14:25 Leopardstown

Friday 9 March 2018

All13:2513:5514:2514:5515:3016:0516:3517:10

TRI Equestrian Superstore & Cafe Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 4m 21.70s

Destin D'Ajonc⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Geraghty| T: G Elliott| OR: 134

7/1

Victorious over hurdles at Auteuil as a three-year-old but had just two starts since. Placed in a Grade 3 contest last time out and one to note on handicap debut.

Form: 1-63

Pyromaniac^t²⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: A E Lynch| T: A J Martin| OR: 133| BF| C| D

20/1

Winner twice over hurdles and placed twice over fences in the spring. Unraced since finishing ninth on the Flat at The Curragh (2m, good) in July.

Form: 376338-

Grand Partner¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: B J Cooper| T: T Mullins| OR: 130| CD

5/1

Finished third ina valuable handicap over C&D on soft ground last month. Held fourth at navan since and vulnerable to less exposed rivals.

Form: P43034

Golden Spear^t¹²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: E O'Connell⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 129| C| D

20/1

Disappointing in two starts since finishing runner-up at Galway (2m, soft) in August. Returning from a break having finished 12th of 13 at Down Royal in November.

Form: 3P5-260

Hardback^t⁷¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: S A Shortall⁽³⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 129| CD

5/1

Successful twice over hurdles most recently when winning by a head on soft ground over C&D in December. Races off a 6lb higher mark with the tongue tie worn on that occasion retained today.

Form: 1F3491

Charlie Stout^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: P E Corbett⁽³⁾| T: S Nolan| OR: 128| D

7/1

Placed twice over hurdles last year but well held in a valuable C&D handicap last time out and work to do if he's to reverse from with Grand Partner on that running.

Form: 2-22740

Gran Geste⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: J S McGarvey| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 126| D

7/1

Winner of his first two starts over hurdles prior to finishing fifth over 2m at Navan (heavy) in January. Interesting to see how he fares on handicap debut.

Form: 115

Great Khan^t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Phillip Enright| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 123| D

9/2

Broke his maiden at the 11th attempt when winning a maiden hurdle at Clonmel (heavy) last time. Tongue tie worn for the first time that day is retained for today's handicap debut.

Form: 363331

The King Of Brega¹⁵²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-9| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 119| D

33/1

Successful three times over hurdles most recently on good ground at Downpatrick over an extended 2m6f in June last year. Returning from a break and best form has come over further.

Form: 0-81005

Chesterfield King³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 115| D

4/1

Winning for the first time when successful in a novice hurdle at Fairyhouse (2m, soft-to-heavy) last time out. Beaten off a mark 11lb lower than he races off today prior to that however.

Form: 854841

Non-Runners

Crossed My Mind⁴⁸

Weight: 10-11| Age: 6

T: A L T Moore J: B J Geraghty

Forecasts

Crossed My Mind (3/1), Chesterfield King (4/1), Great Khan (9/2), Grand Partner (5/1), Hardback (5/1), Gran Geste (7/1), Destin D'Ajonc (7/1), Charlie Stout (7/1), Golden Spear (20/1), Pyromaniac (20/1), The King Of Brega (33/1)

GREAT KHAN can follow up last months maiden success by making a winning handicap debut in this competitive looking affair. The selection has the ground conditions and trip to suit today and can get the better of likely favourite Crossed My Mind who looks the pick of owner JP McManus' contingent. Hardback was a winner here a couple of months back and he can claim third on this occasion.