14:45 Limerick

Saturday 14 July 2018

All14:1014:4515:1515:5016:2517:0017:3018:05

Follow Limerick Racecourse On Twitter Handicap Hurdle (80-102)

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 4m 21.90s

Jazz Ranger^p¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: E T Daly⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Fahy| OR: 100

20/1

Has generally been a disappointment over hurdles since the turn of the year including falling two out when still in touch in a Clonmel handicap in May. Unlikely to play a part in the finish.

Form: 6F749-F

Littlestickarubarb³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D J McInerney⁽³⁾| T: M Winters| OR: 100| BF

6/1

Won a Cork handicap hurdle over 2m off a 10lb lower mark in April and has appeared to struggle largely off her new since, bar finishing runner-up at Tramore last month. Place claims.

Form: F15-525

Youngnedofthehill^h,t²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: R Loughran| T: S Nolan| OR: 100

11/2

Losing run goes back to August last year with three runner-up finishes costing the gelding in the ratings. Tough and genuine but still 14lb higher than last winning mark.

Form: 250-726

Ard Na Carraig^p1,t¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 98

7/1

Running on the Flat recently and remains a 12-race maiden hurdler. First-time cheekpieces unlikely to bring about the required improvement to play a role here.

Form: 6239-U5

Katoptris¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: A E Lynch| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 99

4/1

Progressive hurdler who got off the mark at the fourth time of asking beating 13 rivals in a Kilbeggan maiden hurdle last month over 2m on good ground. Another bold show looks likely.

Form: 86-51

Torquay⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: C P McNamara⁽⁷⁾| T: E McNamara| OR: 93

5/1

Beaten 29L when finishing third in a maiden hurdle here in April and has subsequently being beaten a total of 120L in two starts since on the Flat and jumping a hurdle. May find this a tough assignment.

Form: 43-6

Sheldon Cooper³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: J J Burke| T: W J Burke| OR: 87

14/1

Will have disappointed connections in three dismal hurdling displays since May and others readily preferred here.

Form: 5-060

Epsilon Indi³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: B J Cooper| T: R P McNamara| OR: 82

5/1

Lightly raced type but has only hinted at ability so far and needs to show more and has plenty to prove at present.

Form: 0579P-5

Toursoun⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: J J Slevin| T: P M Cloke| OR: 87

25/1

Well held and no impression in three dour maiden hurdle efforts since May. Form doesn't warrant support in this contest.

Form: 090

Oromo^b1,t⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Robbie Colgan| T: K Thornton| OR: 80

12/1

Nothing of note in a number of handicap hurdles since May and first time blinkers unlikely to bring about the required amount of improvement needed to play a role here.

Form: 00-9277

Forecasts

Katoptris (4/1), Epsilon Indi (5/1), Torquay (5/1), Youngnedofthehill (11/2), Littlestickarubarb (6/1), Ard Na Carraig (7/1), Oromo (12/1), Sheldon Cooper (14/1), Jazz Ranger (20/1), Toursoun (25/1)

Gavin Cromwell's KATOPTRIS didn't take long to get off the mark at the fourth time of asking in a Kilbeggan maiden hurdle last month and her fifth of 12 behind Maple Lawn earlier is solid form to take in to this contest. The tough and gutsy Littlestickarubarb ran as if something was amiss last month at Clonmel and is much better than that run suggests. Torquay and Youngnedofthehill appear to retain more ability than the rest of the field.