20:25 Tipperary

Thursday 4 July 2019

All17:0517:3518:1018:4519:2019:5020:2520:55

Follow tipperaryraces.ie Handicap Hurdle (80-95) (Div 1)

Off time: 20:25 | Winning time: 6m 20.00s

Officers Mess²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: C O'Dwyer| OR: 95

11/2

Decent effort when finishing third at Fairyhouse in February but has disappointed of late at Rosscommon and Gowran Park. Has ability and can win races but recent form is a worry and faster ground won't help his chances.

Form: 80037-6

Helly Hansum³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: P J Cawley⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 94

12/1

Has generally struggled over hurdles apart from one useful effort in a maiden event at Clonmel. First try over this longer trip may bring the best out of him but others preferred on balance of form.

Form: 70-6729

Burlesque Queen²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: C Brassil⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 90

28/1

Well beaten in three maiden hurdles to date. Taking huge step up in trip (never raced over further than 2m1f). Not one to get excited about but maybe worth a check in the market.

Form: 400

Clouncerna^p³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: J R Barry| OR: 90

20/1

Sketchy form in four maiden hurdles. Hard to assess on handicap debut. Market may provide the only real clues.

Form: 89P-766

Mickey Shea⁶²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: D Cullen| OR: 90| D

14/1

Winning point-to-pointer; no real show of form in his maiden hurdle runs nor on his handicap debut last time out in October 2017. Another who is hard to assess.

Form: 310080/

Mother's Best¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: D J Mullins| T: N Stokes| OR: 89

10/1

Finished 4th of 20 at this track over 2m4f last year and has some moderate form to her name. Form last time out was reasonable though beaten a long way. Each-way chance at best.

Form: 0/460-46

Briggitie's Hill¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: T Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: L P Cusack| OR: 86

25/1

Hard to get excited about his point-to-point form and even harder to get excited about his maiden hurdle form. Would be a major surprise if able to land a blow in this contest.

Form: 9P309-0

Anndarrow³⁸⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: A McCurtin⁽⁵⁾| T: D Leahy| OR: 85| BF

33/1

Reasonable form for Philip Hobbs last season with best run coming on his seasonal reappearance at Taunton suggesting he goes well fresh. Certainly an interesting contender if new connections have freshened him up. Check the betting market.

Form: P352/48-

Gameasapebble³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Flanagan| T: F Costello| OR: 85

33/1

Certainly not 'game as a pebble' based on her racecourse appearances to date. Only real hope is that this step up in trip brings about a better attitude.

Form: 5/7070-8

Sizing Joshua^b,t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: M F Morris| OR: 85

11/1

Returns to hurdling after an inconsistent spell chasing. Has some ability but is generally unreliable. Possible that return to hurdling bring out something in him but hard to get excited about.

Form: 0P34-U6

Humps And Bumps¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr C Cullinan⁽⁷⁾| T: P Croke| OR: 83| D

7/1

Fairly consistent sort but is still looking for his first win under Rules. Latest run was fair when finishing third at Kilbeggan but still looks a bit too high in the handicap.

Form: 1892-63

Tungsten Kid³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: D N Russell| T: J Brassil| OR: 82

3/1

Can occasionally be an awkward ride but has some ability exemplified when finishing third last time out at Ballinrobe. Not been done much favours by the handicapper but one for the shortlist.

Form: 88554-3

Bere Haven²³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: B J Cooper| T: Ian O'Connor| OR: 80| D

16/1

Connections still looking for his best trip (has been tried from 2m to 3m3f in the past). Only the one point-to-point win to his name and struggled on recent reappearance.

Form: UP306-9

Clorinka^p1³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁷⁾| T: M Winters| OR: 80| D

16/1

Not seen on a racecourse since 2016. Has been on the point-to.point circuit and won a maiden last time out. Difficult to make a case for. Place chances at best.

Form: 90/54P-1

Duty Girl³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: D Howard| OR: 80

16/1

Never been placed and never finished less than double figure lengths behind the winner in any race she has contested. No real chance.

Form: 794-080

Peter's Pence¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: A J McNamara| OR: 80

11/1

Loked to be going in the right direction based on his performance on his seasonal reappearance at Limerick but has struggled since including twice at this track. Does not make much appeal.

Form: 008-9F6

Shantelle²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁵⁾| T: R Donohoe| OR: 80

16/1

Rarely wins but is never too far away and generally runs her race. Not a stand out winner but likely to plug on for a place perhaps.

Form: P002-44

Forecasts

Tungsten Kid (3/1), Officers Mess (11/2), Humps And Bumps (7/1), Mother's Best (10/1), Sizing Joshua (11/1), Peter's Pence (11/1), Helly Hansum (12/1), Mickey Shea (14/1), Shantelle (16/1), Duty Girl (16/1), Clorinka (16/1), Bere Haven (16/1), Clouncerna (20/1), Briggitie's Hill (25/1), Burlesque Queen (28/1), Anndarrow (33/1), Gameasapebble (33/1)

Hard to get excited about this weak contest with question marks about all the runners. TUNGSTEN KID is in fair form and he may be able to win this if repeating the form he showed at Ballinrobe last time out. Anndarrow had some fair form last season and goes well fresh. Any market moves would be significant. Shantelle might be worth a look at if a decent price for a place.