13:50 Naas

Sunday 28 January 2018

All13:2013:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:20

Limestone Lad Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 4m 15.4s

Duca De Thaix³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 137| D

11/4

Grade 3 winner at Limerick last time out in testing conditions when producing easily a career best. Penalised here but has shown he can perform effectively at this level.

Form: 211-41

Forge Meadow³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 139| CD

9/4

Won a Grade 2 over this C&D last season. Not always at her best so far this term but ran a nice race in defeat to the classy Let's Dance last time. That was a step in the right direction.

Form: 4-65512

Arcenfete⁵⁹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: D N Russell| T: H De Bromhead

12/1

Makes his first start for this yard having won on hurdling debut in France after showing good form on the Flat. May well be winning races in Ireland before long but has a lay-off since June 2016 to overcome here.

Form: 1-

Destin D'Ajonc³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: B J Geraghty| T: G Elliott

20/1

Finished a long way behind Sandsend at Limerick last time. Won't find it easy to reverse that form even now with the benefit of a run.

Form: 1-6

Dolciano Dici⁶⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| D

7/1

Won a hurdle race in France but has been off since April 2016. Best watched on this tough introduction to Irish racing despite having joined a top trainer.

Form: 41/

On The Go Again^t¹¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: R E O'Sullivan| T: M Mulvany| OR: 134| D

14/1

Unbeaten in his last four races across both codes but this is tougher than the handicap hurdle he landed in September and he has a bit to find with the best of these.

Form: 167-1

Sandsend³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142| BF

11/4

Lightly-raced type who was too keen in the early stages on only his second start last time out. Drops back in trip here and could be worth another chance with further improvement a distinct possibility.

Form: 1-3

Non-Runners

Tandem¹⁸⁰

Weight: 11-1| Age: 9

T: D K Weld J: D F O'Regan

Forecasts

Forge Meadow (9/4), Sandsend (11/4), Duca De Thaix (11/4), Dolciano Dici (7/1), Arcenfete (12/1), On The Go Again (14/1), Tandem (14/1), Destin D'Ajonc (20/1)

Sandsend is of obvious interesting dropping back in trip, especially given how keenly he raced in the early stages last time, but preference is for FORGE MEADOW. Although she hasn't always shown her true self in graded company her effort behind Let's Dance recently was an encouraging one, and she has previously won a Grade 2 over this C&D. Duca De Thaix won a Grade 3 last time out in testing conditions and is also one for the shortlist.