15:05 Leopardstown

Friday 29 December 2017

All12:2012:5013:2013:5514:3015:0515:35

Top Oil Irish EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle (81-130)

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 5m 20.3s

Midnight Stroll²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Tyner| OR: 127| D

5/1

Some promise in bumpers but left that well behind when winning with plenty in hand over hurdles at Galway in October and last time out at Fairyhouse earlier this month. Another bold show looks likely.

Form: 23-611

Mischievious Max⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: S A Shortall⁽³⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 130

7/1

Won a maiden hurdle at Downpatrick in August, but has had to settle for the runner-up berth in four subsequent starts. Place claims a possibility here.

Form: 212222

Deor⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J E Kiely| OR: 125

25/1

Maiden winner at Wexford over this sort of trip in May 2016, grabbed a maiden hurdle at Cork in July on return from 418-day absence before disappointing at Naas last month when over 12L behind the winner. May find this tough.

Form: 14

Mind's Eye⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: D N Russell| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 125

4/1

Reliable in the sense that he's a four time career runner up. However, not disgraced when beaten 15L by Samcro on hurdles debut at Punchestown before winning a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle last month. Capable of having his say here.

Form: 2/22-21

Agent Boru²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: P E Corbett⁽³⁾| T: T Gibney| OR: 123

12/1

Without a win in seven hurdle starts and will need to improve a chunk to play a role here.

Form: 342-045

Game Of War²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: D Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 123

8/1

Won his maiden last time out in a Clonmel hurdle earlier in the month travelling smoothly during the race to win by 11L. Another bold show looks on the cards.

Form: P38-41

Templemore Dream⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: D F O'Regan| T: A Fleming| OR: 126| D

12/1

Made a winning debut over hurdles when successful at Wexford before finishing second of seven in a Punchestown novice hurdle last month. Worth a market check and capable of playing a role in this contest.

Form: 512

Let's Twist Again^b,t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 121

14/1

Comes here on a hat-trick of wins following victory's in handicap hurdles at Punchestown and Limerick. Yard in fine form with an across-the-card treble yesterday.

Form: 201211

Lesley Dawn^h1¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 123

20/1

Failed to build on three eye-catching runs when well beaten at Thurles earlier in the month finishing fourth of six. Will need to improve to figure.

Form: 7-1324

Slippery Serpent²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Donagh Meyler| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 116

20/1

Looked to have a future ahead of him when winning a maiden hurdle at Downpatrick in September but has generally disappointed in three starts since. May struggle in this company.

Form: 211654

Settimo Milanese²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: M F Morris| OR: 115

33/1

Has failed to build on two promising maiden hurdle efforts when finishing fourth of eight beaten 16½L in a Clonmel maiden earlier in the month. Vast improvement needed to figure.

Form: 0-234

Miracle In Medinah¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: B J Geraghty| T: G Elliott| OR: 114

14/1

Returned from a long lay-off to finish third to an odds-on stable companion on his hurdling debut at Down Royal but has subsequently being well beaten in his last two maiden hurdle starts. Others make more appeal.

Form: 1/375

Snugsborough Hall³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: D J Mullins| T: L P Cusack| OR: 112| D

12/1

Winner over 2m4½f at Punchestown on good ground in May off a mark of 96 and has improved 16lb in the eyes of the handicapper but this still looks a tough ask.

Form: 04-1P20

Darkest Flyer⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 108

6/1

Solid and consistent over the summer and well beaten on return when finishing seventh of 13 in a Naas handicap hurdle. Looks to be more of a summer jumper.

Form: 94-1217

Good To Flow^b1¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: C M Leonard⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Fahy| OR: 106

50/1

Only a sole high-point in her last five hurdle starts was a third of 17 at Clonmel last month while producing four second-rate performances in the interim. Hard to see what improvement first-time blinkers bring.

Form: 3-653P6

Forecasts

Mind's Eye (4/1), Midnight Stroll (5/1), Darkest Flyer (6/1), Mischievious Max (7/1), Game Of War (8/1), Snugsborough Hall (12/1), Agent Boru (12/1), Templemore Dream (12/1), Miracle In Medinah (14/1), Let's Twist Again (14/1), Slippery Serpent (20/1), Lesley Dawn (20/1), Deor (25/1), Settimo Milanese (33/1), Good To Flow (50/1)

Jessica Harrington's Lesley Dawn likes to get on with things from the front but may have company in the shape of Mischievious Max, Darkest Flyer and Game Of War. The early pace could set the race up for MIND'S EYE from the in form Henry De Bromhead yard, the five-year-old has been in top form since return to the track this term. Another in form stable is represented by Let's Twist Again along with the improving Midnight Stroll could hit the frame.