13:45 Tramore

Tuesday 1 January 2019

All12:0012:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

Tramore Medical Clinic Handicap Hurdle (80-109)

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 5m 32.50s

Isabel's Gold^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr L P Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: J Queally| OR: 107| CD

9/2

C&D maiden hurdle winner (good) ran best race since latest when beaten just 1L into second again over C&D on heavy ground. Handicapper adds 3lb for that effort but she clearly enjoys it here so a bold bid is again expected.

Form: 910242

Askari^b²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 105

6/1

Been in good, consistent form this season and took form to a new level latest when bolting up by 6L in a 23-runner Navan handicap. Extra 9lb for that effort but seems progressive so highly respected here.

Form: 033321

Kennedys Mor⁴⁹³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-8| J: Brian Hayes| T: J Dullea| OR: 105

33/1

Pulled-up when last seen in August 2017 at Killarney. Starts out for new yard 2lb below last winning mark but hard to be confident after such an absence.

Form: 55/805P-

Blue Empyrean^p³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: A Ring| T: R K Watson| OR: 104

25/1

Won twice last January but not beat a rival since and failed to complete in four of his last five starts. Never won over hurdles in eight starts so far from compelling claims.

Form: 3P-P6FP

Bridies Boy^p¹⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: A McCurtin⁽³⁾| T: J J Walsh| OR: 102

66/1

Lone win came in 2015 and didn't finish in any of his three races in 2018. 11lb below aforementioned win but has to be considered a very risky proposition overall.

Form: 79FP-UF

Eight And Bob²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 102

2/1

Wexford winner in October since twice finished second in handicaps at Clonmel and Cork. Up 5lb for latest neck second of 20 in first 2m4f start. Clearly progressing quite rapidly at present so looks sure to make another bold bid.

Form: 6-02122

Goodnightngodbless^t¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Mark Walsh| T: J Motherway| OR: 99| BF

11/2

3m Tipperary winner in October has ran well in three of her four subsequent starts Good third of 15 at Fairyhouse latest over 2m7f leads to another rise in the weights but she should again go well.

Form: 014273

Star Of Oscar^p1¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: J J Slevin| T: E Doyle| OR: 96

16/1

Returned from a point-to-point win by being beaten 41L into 10th of 15 latest. Goodnightngodbless was third there so magnitude of task can't be underestimated.

Form: 979R10

Dubai Ash^p,t⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: R J Condon⁽⁷⁾| T: S Aherne| OR: 90

50/1

Winner of a point-to-point in in the summer but well held in three maiden hurdle spins since August. First handicap here but not seen enough positives to recommend involvement.

Form: 919307

Pump Road^b1,t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: M M McNiff| OR: 85| CD

6/1

C&D winner in January has only placed once since. 10th of 18 at Clonmel last time out after a break can be improved upon but others have more compelling claims.

Form: 1P-P730

Brazen Bay^t1¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Phillip Enright| T: J O Clifford| OR: 83

33/1

Unplaced in five starts, three hurdles, two bumpers and beaten at least 42L in each start. First handicap off such a low mark helps but still rates a risky proposition.

Form: 7-8988

Nancy Maher²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: J M Moore| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 82

33/1

Eight-race maiden beaten 22L in only one of three handicaps she's finished in and didn't complete in other two. Still early days but not easy to recommend.

Form: 7P-8U0P

Le Hachette^p1¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: M A Enright| T: J P Ryan| OR: 81

9/1

Returned to rules after maiden point-to-point win with a good third over C&D latest when only beaten 3L. Handicapper adds just 1lb for that effort so genuine claims here off bottom weight.

Form: 003213

Forecasts

Eight And Bob (2/1), Isabel's Gold (9/2), Goodnightngodbless (11/2), Askari (6/1), Pump Road (6/1), Le Hachette (9/1), Star Of Oscar (16/1), Blue Empyrean (25/1), Nancy Maher (33/1), Brazen Bay (33/1), Kennedys Mor (33/1), Dubai Ash (50/1), Bridies Boy (66/1)

EIGHT AND BOB has finished in the first two in his last four starts and after another excellent effort latest when upped to 2m4f he gets the vote to return to winning ways for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh. As is often the case Gordon Elliott provides the main danger in the form of recent 6L Navan winner Askari who is like the selection improving at a fast rate. Isabel's Gold was only just touched off latest over C&D and her previous win had come here also so this course clearly suits.