16:05 Leopardstown

Saturday 3 February 2018

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:40

Coral Hurdle (Extended Handicap Hurdle - Rated 0-150) (Grade B)

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 4m 2.50s

Ivanovich Gorbatov^t³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: D J McInerney⁽⁵⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 147| CD

33/1

No win since the 2016 Triumph Hurdle. Has run a couple of promising races since, but generally best watched until showing more certain signs of a revival.

Form: 336-007

Tigris River^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 147| D

33/1

In the grip of the handicapper since landing the Galway Hurdle and faces another difficult task in conceding plenty of weight on such testing ground.

Form: 711906

Quick Jack³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: E O'Connell⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 143| C| D

33/1

Galway Hurdle winner in 2015, but has had his troubles and few positives to be taken from December's reappearance.

Form: 331/85-P

Bleu Berry²⁸¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142| D

12/1

Completed a hat-trick of wins last term on testing ground before finding conditions too quick at Punchestown in April. Off since and handicap mark looks up with events.

Form: 7F/1115-

Karalee^t1³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 138

25/1

Has looked a shadow of the mare we saw at Limerick last year and the fitting of a tongue-tie will need to produce significant improvement.

Form: 21/13-38

Ben Dundee³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 134| BF| D

7/1

Justified strong market support wen landing a 22-runner race at Punchestown in October. Looked the type to win a good pot that day and reaffirmed that impression last time.

Form: 245-162

Cliff House⁷⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J J Walsh| OR: 134| D

33/1

No win over hurdles since handicap debut in March and faces a stiff task this time having failed to be competitive of late.

Form: 0308-03

Indian Monsoon^p²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: R M Power| T: C Byrnes| OR: 133| D

20/1

Back to his best last time when outstayed by his stablemate. Drop back in trip helps and remains fairly treated judged on his novice form.

Form: 1U6-742

Mind's Eye³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: D Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 133| C| D

11/2

Has overcome a bout of seconditis to land his last two races in good style. Always looked likely to win last time when 2m4f clearly suited. Drop in trip is a concern, but his current rate of progress commands respect.

Form: 2/22-211

On The Go Again^t⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: R E O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: M Mulvany| OR: 134| D

20/1

Winning run came to an end last time, but he faced a difficult task that day after a break. That should have sharpened him up for this and he has each-way prospects.

Form: 167-15

Peace News¹¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: D P Holden⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 133| D

25/1

Looked to have a bright future when winning on his Cork debut, but the gears displayed that day have not been evident since and he has work to do.

Form: 1F544-2

Boherbuoy⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: N P Madden| T: N Madden| OR: 130| D

16/1

Useful Flat performer with a peak rating in the 90s. Landed a Sligo maiden hurdle in July and caught the eye on his handicap debut. Mark has been protected since with just one run at Dundalk and worth checking in the market.

Form: 153

De Name Escapes Me^h,t⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Mark Walsh| T: N Meade| OR: 130| D

20/1

Has lost his way over fences of late, but latest efforts over hurdles and a preference for a longer trip make him opposable.

Form: 0P-7340

Charlie Stout^p1,t⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: P E Corbett⁽³⁾| T: S Nolan| OR: 129| D

20/1

Has gone up the ratings without achieving a victory and that makes this a difficult task, despite the fitting of cheekpieces.

Form: P2-2274

Midnight Stroll³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Tyner| OR: 129| D

8/1

Lightly raced improving type who has a lot more to offer. On a fair mark and capable of a bold show from so far down the handicap.

Form: 23-6114

Tudor City^t⁹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Donagh Meyler| T: A J Martin| OR: 129| D

25/1

Fortunate winner of a maiden hurdle last time and has found life tougher in handicaps since. Scored on the Flat in September, but he still needs the handicapper to relax his current hurdles mark.

Form: 2219-00

Grand Partner^v1²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: B J Cooper| T: T Mullins| OR: 128| CD

33/1

Disappointing last time and no horse aged nine or older has landed this contest. Visor fitted and hard to see that producing the improvement needed.

