16:45 Thurles

Thursday 22 February 2018

All13:5514:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

www.thurlesraces.ie (Ladies Pro/Am) Handicap Hurdle (80-102)

Off time: 16:48 | Winning time: 4m 25.30s

Popping Along^t⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Miss I T Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: T O'Connor| OR: 97

33/1

Poor form in a series of dismal performances over 2016/2017 and hard to construct a case for her here.

Form: 85-65P7

Auction Reminder⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Miss J M Cook⁽⁷⁾| T: D Duggan| OR: 95

14/1

Second-rate performer in five career maiden hurdles well beaten on each occasion including a 208L defeat last month. Others preferred.

Form: 6508-P9

Hughies Bay^t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Miss C Daffy⁽⁷⁾| T: D Howard| OR: 93

7/1

Failed to build on promising handicap hurdle second here when pulled-up at Cork when struggling in November. Well beaten on two occasions since but can figure in this company.

Form: PP-52P7

The Ballyboys¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁷⁾| T: R Hackett| OR: 93

9/4

Put a string of gloomy performances behind him when winning a Limerick handicap hurdle at their Christmas meeting. Beaten since over both timber and the larger obstacles but hard to dismiss in this company.

Form: 701630

Rose's In The Rain⁹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Miss P Elvin⁽⁷⁾| T: E Bolger| OR: 88

6/1

Beaten 102L in three maiden hurdle starts so far at Thurles and last time out at Cork over 2m. Needs to improve significantly.

Form: 000

Not Touch^b,t²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Miss E McCutcheon⁽⁷⁾| T: M Hourigan| OR: 87

8/1

Maiden in 12 starts on Flat for Richard Hannon and no luck so far in 10 unplaced starts over hurdles. Looks up against it here.

Form: 0F70P7

Punches Pious⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Miss E A Lalor⁽⁵⁾| T: T Doyle| OR: 84

7/2

Modest 50-rated Flat handicapper who has fallen and finished 13th of 18 in two handicap hurdles in November before an encouraging effort last month at Naas but more needed again in this contest.

Form: 660/F05

Analyse That^p²⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 10-6| J: Miss S Ahern⁽⁷⁾| T: S Aherne| OR: 80

8/1

Has failed to finish his last three starts which is a worry for the veteran of 30 races. Looks opposable.

Form: P85PPP

Larkfield Lass³³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Sarah Kavanagh⁽⁷⁾| T: R P Rath| OR: 80

16/1

Fairly well beaten on last three starts over the larger obstacles following a heavy 135L in a Navan maiden hurdle. Plenty to prove in this contest.

Form: 150357

Forecasts

The Ballyboys (9/4), Punches Pious (7/2), Rose's In The Rain (6/1), Hughies Bay (7/1), Analyse That (8/1), Not Touch (8/1), Auction Reminder (14/1), Larkfield Lass (16/1), Popping Along (33/1)

Could be a case for Larkfield Lass and Auction Reminder vying for the lead here in the early stages of this contest which could set the race up for a finish between the likes of Punches Pious, Hughies Bay and THE BALLYBOYS who will appreciate the return to hurdling.