14:35 Thurles

Saturday 22 December 2018

All12:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:40

Jimmy Neville Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 3m 49.1s

Eight Till Late¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: Francis Casey| OR: 131| D

10/1

Versatile performer is holding form well, going down battling in Listed contest here last month. Possibly beginning to find life difficult and others preferred.

Form: 131377

Scheu Time²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul Townend| T: J Nash| OR: 124| CD

5/2

C&D winner who won an Ayr novice hurdle in October at odds of 1/9. Could be capable of having his say here.

Form: F-4314F

Ask Nile^p⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Brian Hayes| T: S Neville| OR: 123

12/1

Appeared to improve for the fitting of cheekpieces when third of nine beaten 5¾L at Limerick in September. Well held when dropped in trip at Wexford and may struggle on these terms.

Form: 87F-736

Political Policy^t⁸⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: G N Fox| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 123

10/1

Won his first two starts this season but has struggled off similar marks in three starts since August. May find this a tough assignment.

Form: 114473

St Lawrence Gap^b¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: C J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: E Doyle| OR: 123| D

6/1

Running well of late on the AW at Dundalk but remains without a win over hurdles since August 2017 and a 13lb lower mark. Needs to show significant improvement in this company.

Form: 172-259

The King Of Brega^p⁵¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: D Robinson⁽³⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 123| C| D

11/1

Course winner that has also won over this trip and successful in a Gowran Park handicap hurdle in October off a 6lb lower mark. Career high mark done for the gelding at Clonmel last month and may be the same story here.

Form: 9-54714

Like An Open Book²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: D N Russell| T: J M Burke| OR: 120| CD

11/2

One from three over C&D with the win coming over 12-months ago off a 13lb lower mark. Running well in defeat since but may need assistance from the handicapper before consideration.

Form: 454233

Water Sprite^p1,t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Danny Mullins| T: M Torrens| OR: 119| D

33/1

Five-time distance winner with the latest coming in a Limerick handicap hurdle in October off a 3lb lower mark. First-time cheekpieces unlikely to bring about the required amount of progression needed to land a blow here.

Form: 348160

Baby Jake¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 115| D

20/1

Distance winner and successful over timber on four occasions but has been badly out of form since returning to action in September. Will need to improve to figure.

Form: 20-4058

One First Cut²³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Flanagan| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 115| CD

10/1

Lightly-raced five time maiden hurdler who may need the run on first start since May. Market to reveal expectations on return to action.

Form: U4452-3

Voices Of Spring^t⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Mark Walsh| T: A J Martin| OR: 112| D

8/1

Distance winner but that win was three years and 16 starts ago. Ran well in defeat at Navan recently and worth a market check for influential owner.

Form: FP-0485

Cristy's Call^b³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: M A Enright| T: R Hackett| OR: 95| D

50/1

Two from 13 over hurdles , recently seen on the AW at Dundalk. First time blinkers over timber, unlikely to bring about the required amount of improvement needed to play a role here.

Form: 06177/0

Banquet Hill^t⁵⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: J M Moore| T: J P Ryan| OR: 92

50/1

Was beaten 72L in a 2m maiden hurdle at Tramore in June last year and looks out of his depth here.

Form: 07/44U0-

Forecasts

Scheu Time (5/2), Like An Open Book (11/2), St Lawrence Gap (6/1), Voices Of Spring (8/1), Political Policy (10/1), Eight Till Late (10/1), One First Cut (10/1), The King Of Brega (11/1), Ask Nile (12/1), Baby Jake (20/1), Water Sprite (33/1), Cristy's Call (50/1), Banquet Hill (50/1)

SCHEU TIME can be forgiven his minor hiccup at Ascot last month and can improve sufficiently to take the honours here following a solid season to date. C&D winner, Like An Open Book looks booked to finish in the frame along with The King Of Brega. Any market move for the Tony Martin-trained, Voices Of Spring should be noted.