Getaway Rose (16/1), Jefferson Davis (20/1), Coherent (20/1), Bective Cave (20/1), Killasser Boy (20/1), Celebrity Status (20/1), Emily Square (20/1), Toor General (25/1), Edification (25/1), Black Ice (25/1), Sillogue Pio (25/1), Clondaw Farmer (25/1), Ineffable (33/1), Cogryhill (33/1), Oh Me Oh My (33/1), Balinaboola Steel (33/1), From Eden (40/1), The Brig (50/1)

Golden Jewel is of obvious interest after making a winning handicap debut at Fairyhouse last time out but a 9lb rise in the weights won't make things interesting, while Russian Roulette needs considering after experiencing some bad luck in-running last time. Preference, though is for GETAWAY ROSE. This four-year-old has been improving in maiden hurdles before being in the process of running a big race at Fairyhouse last time when parting company with her rider two out. Off this weight and in first-time blinkers, she looks to have a live chance in a competitive race where Champagne Pat and Sir Carno are others with claims.