13:55 Cork

Saturday 6 January 2018

All12:2012:5013:2513:5514:3015:0515:40

Gerardine McCarthy Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:56 | Winning time: 5m 37.3s

Grand Partner²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: D J Mullins| T: T Mullins| OR: 130| C| D

14/1

Four-times hurdles winner who ran well off this mark to be third of 15 at Navan last time. Should get involved again if in the same mood.

Form: 778P43

Indian Monsoon^p¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: A E Lynch| T: C Byrnes| OR: 129| C

10/1

Won a 2m novice hurdle at this track in January. Has struggled in handicaps since then, but shaped with more promise at Limerick last time and stable has been among the winners.

Form: 31U6-74

Realt Mor²⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 127| D

25/1

Veteran who is better over fences, but can still hold his own over timber. Well held at Thurles last time and has to take a step forward off 3lb lower.

Form: 46F-048

Lite Duties¹⁰⁷⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: M A Enright| T: C Byrnes| OR: 126| D

25/1

Stable companion of Indian Monsoon who completed a hat-trick of successes in handicap hurdles in 2014. Has not run for nearly three years and can only be watched despite his good record.

Form: 081113/

Admiral Brian^h,t³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: E O'Connell⁽⁷⁾| T: E O'Connell| OR: 123

16/1

Defied odds of 25-1 when returning to form in a five-runner contest at Clonmel last month. Has gone up 6lb for that, which sets him a tough task.

Form: 457641

Montys Meadow⁴⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: P F Mangan| T: J J Mangan| OR: 123| C| D

4/1

Not getting any younger, but clearly retains a good deal of his ability. Good effort over C&D on latest outing when second of nine off 3lb lower.

Form: 204-P52

Josies Orders²²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Mark Walsh| T: E Bolger| OR: 120| BF

16/1

Specialises in cross-country events, but is no slouch over hurdles. That said, this looks to be part of his build-up to another crack at the Cheltenham Festival so it would be a surprise if he were to be sharp enough to take a hand.

Form: 91/0-623

Knockraha Pylon^t¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: A Maguire| OR: 118| BF| C

10/1

Mixes hurdling and chasing with a fair degree of success, but was not at her best over timber at Limerick last time. Needs to step up on that display to be competitive.

Form: 1P5-344

Westerner Point²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Phillip Enright| T: E O'Grady| OR: 117| C| D

7/2

Good strike rate of eight wins from 24 starts over fences and hurdles, although rated 17lb higher over the bigger obstacles. Logical to give hurdles another try after finishing down the field at Aintree last time.

Form: 411-828

Goulane Davina¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: D J McInerney⁽⁵⁾| T: S Spillane| OR: 115| C

7/1

Has been running with credit in recent starts over fences, but switches back to hurdles with the benefit of a 5lb lower mark. Should be competitive.

Form: F-05343

Tout Est Permis^p1¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: M F Morris| OR: 112

4/1

Won on his first start over fences, but held in better company since and took a tumble at Limerick last time. Reverts to hurdles off a workable mark and first-time cheekpieces could produce extra

Form: 5-1273F

Winter Breeze⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-12| J: L P Dempsey| T: M Winters| OR: 107

20/1

Cut little ice in a couple of chases before reverting to hurdles and finishing a well-held fifth of seven at Limerick. Needs to find more off 1lb lower.

Form: 611/89-5

Forecasts

Westerner Point (7/2), Montys Meadow (4/1), Tout Est Permis (4/1), Goulane Davina (7/1), Indian Monsoon (10/1), Knockraha Pylon (10/1), Grand Partner (14/1), Admiral Brian (16/1), Josies Orders (16/1), Winter Breeze (20/1), Lite Duties (25/1), Realt Mor (25/1)

A tricky handicap hurdle in which top-weight Grand Partner looks likely to make another bold bid. Montys Meadow should figure over a C&D enjoys, while Goulane Davina should be thereabouts on her return to hurdles. But it is another horse reverting to timber, TOUT EST PERMIS, who gets the vote. He has run into some decent novice chasers recently and can run off a 19lb lower mark over hurdles. The first time cheekpieces can also eke out some improvement. Westerner Point looks the best of the rest.