16:05 Cork

Sunday 1 April 2018

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0516:4017:1517:45

FBD Insurance Handicap Hurdle (0-145) (Grade B)

Off time: 16:06 | Winning time: 5m 18.3s

Articulum^t⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: D E Splaine| T: T O'Brien| OR: 132| C| D

9/2

Course winner that has won over the distance beaten 28L in February by Cheltenham festival winner Blow By Blow - won the Martin Pipe by 5L - before pressing the winner all the way last time out when finishing second of eight at Navan.

Form: 1/0-1P42

Ministerforsport^t1⁸⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: D J McInerney⁽⁵⁾| T: Noel O'Neill| OR: 132

20/1

Unbeaten in his last three point-to-point starts before landing a double under rules last year. Lightly raced and weakened markedly last time out in January at Clonmel. Tongue-tie fitted for first time.

Form: 1111-14

Cliff House⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: A McCurtin⁽⁵⁾| T: J J Walsh| OR: 131

40/1

Two from 20 over hurdles and last win came back in May 2016 on good to firm. Losing run now total 13 and is still 5lb higher than his last win.

Form: 308-030

Spades Are Trumps⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: B J Geraghty| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 130

7/2

Has certainly caught the eye in three solid performances since October winning a competitive 22-runner maiden at Punchestown before finishing second of nine last time out in January at Navan. Interesting on handicap debut.

Form: 312

Midnight Stroll^h1⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Tyner| OR: 129

10/1

Solid and consistent in a number of efforts towards the end of the year before weakening quickly when something clearly amiss at Leopardstown in February. First time hood called for and one to check in the betting.

Form: 3-61140

Didero Vallis⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: N M Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 127| BF| D

20/1

Looks solid enough on finishing positions in maiden and novice hurdles but bombed on handicap debut when finishing down the field in a Leopardstown hurdle over 3m beaten 60L off a similar mark.

Form: 33-1202

Roconga²⁰¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: D G Hogan| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 126| C

33/1

Not seen since September but solid and consistent last spring winning here over 1m2f in a Flat handicap off a mark of 90. Better chaser than she is hurdler and possibly best watched here.

Form: 32422F

Montys Meadow²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: P F Mangan| T: J J Mangan| OR: 125| C

16/1

Popular veteran who was in fine form at the turn of the year and possibly needed run at Thurles last month on return. Course winner in November and worth a market check.

Form: 4-P5236

Conright Boy^h,t⁴¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Donagh Meyler| T: Mrs C O'Leary| OR: 124

50/1

Three from 12 over hurdles last winning a Fairyhouse handicap hurdle off a 3lb lower mark in January 2017. Will possibly need the comeback run here.

Form: 14/P010-

Hareth^p³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: P D Kennedy⁽³⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 121| D

14/1

Won a Limerick handicap hurdle off a 6lb lower mark over this distance back in May 2014. Out of luck last time out in February when one pace seventh of 13 beaten 8L. Appears to need some relief from the handicapper.

Form: 2F3617

Gracemount¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: S Doyle| OR: 117

25/1

Highly tried in Grade 3 hurdles and easily dismissed on all three occasions in mares' contests. Will appreciate the return to handicapping but still a big ask here.

Form: 141698

Le Vagabond^h1¹⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: S J Gray⁽³⁾| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 116

40/1

96-rated handicapper on the Flat and is two from eight over timber. Back on a winning mark but hard to see him making any significant impact.

Form: 364/10-9

La Bella Vida²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 115

20/1

Won a Thurles beginners chase in October over 2m2f on yielding ground but has failed to build on the win in four starts though improvement and return to form was hinted at last time out in a Gowran Park handicap chase.

Form: 21U522

Steel Wave^h⁹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 114| BF

9/1

Beaten favourite last time out when finishing fifth of 13 beaten over 8L in a Punchestown handicap hurdle over 2m4f. Could possibly struggle still 10lb higher than last win.

Form: 5631/25

Lareena²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 113

10/3

Behind Chateauneuf Du Pap beaten 1L on her second start for this trainer at Tramore on New Years Day before another bold show when second of 14 at Fairyhouse in February. Supplied Ruby Walsh with comeback win last month at Thurles.

Form: 2/0221

Goulane Chosen²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: J J Burke| T: S Spillane| OR: 112

10/1

Another in the field who is better over the larger obstacles than over timber winning a Gowran Park handicap chase last month. Could struggle back hurdling in this company.

Form: 50-1021

De Benno^t²²

Age: 13| Weight: 9-10| J: C A Landers⁽⁷⁾| T: J Grace| OR: 107| CD

10/1

Raised 9lb for a win in a Navan handicap hurdle in February beating Fruits Of Glory 5L. Has it all to do from bottom weight.

Form: 221815

Non-Runners

High Expectations¹³²

Weight: 10-13| Age: 7

T: G Elliott J: D F O'Regan

Forecasts

Lareena (10/3), Spades Are Trumps (7/2), Articulum (9/2), High Expectations (7/1), Steel Wave (9/1), De Benno (10/1), Goulane Chosen (10/1), Midnight Stroll (10/1), Hareth (14/1), Montys Meadow (16/1), Ministerforsport (20/1), Didero Vallis (20/1), La Bella Vida (20/1), Gracemount (25/1), Roconga (33/1), Le Vagabond (40/1), Cliff House (40/1), Conright Boy (50/1)

LAREENA could get a nice pull in to the race from De Benno and Ministerforsport to land this 18-runner contest under jockey Brian Cooper. The mare gave Ruby Walsh a comeback win last time out at Thurles winning comfortably by 5L and she looks well treated on handicap debut. Articulum and Spades Are Trumps can hit the frame while High Expectations could out run his odds here.