Form: 78P430

Highland Fling^t⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: A E Lynch| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 128| D

25/1

Winner on the Flat and over hurdles at the Listowel festival in September. This trip is on the short side and current mark is up with events.

Form: 04-4190

Ice Cold Soul^t⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 128| CD

20/1

Not at his best over fences this term, but is now just 4lb above his mark when taking this 12 months ago.

Form: 0100-44

Makitorix^h1,t1²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 128| D

25/1

Out of his depth since making an impressive debut for this yard in September. Plenty of headgear applied here and that urges a degree of caution.

Form: 1P46

Deal D'estruval³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Katie Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 127

9/1

Needed every yard of the 2m5f trip to beat a good rival on his debut for this yard. Looks every inch a chaser and it would be a surprise if he had the speed to be competitive in this.

Form: 432-1

Miles To Memphis^t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: L P Dempsey| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 126| C| D

20/1

Happy enough in these big field handicaps, but best efforts have come over 2m4f and new mark demands some improvement.

Form: 128-432

Tandem¹⁸⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: C D Meehan⁽⁵⁾| T: D K Weld| OR: 126| C| D

25/1

Very useful Flat performer with a rating in the 100s and won three in a row in 2017. Has not been seen over hurdles for almost three years, but gets in here on an attractive mark and goes well fresh. Looks interesting given the ante-post odds.

Form: 315344/

Veinard^t⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 126

20/1

Work to do with Indian Monsoon on novice form and mid-division in this last year off 3lb lower. Respected given the trainer, but others do look more likely.

Form: 26-4889

Deor³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: Robbie Colgan| T: J E Kiely| OR: 124| D

50/1

Cork winner looks held by a few of these and needs to considerably raise his game in order to figure.

Form: 148

Low Sun^p³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: D G Hogan| T: W P Mullins| OR: 124

14/1

Overcame mistakes to score on his hurdling debut and a final flight error proved costly last time. Cheekpieces had a positive effect that day and he clearly has the speed to land a prize like this once his jumping improves.

Form: 142

Agent Boru³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: J M Moore| T: T Gibney| OR: 122

33/1

Remains a maiden after eight starts over hurdles and he is up against smart company this time. One of the outsiders and easy to see why.

Form: 42-0455

Off You Go³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: M A Enright| T: C Byrnes| OR: 123

6/1

Could hardly have been more impressive when opening his account last time and the handicapper has duly raised him 15lb. Stable in good form but this has proved a hard race for a five-year-old to win.

Form: 40631

Non-Runners

Master Of Irony⁶³

Weight: 10-6| Age: 6

T: J & S Quinn J: R Johnson

Forecasts

Mind's Eye (11/2), Off You Go (6/1), Ben Dundee (7/1), Midnight Stroll (8/1), Deal D'estruval (9/1), Bleu Berry (12/1), Low Sun (14/1), Boherbuoy (16/1), Miles To Memphis (20/1), Veinard (20/1), On The Go Again (20/1), Charlie Stout (20/1), Ice Cold Soul (20/1), Indian Monsoon (20/1), De Name Escapes Me (20/1), Master Of Irony (20/1), Makitorix (25/1), Tudor City (25/1), Highland Fling (25/1), Tandem (25/1), Peace News (25/1), Karalee (25/1), Grand Partner (33/1), Agent Boru (33/1), Cliff House (33/1), Tigris River (33/1), Ivanovich Gorbatov (33/1), Quick Jack (33/1), Deor (50/1)

Off You Go and Low Sun are at the right end of the handicap and appear after much improved efforts last time. However, just one five-year-old out of forty-two runners has landed this. Dermot Weld's Tandem catches the eye off his low mark given his Flat exploits last summer and last year's winner Ice Cold Soul is weighted to be in the picture once again. Midnight Stroll and Ben Dundee both ran well enough last time to be considered, but the vote goes to BOHERBUOY. The son of Galileo may have been earmarked for this having shaped so promisingly on his handicap debut. He has been kept ticking over since with a run at Dundalk and he is very much one to keep in mind for the festival season whatever his fate here.