15:40 Cork

Sunday 21 April 2019

All13:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:1516:5017:20

Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel & Spa Adare Handicap Hurdle (0-145) (Grade B)

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 4m 43.2s

Tully East³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Donagh Meyler| T: A Fleming| OR: 135

5/2

More than two years without a win since Cheltenham Festival handicap chase, though advertised well-being with fine run in the Coral Cup there last month over timber, despite traffic problems. Can have a big say in this.

Form: 3-80009

Laverteen²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 129| C| D

6/1

Improved efforts this season have yielded maiden hurdle score here (2m, yielding) in November and last month's win in Downpatrick rated contest (2m2½f, good to yielding) from four starts. Should go well back handicapping.

Form: 02-1551

Best Behavior^p1³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: C A Landers⁽⁵⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 123| D

12/1

Well held on first run for nearly on 12 months at Wexford last month beaten 27L. First time cheekpieces may bring about extra here and still has plenty time on his side for doing better things.

Form: 37120-6

Mastermind³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Ricky Doyle⁽³⁾| T: C O'Brien| OR: 123

11/2

No win this season but has run well on over hurdles and on the Flat, got within 12L of Champion Hurdle hero Espoir D'allen at Naas in November over 2m. Minor role forecast however.

Form: 20-390U

Lakemilan^h¹⁶⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Phillip Enright| T: T O'Brien| OR: 122| C

10/1

Versatile mare, winner of 2m1f Killarney handicap hurdle in August (rated 114), fair efforts in defeat over timber in two runs after and also runner-up over fences. Career-best needed back from a break, often needs a run.

Form: 421525

Crossed My Mind^p³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: N P Madden| T: A L T Moore| OR: 121| BF

8/1

Maiden hurdle winner at Wexford in March 2017, only win in eight so far over timber. Shaped well last month over fences at in rated novice contest over this trip when second. Cheekpieces back on; more required here but well-being is there to see.

Form: 36-P4U2

Drumacoo³⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: J S McGarvey| T: M Hourigan| OR: 121

25/1

Lightly-raced 10-year-old without a win since Huntingdon chase in 2016 for Ben Pauling. Returns from 11-month absence and a shock should he be the answer to this puzzle.

Form: 524PP-0

Rocky's Silver³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: C J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: J Dullea| OR: 118| D

6/1

Limerick maiden hurdle winner (2m3f, good to yielding) in November and progressing quickly with 2-3 record in handicap chases since. Bit more needed from this rating back over timber, but should be in the mix if transferring form across.

Form: 051141

Kilbarry Lilly⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: D P Holden⁽⁷⁾| T: C O'Keeffe| OR: 116

10/1

Mare was a winner in point-to-points at third time of asking and similar tale in maiden hurdles as she scored last month at Leopardstown (2m4f, soft). Makes first foray into handicap now and could be more to come.

Form: 5F1341

Lucky Icon⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: C D Maxwell| T: T Mullins| OR: 114

8/1

50-1 winner of minor Ballinrobe hurdles contest (2m½f, good) in May last year, though now 1-11 over timber. Hard to make case for on formbook.

Form: F0P63P

Non-Runners

Hareth³⁵

Weight: 10-3| Age: 9

T: C Byrnes J: K J Brouder

Forecasts

Tully East (5/2), Mastermind (11/2), Laverteen (6/1), Rocky's Silver (6/1), Crossed My Mind (8/1), Lucky Icon (8/1), Hareth (8/1), Lakemilan (10/1), Kilbarry Lilly (10/1), Best Behavior (12/1), Drumacoo (25/1)

Anything but disgraced amid the white heat of last month's Coral Cup at Cheltenham, TULLY EAST comes here off a lower mark and is fancied to take full advantage having run into trouble in running in the Cotswolds. Recent Downpatrick winner Laverteen can go well back in a handicap while Rocky's Silver will be a player if transferring chase form and handicap debutante Kilbarry Lilly is also on the shortlist.