12:40 Leopardstown

Wednesday 26 December 2018

All12:1012:4013:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 12:43 | Winning time: 3m 53.6s

Bigger And Better^t⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: N P Madden| T: A J Martin

66/1

Dual flat winner for Richard Hannon but none from six for this yard on the level and form rather tailed off recently. Looks a tough task here on his hurdles debut and others are preferred.

Form:

Blankiedoodie¹⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D E Browne⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell

100/1

Only placed once in 10 flat starts achieving a rating of 51. Hard to be confident on that basis and would be surprising if he can make the frame here.

Form:

Captain Courageous¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Brian Hayes| T: G P Cromwell

66/1

Three-time flat winner for Ed Walker in 2017 although none from four for Ed Vaughan this year and only midfield in two hurdle starts more recently albeit behind smart winners. Handicaps likely his game.

Form: 00

City Island^t¹⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: M Brassil| D

15/8

Smart bumper winner was a ready winner of his first hurdle race in August only to lose the race due to a positive test. Grade One placed Debuchet was third there and second placed at Grade Two level since so form very strong and hard to oppose.

Form: 2-1D

Dallas Des Pictons⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| D

10/1

Dual French bumper winner was beaten 26L into fourth on debut at Naas. Surely more to come given powerful connections but others certainly have more compelling claims.

Form: 41-14

Defy De Mee²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

3/1

French bumper winner surprisingly didn't get involved in two starts for this yard last season but much more like it when second at Fairyhouse on return in a 20-runner maiden. More to come now and leading contender here.

Form: 6/2175-2

Happy Lad^t³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D J Hand⁽⁷⁾| T: H P Finegan

33/1

Fair fifth of 13 in a Kilbeggan maiden hurdle and won a bumper at Downpatrick since before finishing fifth of six here latest. Minor each-way appeal in a stronger contest than Kilbeggan.

Form: 2-63515

Incredible Black¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr D T Kelly⁽⁷⁾| T: L Comer

100/1

Third in a Kilbeggan bumper last season but lesser effort next and tailed off in first two hurdle races. Will be hoping for some progress here before he goes handicapping.

Form: 0/370-7

Lucky Ranger

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: S A Shortall| T: A J Martin

66/1

Newcomer by Bushranger is related to several flat winners and represents respected connections but this a tough place to start so making the frame would take a very decent effort.

Form:

Maddenstown^t⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: A Fleming

40/1

Beaten 44L in lone race under rules and since pulled up as favourite in a point-to-point. Would take quite a leap of faith to get involved at this stage.

Form: 7-P

Melman¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R Loughran| T: Peter Fahey

66/1

Slight improvement in second race but still beaten 41L into ninth there and looks the sort for handicaps after this where he will likely face easier tasks.

Form: 09

Mutadaffeq⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D J Mullins| T: G P Cromwell

33/1

79-rated four time flat winner (peak 92) for David O'Meara makes his hurdles/stable debut here. Has enough ability to make his presence felt but others nevertheless appeal more.

Form:

No Admission⁴⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: L Comer

66/1

Sixth of eight beaten 26L in lone start in a bumper well over a year ago. Gelded since but can only recommend a watching brief here on hurdles bow.

Form: 6-

Raya Time⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead

10/3

Impressive winner of a Killarney bumper and subsequently acquired for £150,000. Almost ran out and collided with the wing on hurdles debut when infront but kept on for fifth. Yard won this last year and have a live contender here.

Form: 15

Recommendation⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: L P Dempsey| T: Miss A Mooney

100/1

Unplaced in four flat races finishing seventh in most recent hurdles debut at Leopardstown. Might make a hurdler based on that evidence but a prospect for further down the line in handicaps.

Form:

Song Of Namibia⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| C

7/1

74-rated dual flat winner over 1m3f and 1m6f for Ger Lyons makes quite belated switch to hurdles but has joined a top yard so certainly merits respect although suspect he will find this a tough ask first time up.

Form:

Swarez³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: H P Cleary⁽⁷⁾| T: P Stafford

100/1

Unplaced in five point-to-points, a bumper and two hurdle races. Completely tailed off latest at Navan and of no appeal here.

Form: FPF-740

The Shed Mcgrath^h1,t⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: M F Mooney| T: Mrs A Mooney

100/1

Only completed once in four point-to-points and beaten 51L there. Impossible to fancy on that evidence and headgear the only obvious hope for better.

Form: UP0P

Forecasts

City Island (15/8), Defy De Mee (3/1), Raya Time (10/3), Song Of Namibia (7/1), Dallas Des Pictons (10/1), Mutadaffeq (33/1), Happy Lad (33/1), Maddenstown (40/1), Lucky Ranger (66/1), Melman (66/1), Captain Courageous (66/1), No Admission (66/1), Bigger And Better (66/1), Incredible Black (100/1), Recommendation (100/1), Swarez (100/1), The Shed Mcgrath (100/1), Blankiedoodie (100/1)

CITY ISLAND has already had his head infront in a hurdle only to be disqualified for a positive test result but that allows him another go at this level and the form of his win looks really solid going off the placed horses behind him so he will take some beating here. The main threats are provided by Raya Time for last year's winning yard who did everything wrong on his hurdles bow but was still fifth and Willie Mullins Defy De Mee who took major strides forward most recently.