14:20 Fairyhouse
Saturday 24 February 2018
All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:10
Visit Attheraces.com/Cheltenham Handicap Hurdle (80-102)
- 4YO plus | 2m 4f | Soft (Soft to Heavy in places) | 11 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 14:21 | Winning time: 5m 26.9s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Not fired in two runs here over 2m since joining this yard, plenty to prove off this handicap mark despite going up in distance today. Yard in fine form, with jockey booking a plus point.
Sole success in 26 starts came in a juvenile hurdle on heavy ground in December 2015. Better showing at Thurles (2m, heavy) last month when just over 5L fourth of 12, will have to build on that now.
Doesn't win all that often (1-16 career record), there's no denying that stamina is his forte and he was tailed off over this C&D earlier in the month on reappearance. Plenty to ponder right now.
Off the mark on second start for this handler when landing Clonmel handicap over this sort of trip on soft to heavy going in December (rated 86). Not disgraced here over 3m since and could run well back down in trip despite carrying another 2lb.
Recent efforts over timber disappointing, including this month over 3m at Punchestown when fading tamely after attempting to make the running. Dropped 4lb but has work to do at the moment.
Remains a maiden after 13 attempts over hurdles but some positive signs lately, including when never-nearer 8½L third of 10 over C&D earlier in the month. Runs off same mark with tongue tie added now and Robbie Power booked to steer.
Sent off 66/1 in all three maiden hurdles, including last month over C&D, and never able to pose any sort of threat. Would require significant chunk of improvement now sent handicapping to take close order in this.
Beaten combined total of more than 120L in maiden hurdles at Punchestown and here so far this season over this trip, having gone off massive prices in both cases. Has a lot of improvement to find now reverting to handicaps.
Best effort this season came in 4L defeat over this C&D in November on soft to heavy going. Rated 3lb lower now and perhaps can bounce back after less showings over different trips since.
Pulled up last month at Gowran Park (2m, heavy) having got into contention at three out before a mistake. Fairly modest hurdler but there was some brief promise during that run.
Now ten-years-old and without a win in ten previous attempts over timber, best of his efforts would leave him short and is having first run since May. Others readily preferred.
Forecasts
Battling Spirit (3/1), Brosna George (4/1), Jazz Ranger (9/2), Bettatogether (6/1), Zagnzig (8/1), Cairnshill (12/1), Lisclogher Lad (16/1), Streak (16/1), Right Turn Clive (16/1), Misty Hollow (20/1), Cappacon (20/1)
Battling Spirit scored over this sort of trip at Clonmel in December and could quickly bounce back having perhaps found 3m around here on testing ground beyond his comfort zone since. BROSNA GEORGE might be worth a chance however, given he's displayed some positives on occasions of late. He finished well in third over C&D recently and the fitting of a tongue tie may help today, while Robbie Power is a useful ally in the saddle. Zagnzig also merits some inspection back over this trip from a workable mark while it won't be any surprise if his trainer squeezes a win from Bettatogether before long.
- Brosna George
- Battling Spirit
- Zagnzig
Prize Money
1st: €7,084.002nd: €2,197.003rd: €1,046.004th: €471.005th: €184.00
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