14:00 Leopardstown

Saturday 2 February 2019

All12:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:20

Ladbrokes Hurdle (Handicap - Rated 0-150) (Grade B)

Off time: 14:01 | Winning time: 3m 49.0s

Campeador^h²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| OR: 148| BF| D

25/1

Has proved a bit accident-prone at times and been chasing this term to mixed effect. Fair task on back over timber conceding weight in this competitive contest.

Form: 1F3-F12

Jezki^p³⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 145| CD

16/1

Former Champion Hurdler, well beaten in graded races either side of fair showing in 2m Fairyhouse handicap in December. Handicapper has relented 5lb and not taken lightly with valuable claim to boot.

Form: 1P0-204

Wonder Laish⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: D N Russell| T: C Byrnes| OR: 144| C| D

7/1

2-2 over timber this season, winning competitive handicaps at Navan and Fairyhouse over this trip (beat a few of these last time). Only had ½L to spare though and up another 8lb now.

Form: 1-711

Blazer²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: J S McGarvey| T: W P Mullins| OR: 143| CD

25/1

Flatters to deceive and while two most recent chase efforts have been better, he was well down the field at Fairyhouse in December in 2m handicap won by Wonder Laish and may struggle to turn it around, even on revised terms.

Form: 4-28063

Off You Go⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Mark Walsh| T: C Byrnes| OR: 143| CD

8/1

Had won three handicaps on the spin and gone up a total of 36lb before finishing eighth of 21 behind Wonder Laish at Fairyhouse (2m, good) in December. Needs another step forward, with mark unchanged this time. Could find extra.

Form: 6311-18

Hearts Are Trumps⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: L P Dempsey| T: D McDonogh| OR: 138| D

14/1

Consistent through second half of 2018, winning two from six starts and giving good account behind some of these re-opposing rivals in defeat. Continues to inch up the ratings, but likely to run his race again.

Form: 421214

Jetez²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 136| CD

13/2

Career-best to win over C&D in December and since run a fine race behind Felix Desjy in a Punchestown Grade 2 over this trip. More on his plate from this new mark, but not one to dismiss easily.

Form: 154212

Mitchouka²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: K Brogan⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 137| D

40/1

Decent novice hurdler last season, 4-10 over timber. Far from disgraced in good company this season over fences and wouldn't want to be writing him off back in this sphere.

Form: 6-F5445

Sayar¹¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136| D

16/1

Winner of 2-3 starts over hurdles as a novice in 2017/18 campaign, including 2m soft to heavy ground Grade 3 at Tipperary. Ran twice on the Flat in the autumn and needs a good look making his first foray into a handicap hurdle for champion trainer.

Form: 117-

Tully East³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: A Fleming| OR: 136| D

33/1

Best known for his chasing and just about handicapped to his best over timber. 15L to find with Jetez after last month's C&D clash and suggestion is he won't locate it.

Form: 463-800

Twobeelucky¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: A E Lynch| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 136| D

50/1

In good heart in 2017 with three victories over 2m but lightly raced since. Well down the field in C&D event won by Jetez at Christmas and again no impact over 2m4f at Navan since. Others preferred.

Form: 121-000

Cartwright^b¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: B J Cooper| T: G Elliott| OR: 135| D

20/1

Won a Listed race at Navan in March over this trip but, after making limited impact in four further starts over timber, hard to see him replicating form. Both hurdles wins have come on heavy going. More demanded.

Form: 415-056

Ivanovich Gorbatov^b,t³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 134| CD

16/1

The 2016 Triumph Hurdle winner has been back to the track 23 times since without winning and that impressive success seems a lifetime ago. Three poor efforts this winter make him ever so hard to recommend.

Form: 820000

Tudor City^t³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: D F O'Regan| T: A J Martin| OR: 133| D

12/1

Excellent second behind Wonder Laish at Fairyhouse in December (2m, good) and ran well again over this C&D in fifth of 17 behind Jetez at Christmas. Mark unchanged and well capable of being in the firing line.

Form: 9/005-25

Due Reward³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 132| D

20/1

Progressive earlier this season, winning three times before finding things too much in C&D Grade 1 novice contest in December. Not crossed off but plenty to do on these terms in amongst experienced campaigners.

Form: 11F216

Uradel⁹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 132| D

9/2

Promising novice last season over timber, winning 2-6 at 2m/2m4f. Galway Festival winner on the Flat (rated 81) in August and not done with when brought down over hurdles there a few day later. Same mark and respected with Ruby Walsh up.

Form: 43/117-B

Eclair De Beaufeu¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 130| D

7/1

Gaining good experience this term over flights and comes here having scored at Limerick and Fairyhouse, both over 2m. Far from thrown in off this mark but entitled to further improvement and respected.

Form: 323311

Try Again¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: M A Enright| T: P W Flynn| OR: 120| BF| CD

10/1

Winner of a C&D handicap on St Stephen's Day off a mark 10lb lower. Beaten since by Eclair De Beaufeu at Fairyhouse but gets a pull at the weights now handicapping with same rival and entitled to cut the gap.

Form: 321513

Free Ranger^b,t⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: J M Moore| T: N Meade| OR: 121| D

33/1

In cracking form this month, winning decisively at Punchestown over this trip and going close six days ago at Naas on yielding going. Has it all to do on these terms for third start in quick succession.

Form: 322812

Forecasts

Uradel (9/2), Jetez (13/2), Eclair De Beaufeu (7/1), Wonder Laish (7/1), Off You Go (8/1), Try Again (10/1), Tudor City (12/1), Hearts Are Trumps (14/1), Jezki (16/1), Ivanovich Gorbatov (16/1), Sayar (16/1), Due Reward (20/1), Cartwright (20/1), Blazer (25/1), Campeador (25/1), Free Ranger (33/1), Tully East (33/1), Mitchouka (40/1), Twobeelucky (50/1)

Wonder Laish is the starting point and comes here thriving but he's now up a whopping 25lb since he kicked off this winter spree. He looks to have more in him, and could win again, but the market hasn't missed him. Tudor City (second) and Hearts Are Trumps (fourth) ran well behind him last time and are considered. Campeador and Mitchouka could go well back in this sphere while Uradel was still going well at Galway in the summer when brought down on his previous hurdles start. ECLAIR DE BEAUFEU is learning fast and had plenty in hand at Fairyhouse recently. Gordon Elliott's charge dips into handicapping off 130 and could have a big shout.