14:30 Thurles

Thursday 8 November 2018

All12:4513:2013:5514:3015:0015:3516:10

Ballagh Mares Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 4m 45.8s

Chisholm Trail^t¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: B J Cooper| T: P Nolan| OR: 116| D

6/1

Won a Gowran Park maiden hurdle in June before an encouraging return to action at Wexford last month. Can be expected to improve on last run.

Form: 65-1514

Red Pearl^b,t¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: S Ryan| OR: 107

6/1

Promising third of 12 beaten 3½L behind the useful Smithscorner in a 2m3f Cork handicap hurdle last month following a win in a Down Royal maiden over 2m in August. Needs to improve in this tougher assignment.

Form: 3/P-2P13

Lockeen Girl²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: D J Mullins| T: T Mullins| OR: 103

8/1

Off the mark for connections at the 19th time of asking over hurdles, landing a Tramore handicap hurdle over 2m in August. Beaten since but not one to totally leave out of calculations.

Form: 37P1P3

Rain In Spain²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Paul Townend| T: C O'Brien| OR: 102

6/1

Distance winner of a Sligo maiden in August off an 8lb lower mark. Ran well in defeat last month in a Punchestown handicap hurdle over a similar trip. More progress possible and not dismissed.

Form: 011662

Isabel's Gold⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Brian Hayes| T: J Queally| OR: 101

11/1

Nothing of note in a number of bumper starts over the summer before landing a Tramore maiden in August. Well held on handicap debut next time and market likely to be the best guide here.

Form: 105910

Ar Eagla Na Heagla^b²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: C J Orr⁽⁷⁾| T: Francis Casey| OR: 102

10/1

Running well in defeat in a series of starts over timber since July, but likely to find one or two better handicapped sorts lurking on the card here.

Form: 6-25333

Harrys Gift^h³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: D H Kelly| OR: 98

10/1

10-race maiden hurdler and well down the pack last month in a Clonmel handicap hurdle over 3m, but holds strong place claims on a couple of efforts in September.

Form: 249220

Creeping Ivy^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: A E Lynch| T: A J Martin| OR: 97

14/1

Decent effort last month on the Flat at Navan over 1m6f but has generally produced a number of laboured runs over timber in the last couple of months. Needs to significantly improve to play a role here.

Form: 395-489

Lily Trotter²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: C P McNamara⁽⁷⁾| T: E McNamara| OR: 96

10/1

Hit the frame on a couple of occasions from five hurdle starts and possibly in the mix here following her third of seven beaten ¾L in a 2m Limerick handicap hurdle last month.

Form: 928-63

Lady Of The Sea^b¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: P Nolan| OR: 93

8/1

Running well but without success in a series of handicap hurdle efforts over the summer and latterly in a couple of spins last month, including a promising second of 14 beaten 5½L behind Silver Planeur at Wexford. Genuine and tough sort, but needs a

Form: 219562

Our Rachael^p,t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Robbie Colgan| T: A J Martin| OR: 93

11/1

Beaten 1L on latest start over timber but remains a 13-race maiden hurdler. Looks a tall order from out of the handicap.

Form: 4-42P42

Non-Runners

Synopsis⁶⁰

Weight: 11-11| Age: 6

T: G Elliott J: Jack Kennedy

Forecasts

Rain In Spain (6/1), Red Pearl (6/1), Chisholm Trail (6/1), Synopsis (13/2), Lockeen Girl (8/1), Lady Of The Sea (8/1), Harrys Gift (10/1), Lily Trotter (10/1), Ar Eagla Na Heagla (10/1), Isabel's Gold (11/1), Our Rachael (11/1), Creeping Ivy (14/1)

RAIN IN SPAIN shaped well in defeat last month in a Punchestown handicap hurdle over a similar trip finishing ¾L adrift of the winner and can go one better here off a 3lb higher mark. The six-year-old can win her third hurdle at the expense of Wexford runner-up, Lady Of The Sea and Lily Trotter who can improve from her Limerick run last month. Lockeen Girl, winner at Tramore in August should not be taken lightly.