15:10 Thurles

Saturday 22 December 2018

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

Horse & Jockey Hotel Rated Novice Hurdle

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 5m 45.30s

Stay Humble³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

7/4

Broke his maiden under Rules when winning a 2m3f bumper at Downpatrick in June on good ground. Won over hurdles at the first time of asking at Sligo in August. Well held at Fairyhouse since but enters calculations here.

Form: 42-3114

Western Honour¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 121

7/2

Got off the mark at the third time of asking for connections since joining this yard. Looks a progressive type and shortlisted here.

Form: 44-4221

Plan Of Attack^p²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 116

7/2

Winner of a Limerick handicap hurdle over 2m5f on yielding ground last month with the well respected Whatsinthecorner 4¼L back in second. Leading player.

Form: 333461

Castletown Quary¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: M A Enright| T: E Griffin

10/1

Scorpion gelding who cost £50,000 at the April sales following an impressive point-to-point win a month earlier. Beaten a long way when fourth of 24 on hurdling debut at Cork recently and more needed here.

Form: 1-3134

Hey Groovy³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny Mullins| T: J M Burke| OR: 99

40/1

Won over 2m4f in a Tipperary maiden hurdle on good ground in October. Beaten since and Looks opposable in this contest.

Form: F051P3

Kilchreest Moon¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: D F O'Regan| T: B J Murphy| OR: 106

25/1

Stepped up on earlier efforts when third, just behind An Fearchan, in a 2m6f novice at Thurles won by Los Alamos here last month before disappointing at Clonmel earlier this month. Others look open to more improvement.

Form: 7334

Mysloegin^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: D J McInerney⁽³⁾| T: J R Finn| OR: 109

25/1

Two from 18 on similar going. Last win came off a 2lb lower mark at Tramore in August. Beaten since and improvement needed.

Form: 21F603

Stacks Mountain⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 112| BF

9/2

Has hit the frame in each of his last couple of starts including finishing third of 19 beaten 3¾L. More needed here but not completely ruled out.

Form: 37-4823

Non-Runners

Madison To Monroe⁴⁸

Weight: 11-10| Age: 5

T: Mrs J Harrington J: R M Power

Forecasts

Stay Humble (7/4), Plan Of Attack (7/2), Western Honour (7/2), Madison To Monroe (4/1), Stacks Mountain (9/2), Castletown Quary (10/1), Mysloegin (25/1), Kilchreest Moon (25/1), Hey Groovy (40/1)

WESTERN HONOUR can follow up his win at Clonmel in a 16-runner maiden earlier this month for trainer/jockey combination of Gordon Elliott and Davy Russell. The progressive six-year-old can hold off the advances of the Henry De Bromhead pair of Plan Of Attack and Stacks Mountain, while the Willie Mullins-trained Stay Humble can emerge as the biggest danger.