15:30 Thurles

Saturday 23 March 2019

All14:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:1517:50

Horse & Jockey Handicap Hurdle (80-95)

Off time: 15:31 | Winning time: 5m 47.1s

Be My Dream⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: J R Finn| OR: 93

4/1

Not disgraced on handicap hurdle debut before finishing second of 17 running well in defeat to finish 1¾L adrift of West Is Best in Limerick 2m5f contest on heavy ground earlier this month. Capable of another big run stepping up in trip.

Form: 5B0602

Lisclogher Lad¹⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 11-9| J: Jack Kennedy| T: P W Flynn| OR: 92

8/1

One from 40 starts in the national hunt ranks, the sole win coming over four years ago in a Naas maiden hurdle on soft ground over 2m3f. Third of nine over the larger obstacles on his latest starts and liable to find a couple stronger here.

Form: 7-P2263

Napoleon Blue^p1⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Flanagan| T: A Murray| OR: 92

8/1

Improved on his return effort when finishing 11L eighth at Fairyhouse in November but has failed to inspire in a couple of starts since. First time cheekpieces doubtful to bring about the required amount of progress needed to play a role here.

Form: 0-40870

Too Much To Ask³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: R P Treacy⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Cashin| OR: 91

14/1

No impression on a number of dour hurdling efforts since December including a 39L defeat finishing 14th of 17 in a Clonmel hurdle on handicap debut last month. Impossible to fancy against these rivals.

Form: 0P960

Wilde Breeze²³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: A McCurtin⁽³⁾| T: T Doyle| OR: 90

12/1

Produced a big run following such a lengthy layoff when finishing third of 17 beaten 3¾L in a Clonmel handicap hurdle last month. Failed to build on that run later in the month, disappointing over 3m. Others preferred for win purposes.

Form: 6907/30

Darling Miss²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 89

16/1

Scorpion gelding out of an Alphabatim mare. Modest placed form in point-to-points and has soon got into trouble in the maiden hurdles to date under rules. Worth a market check on handicap debut.

Form: 33080

Harley B³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: J M Moore| T: N Meade| OR: 90

20/1

Well held in three starts so far and likely one or two of these are more progressive at this stage. Still, market likely to reveal expectations on handicap debut.

Form: 079

Mizz Monroe¹⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: B J Geraghty| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 89

10/1

Began to show a bit more promise when stepped up to 2m4f at Tipperary finishing fourth of 14 over 2m4f in October. Last of seven later in the month at Cork and best watched on return to action.

Form: 9-0847

Our Girl Naoise¹³⁸⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: P E Corbett⁽³⁾| T: S Nolan| OR: 89

33/1

Not seen since finishing fourth of 17 beaten over 16L in a Punchestown maiden hurdle over three years ago. Fitness and well being can be only taken on trust and best watched on return.

Form: 713584/

Time And Times^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: D McNamara| OR: 89

6/1

Almost two years since he got his head in front (won a Cork in March 2017, 2m4f, sft/hvy) but his handicap mark has hardly altered despite the losses mounting up. Hasn't shown enough to be of interest here.

Form: 500786

Duty Girl³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: K J Brouder⁽⁵⁾| T: D Howard| OR: 87

25/1

Well held in three bumper and unable to halt the poor run of form in three maiden hurdle starts since the turn of the year. Liable to go better handicapping but breakthrough success still looking no nearer.

Form: 0-00007

Sophie's Best²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Brian Hayes| T: P Meany| OR: 87

14/1

Court Cave mare who was towards rear and never a factor on disappointing debut in a Navan maiden hurdle before a couple more heavy defeats over 2m4f and 2m in February on good ground. Hard to fancy on handicap debut.

Form: 000

Pino Boy³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: M F Mooney| T: Mrs A Mooney| OR: 86

25/1

Lightly-raced, nothing spectacular in bumper form and has finished well down the field in a number of hurdle starts since including on handicap debut at Punchestown last month. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 900508

Madaboy Cross³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: T P O'Connor| OR: 82

12/1

Without any success in 14 starts over hurdles and her form has been mixed since she returned from a very long time on the sidelines in August of last year. Hard to make a case for the mare on form to hand.

Form: 476077

Grey Habit¹⁰⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: T N Brett⁽⁷⁾| T: P Meany| OR: 81

16/1

No wins in five over hurdles but her fifth of 20 when last seen in a Cork novices' handicap hurdle 7¾L behind Ronald Pump looks interesting form with the race producing six winners since. More improvement needed.

Form: 800805

Loch Luatha^p²³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: D P Holden⁽⁷⁾| T: L Young| OR: 80| C

10/1

Sole win under rules in 33 attempts came in a handicap chase chase here over C&D in December but remains without a win in 24 starts over hurdles and others appear to have more scope for improvement.

Form: 341876

Uncle Noble^p²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 86

12/1

No signs of ability in three starts in Dubai nor in four attempts over hurdles including when unseating rider on handicap debut at Clonmel last month. Has show little aptitude in previous starts to be considered in this company.

Form: 000U

Mossy White^b1¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 92

20/1

First Reserve: Well held in three gloomy hurdling efforts since the turn of the year and when pulled up on chasing debut earlier this month. First time blinkers inconceivable to produce the required amount of development needed to play a role here.

Form: 51807P

Non-Runners

Glenmalure Lodge²³

Weight: 10-10| Age: 5

T: P J Rothwell J: J P O'Sullivan

Braize⁶

Weight: 11-4| Age: 8

T: Aengus King J: Reserve 2

Torquay⁶⁹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: E McNamara J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Be My Dream (4/1), Time And Times (6/1), Napoleon Blue (8/1), Lisclogher Lad (8/1), Loch Luatha (10/1), Mizz Monroe (10/1), Braize (10/1), Madaboy Cross (12/1), Wilde Breeze (12/1), Uncle Noble (12/1), Glenmalure Lodge (12/1), Torquay (12/1), Sophie's Best (14/1), Too Much To Ask (14/1), Darling Miss (16/1), Grey Habit (16/1), Mossy White (20/1), Harley B (20/1), Duty Girl (25/1), Pino Boy (25/1), Our Girl Naoise (33/1)

The Paul Townend-ridden BE MY DREAM ran well in defeat on handicap hurdle debut before finishing second of 17 running well in defeat to finish 1¾L adrift of West Is Best in Limerick 2m5f contest on heavy ground earlier this month. The six-year-old daughter of Dubai Destination can hold of the challenges of handicap debutantes' Darling Miss from the Gordon Elliott yard and the Noel Meade-trained Harley B.