14:45 Limerick

Friday 28 December 2018

All12:0012:3013:0513:4014:1014:4515:2015:50

Parkway Shopping Centre Handicap Hurdle (80-102) (Div 1)

Off time: 14:49 | Winning time: 5m 42.50s

Shar Whats Therush^t⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: D Hassett| OR: 100

8/1

Has produced a number of dire efforts since winning a Fairyhouse handicap hurdle over 12-months ago. Others look open to more improvement.

Form: 9/01F8-0

Kansas Kid^t⁶²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: G N Fox| T: P G Kelly| OR: 99

33/1

Well down the field in a series of gloomy efforts over hurdles since returning to the track following the best part of two years away. Needs to improve in this contest.

Form: F92/000

Ceatharlach⁴²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: C Bowe| OR: 97| BF

10/1

Point-to-point winner who has finished out of the frame in four maiden hurdle starts to date. Not seen on track for over 14-months but the Beneficial gelding is worth a market check on handicap debut.

Form: 157553-

Owl Creek Bridge²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: C P McNamara⁽⁷⁾| T: E McNamara| OR: 94

9/2

Well beaten in three maiden hurdles runs to date and disappointed on handicap debut at Clonmel earlier this month. Left with something to prove.

Form: 3-29000

Sizing Joshua^b1²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: J S McGarvey| T: M F Morris| OR: 93

16/1

Seven race maiden without success in six starts over hurdles. First time blinkers unlikely to bring about the required amount of improvement needed to play a role here.

Form: P6-6000

Chapter Two^b1⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: I J McCarthy| T: T F Shaw| OR: 92

16/1

Possibly needed the run on return to action in a Navan handicap hurdle last month finishing 30L adrift of the winner, Aasleagh Dawn. Place claims on second start back.

Form: 5323-10

Simple Steps¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr J C Canavan⁽⁷⁾| T: R Tyner| OR: 91

8/1

101-rated chaser whose eighth of 20 beaten 23L at Cork earlier this month on first hurdle start in a while could have the Tikkanen mare spot on for this contest.

Form: 612F3-8

Our Native Land^t1¹⁴⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: A J Flaherty⁽⁷⁾| T: B J Murphy| OR: 90

33/1

Showed some form back in 2012 but this veteran has shown nothing in three starts since return from a five year absence and cannot be recommended.

Form: 424/600

Olive D'Haguenet^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: I Madden| OR: 87

10/1

Three-time French Flat winner has not converted that form in nine desolate hurdle starts since joining new connections. Others look more convincing at this level.

Form: 568029

Beale Beach¹⁰⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁵⁾| T: P Neville| OR: 85

14/1

Running well in defeat when not disgraced in a couple of starts in the summer but has been struggling subsequently and is likely to find it tough going once again here.

Form: 5/P-450P

Dont Tell Suellen⁸²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: C Brassil⁽⁵⁾| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 85

25/1

Seen in the point-to-point ranks recently following a number of grim maiden hurdle efforts earlier this year. Could find one or two better handicapped sorts lurking.

Form: 00-0P

Lagenod^p1²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Sweeney| OR: 84

12/1

11-race maiden, struggling overall since June. First time cheekpieces unlikely to bring about the required amount of improvement needed to play a role here.

Form: 0P-2060

Madaboy Cross¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: K J Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: T P O'Connor| OR: 84

9/2

Mare spent three years on the sidelines and there have been glimpses of promise since her return in August, the best of those came in a Naas handicap hurdle off a similar mark earlier this month. Entitled to make the shortlist.

Form: 066476

Betterthanalright⁹⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 10-7| J: Robbie Colgan| T: L Casey| OR: 83

33/1

Placed over C&D in April finishing second of 12 beaten 20L off a similar mark. Holds strong place claims on return to hurdling.

Form: 23-P0P5

It's A Long Story¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 80

6/1

Without a win in 11 starts for Cumbrian trainer Barbara Butterworth. and finished well down the field on first start for the trainer in a Tramore handicap hurdle earlier this month. Improvement expected here.

Form: P6776-0

The B^p1³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: W J Lanigan| OR: 80

22/1

Recently appeared in the point-to-point ranks and remains a six-race maiden hurdler. First time cheekpieces unlikely to bring about the required amount of progression needed to land a blow here.

Form: 6P4-3P4

Glenmalure Lodge^t²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: A Ring| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 82

33/1

Filly beaten wide margins in three maiden hurdles before being pulled-up when detached in a Navan contest on handicap debut earlier this month. Has a bit to prove at present.

Form: 7086P

Northern Emperor^p,t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Reserve 1| T: V T O'Brien| OR: 80

25/1

First Reserve: Produced a couple of encouraging runs when returning to the track in May at Limerick and Listowel, but not progressed in four starts since. Hard to fancy.

Form: 486006

Non-Runners

Father Jed¹

Weight: 11-3| Age: 7

T: J P Ryan J: T N Brett

Forecasts

Owl Creek Bridge (9/2), Madaboy Cross (9/2), It's A Long Story (6/1), Shar Whats Therush (8/1), Simple Steps (8/1), Ceatharlach (10/1), Olive D'Haguenet (10/1), Lagenod (12/1), Beale Beach (14/1), Sizing Joshua (16/1), Chapter Two (16/1), Father Jed (16/1), The B (22/1), Northern Emperor (25/1), Dont Tell Suellen (25/1), Our Native Land (33/1), Kansas Kid (33/1), Betterthanalright (33/1), Glenmalure Lodge (33/1)

SIMPLE STEPS is a 101-rated chaser whose eighth of 20 beaten 23L at Cork earlier this month on first hurdle start in a while could be the key to landing the spoils in this contest. The Colin Bowe-trained Ceatharlach and It's A Long Story appear cable of hitting the target, while Madaboy Cross can go well at a price.