12:45 Leopardstown

Friday 28 December 2018

All12:1012:4513:2013:5014:2515:0015:35

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier)

Off time: 12:46 | Winning time: 5m 57.10s

Sire Du Berlais^t⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 142

16/1

Not the easiest to train seemingly, but 2lb lower than when finishing fourth in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham in March. Has had a run to get fit and now tackles 3m for the first time.

Form: 30/248-8

Tigris River^t³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: B J Geraghty| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 141

28/1

Five-time winner in this sphere, though not since August 2017. In trouble a long way from home over 2m6½f at Navan last month on reappearance. Stamina not proven.

Form: P06-509

Walk To Freedom^h,t¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 139

10/1

Well held on reappearance at Naas after 484-day absence, though reversed that form in no uncertain terms when beating De Name Escapes Me at Navan (2m6½f, good) last month. Run well since over 2m4f, up another pound but first time tackling 3m.

Form: 44/5-014

Monksland⁴¹¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: N D Fehily| T: N Meade| OR: 138| CD

20/1

Has proved tough to train down the years but capable of solid form when making it to the track. Has run big races fresh before, so 411-day absence no major barrier, and handicapper has cut the 11-year-old some slack (eased 9lb).

Form: 3624/14-

A Great View^p²⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Mark Walsh| T: D Cullen| OR: 137| D

14/1

Gained reward for consistent season last time when prevailing on the line at Punchestown Festival in 3m handicap hurdle. 6lb higher on first start since and has at times needed the run on reappearing.

Form: 642561-

Robbin'hannon²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: D P Holden⁽⁷⁾| T: M A Gunn| OR: 135| D

25/1

Dual hurdles winner at up to 2m7f for Philip Hobbs (latest in September 2017). Went well on second start for this trainer at Clonmel (3m, soft) this month on the back of 314-day absence. 3lb higher here, could build on that, though this is tougher.

Form: 2/1204-2

Plinth^b,t¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: S A Shortall| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 131| C

28/1

Keeps strong handicap company but hasn't won since July 2017. Now doubt he's capable of a challenge from this rating, but the concern would be the 3m journey.

Form: 042400

Prince Garyantle^b,t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: M J Smith| OR: 131

40/1

Won decent handicap at Punchestown in April over 2m5f but is rated 10lb higher now and plenty to find with some of these rivals on recent starts at Navan and Clonmel. Career-best needed.

Form: 10-3363

Dorans River^t⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: J B Kane⁽⁵⁾| T: S J Mahon| OR: 130| D

66/1

Bellewstown winner over the trip on good ground in August, though well held next time at Listowel (soft). Failed to complete three starts since (two over fences) and hard to side with for now.

Form: 414FUP

Pleasant Company²⁵⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 128| D

7/1

Agonisingly denied by Tiger Roll in photo-finish to Aintree Grand National thriller, he returns to action for the first time now. Hasn't run over timber since 2015, likely starting to build once more towards other targets, but chance of going well.

Form: 419/0P2-

Thermistocles⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 128| D

7/1

Patiently ridden to make winning handicap debut over timber at Clonmel (3m, good) last month on just fifth start in this sphere. Gone up 8lb but looked as though he'd have more to offer over the trip.

Form: 3535-31

Cuneo¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 126

12/1

Bumper winner at Tramore in April (2m, heavy), has gone well both starts in maiden hurdle this term (including losing 2m6f Punchestown race in steward's room). Should go well now featuring in a handicap first time.

Form: 4321-D5

Forever Gold^p¹²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-6| J: Brian Hayes| T: E Cawley| OR: 125| CD

28/1

Unconvincing profile, with a 4-46 record under rules. Runs as many poor races as good ones and remains 7lb higher than when winning over C&D three years ago.

Form: UP3U-00

High Sparrow^t³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: E T Daly⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 125| BF

12/1

Consistent sort over timber, though yet to win outside of maiden company. Has it all to do with Walk To Freedom on last month's Navan run.

Form: 123-347

Slippery Serpent⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: D J Mullins| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 123| BF| C

12/1

Punchestown winner in October (2m4f, good), travelling powerfully and seemingly getting things done with a bit in hand. Solid third since at Naas off this mark, respected now but has to prove desire for the trip.

Form: 546-213

Sweet Home Chicago⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Donagh Meyler| T: C Bowe| OR: 122| D

25/1

Easy Galway winner over this trip in October but then well found out in Listed Cheltenham handicap last month. Eased a pound now, but this once more a very competitive event.

Form: F45114

Riviera Sun^p⁷⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 120

66/1

Hasn't run over timber since 2015, lost way over fences lately and still handicapped to best form in this sphere. Would be a surprise winner.

Form: 145-040

Russian Bill¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 120| C

9/1

Some promise to be had from two runs back after 700-day absence, going well enough at Navan last time over 2m4f. Rated 4lb lower than when second in this contest in 2015, not without a hope now.

Form: 5009/96

Small World^b²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Jack Kennedy| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 120| D

33/1

Won over the trip on soft at Clonmel in 2017, scored again over 2m6f (good) at Ballinrobe in the summer but out of sorts all three runs this winter and still 6lb above previous winning-mark, career-best the order needed now.

Form: 0P1045

The Gatechecker^b⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: L P Dempsey| T: M Hourigan| OR: 119| D

14/1

Comes here in the form of his life, winning over fences at Listowel and hurdles at Limerick (both 3m, soft/good) before fine third in Cork National (3m4f, good) latest. 10lb lower back over timber and respected.

Form: R52113

Jack Fiasco^p¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: P D Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 118

11/1

Ran well at Punchestown on sole attempt at this trip (½L second of 15). Just 4lb now and not crossed off the list back up in distance.

Form: 106237

Satoshi¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: C J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 123

11/1

Awarded race over 2m6f on hurdles debut at Punchestown (Cuneo first past the post), before finding 2m sharp at Gowran Park. Well held in Navan Grade 2 since. Interesting now in a handicap, albeit a fiercely tough one.

Form: 9-138

Rock De Baune²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: M A Enright| T: J E Kiely| OR: 120

20/1

French hurdles winner in 2017, mostly gloomy stuff since arriving in this country however and little reason to recommend now.

Form: 179-056

Forecasts

Thermistocles (7/1), Pleasant Company (7/1), Russian Bill (9/1), Walk To Freedom (10/1), Satoshi (11/1), Jack Fiasco (11/1), Cuneo (12/1), High Sparrow (12/1), Slippery Serpent (12/1), A Great View (14/1), The Gatechecker (14/1), Sire Du Berlais (16/1), Rock De Baune (20/1), Monksland (20/1), Robbin'hannon (25/1), Sweet Home Chicago (25/1), Plinth (28/1), Forever Gold (28/1), Tigris River (28/1), Small World (33/1), Prince Garyantle (40/1), Dorans River (66/1), Riviera Sun (66/1)

Pleasant Company hasn't been spotted since just failing to run down Tiger Roll at Aintree. He surely has that sort of aspiration ahead, but he's got a chance here if ready to roll. Sire Du Berlais tackles this trip for the first time but can enter the fray if finding his Cheltenham form while Walk To Freedom comes here thriving and will likely appreciate this stamina test. Slippery Serpent and the unexposed Cuneo are feared but MONKSLAND has been given a chance by the assessor and, given he's got a track record of going well fresh, Noel Fehily's mount might just grab it.