13:20 Leopardstown

Saturday 29 December 2018

All12:1012:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

Advent Insurance Irish EBF Mares Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 13:20 | Winning time: 4m 59.00s

Forge Meadow²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 146| BF

8/1

Runner-up in this 12 months ago and subsequently landed a Grade 3 at Gowran. Not at her best since and questions to answer back over hurdles and with the ground faster than ideal.

Form: 1PP-324

Good Thyne Tara⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 143| D

9/2

Consistent mare who has graduated to Listed company. Will appreciate the ground better than most but a place finish may be the best connections are hoping for.

Form: 116132

Countess Cathleen²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: J M Moore| T: D Hickey| OR: 115

28/1

Landed a Clonmel maiden hurdle on heavy ground but looked held when falling in another Grade 3 on her next start. Has plenty to find to trouble some of these.

Form: 5641F-6

Kingston Girl²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: L Comer

33/1

Killarney bumper winner at fifth attempt. Runner-up on hurdling debut but this is a tall order for one so inexperienced.

Form: 363012

Limini²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 152| C| D

8/11

No match for Apple's Jade on return to hurdling earlier in the month. Worrying she has been below her best on last three starts under both codes, but she still looks hard to resist on these terms.

Form: 13213/3

Shimmer's Rock²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: J J Slevin| T: P E Collins| OR: 118

66/1

Took form forward a step when taking a Clonmel maiden hurdle on first start for this yard. Held on three occasions since and has too much to find at this level.

Form: 610-P50

Elimay⁴²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins

4/1

Bought for €310,000 having won in France and being placed twice in Grade 3 company. Questions to answer on ground this quick and after an absence, but yard do well with their imports and she is worth a market check.

Form: 4/13222-

Non-Runners

Law Girl²

Weight: 10-13| Age: 5

T: Mrs J Harrington J: P D Kennedy

Forecasts

Limini (8/11), Elimay (4/1), Good Thyne Tara (9/2), Forge Meadow (8/1), Law Girl (25/1), Countess Cathleen (28/1), Kingston Girl (33/1), Shimmer's Rock (66/1)

Willie Mullins holds a strong hand with exciting French import Elimay and the ultra-consistent Good Thyne Tara. However, it is his top-class mare LIMINI who earns the vote despite some below-par performances lately. This represents a drop in class and the allowances have been kind to her. Jessica Harrington has a good record in this but Forge Meadow requires softer ground and recent performances suggest she is further from her peak than the selection.