12:40 Leopardstown

Sunday 4 February 2018

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:40

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)

Off time: 12:42 | Winning time: 4m 41.30s

Meri Devie³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 139| BF| C

16/1

Making her handicap debut when finishing a good second in a first time hood at Fairyhouse (2m, soft) in December. Disappointed back in Graded company subsequently and more needed today.

Form: 43-0224

Barra^t⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 133| D

25/1

Put in some decent efforts over hurdles so far but finished well held in a conditions hurdle last time out and makes her handicap debut today.

Form: 366-234

Lady Buttons³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby| OR: 132

8/1

Victorious in a Listed chase at Bangor (soft) in November. Held over hurdles subsequently but represents a stable with a 27% strike-rate (3/11) in recent weeks.

Form: 11P-214

Just Janice⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: D N Russell| T: J E Kiely| OR: 130

9/1

Bidding to complete a hat-trick when finishing seventh in a 2m2f Grade 3 hurdle at Fairyhouse (heavy) recently. Leading jockey booked for a shrewd yard on her return to handicap company.

Form: 632117

Canelie^t1²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: D J McInerney⁽⁵⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 129

8/1

Made a winning debut for this yard when victorious in a handicap hurdle at Taunton (2m3f, soft) last time out. Wears a tongue tie for the first time racing off a 5lb higher mark today.

Form: 628-4P1

Court Artist⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr L P Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 129

14/1

Dual winner over hurdles in the autumn and finished a close third upped in grade at Haydock (2m3f, heavy) last time out. One to note on handicap debut.

Form: 2-16113

Polar Present^p³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Donagh Meyler| T: S Fahey| OR: 128

25/1

Finished runner-up twice over hurdles in the autumn but disappointed in conditions events the last twice and more needed off a mark 11lb higher than for her latest success.

Form: 212235

Creation⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: D Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 125

40/1

Finished runner-up to Just Janice at Down Royal (2m, soft) in November but struggled in two subsequent starts and tackles handicap company for the first time today.

Form: 32-128P

Synopsis^t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 123

16/1

Victorious on handicap debut at Punchestown (2m, soft-to-heavy) in November but held off his revised mark subsequently. Interesting if putting that latest effort behind her.

Form: 905-17

Dixie Lee^h³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: M A Enright| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 122

33/1

Made a winning debut for this yard at Down Royal (2m, yielding) in September but has struggled since including behind Just Janice at the same track in November.

Form: 49-1749

Miss Eyecatcher^h¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: D F O'Regan| T: R J McGrath| OR: 121| D

12/1

Dual novice chase winner in the autumn and kept decent company in that sphere since. Slightly disappointing last time but interesting off a mark 6lb than for her latest hurdles victory.

Form: 211225

Contingency¹³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 121

6/1

Unbeaten in two starts since joining this stable. Most recent of those came on soft ground over 2m5f at Galway in September and she is one for the shortlist for a leading stable on handicap debut.

Form: 11

Ellie Mac⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: D P Holden⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 118| C

12/1

Winner at 50/1 in a 24 runner maiden hurdle over 2m on yielding ground here in December. Worth a check in the market on her handicap debut.

Form: 3-P71

Elusive Ivy²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: A E Lynch| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 116| C

33/1

Successful three times over hurdles but disappointing over fences of late and probably best on her return to the smaller obstacles.

Form: 3-65758

Alletrix^h⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 116

4/1

Victorious over hurdles at Gowran Park (2m4f, soft-to-heavy) in a first time hood in September. Best effort since came when second to a useful looking rival in a Grade 3 last time and she is an interesting runner on handicap debut.

Form: 3613F2

Rosie Alice¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Phillip Enright| T: C Byrnes| OR: 115

7/1

Winner over fences at Kilbeggan (soft) in September but failed to complete in two of her three subsequent starts. Pulled up last time and a bit to prove at present.

Form: 251F3P

Dawn In The Park⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 110

25/1

Winner on good-to-yielding ground last spring but struggled on her return from a break when contesting a Listed event on heavy ground in December. Others make more appeal. on handicap debut.

Form: 241725

Miss Sassie^t⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: C D Meehan⁽⁵⁾| T: P Nolan| OR: 111

33/1

Stayed on well when finishing fourth over today's C&D last time out. Races off the same mark today but this looks a much tougher contest.

Form: 153394

Non-Runners

She's A Star²³

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: N Meade J: A W Short

Half The Odds¹⁵

Weight: 10-10| Age: 6

T: N Meade J: Sean Flanagan

Forecasts

Alletrix (4/1), Contingency (6/1), Rosie Alice (7/1), Lady Buttons (8/1), Canelie (8/1), Just Janice (9/1), She's A Star (10/1), Miss Eyecatcher (12/1), Ellie Mac (12/1), Court Artist (14/1), Meri Devie (16/1), Synopsis (16/1), Half The Odds (16/1), Barra (25/1), Dawn In The Park (25/1), Polar Present (25/1), Dixie Lee (33/1), Elusive Ivy (33/1), Miss Sassie (33/1), Creation (40/1)

JUST JANICE has looked an improved performer this season and she can make a winning return to handicaps in this opening mares contest. All three of John Kylie's mares victories have come under today's jockey Davy Russell and she can put a disappointing effort at Fairyhouse last time out behind her with the unbeaten Contingency, a winner at Galway last time out taken to finish best of the rest. Of the remainder Harry Fry's Canelie, a winner at Taunton last time out can claim third.