15:25 Thurles

Thursday 24 October 2019

All13:4514:1514:5015:2515:5516:3017:0017:05

Leugh Handicap Hurdle (80-95)

Off time: 15:48 | Winning time: 3m 52.1s

Fight For Love^t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 94

11/4

Posted a career best effort on handicap debut in a Fairyhouse yielding to soft 2m contest earlier this month finishing third of 16 beaten 5¼L. More than capable of a bold bid here.

Form: 55/00-93

Alice Johnston^p¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: B J Cooper| T: P Roche| OR: 92

11/2

Continued her recent improvement when finishing second of eight runners at Gowran Park earlier in the month beaten 3L over 2m. Entitled to be in the mix.

Form: 0-79P22

No Way Jack^p,t¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: C P McNamara⁽⁷⁾| T: P Martin| OR: 92

14/1

Eight-race maiden over hurdles the Thewayyouare gelding has been sending mixed messages in a number of starts since August. Likely to find one or two better handicapped sorts lurking.

Form: 020-826

Solar Heat¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: T Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 91| C

9/1

Recently seen finishing down the field on the Flat at this track earlier this month over 2m. Sole win over hurdles came over three years ago off a 10lb higher mark. Tough ask and others preferred.

Form: 058044

Old Town Road^h⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss S J Harty| OR: 90

33/1

Not much to shout about in three career maiden hurdle starts since the Dylan Thomas gelding made his debut in July. Still looking no nearer to breakthrough success on handicap debut.

Form: 560

Friary Gold^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 89

20/1

Has only hit the frame on the one occasion from 11 starts over hurdles. Well held on return to action in a Gowran Park 2m4f handicap earlier this month and not in the required form to play a part.

Form: PFP4P0

Shedding^p⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: L P Dempsey| T: W J Burke| OR: 89

20/1

Best effort since winning his maiden at Limerick in July when finishing third of 10 in a Tramore 2m handicap hurdle earlier this month. The distance of defeat is a concern but improvement not ruled out.

Form: 717U03

Still Alive¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽³⁾| T: A J McNamara| OR: 89| CD

7/1

C&D when landing a 17-runner handicap hurdle in March off a 4lb lower mark. Hints of a return to form at Limerick on his latest start earlier this month and could be a live contender.

Form: 156-369

Sharg²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny Mullins| T: D Hogan| OR: 92

10/1

Has yet to hit the frame in five starts over hurdles, never a factor on her latest start over timber in a Down Royal handicap in August. Fifth of 21 on the Flat at the Curragh on Tuesday and a tough assignment ahead here.

Form: 065F0

Bannow Breeze^t²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: D J McInerney| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 85

33/1

Maiden hurdler following a number of desolate efforts since the Mustameet geldings debut in April. Looks vulnerable in this company.

Form: 79-00

Cocoroco¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: John F O'Neill| OR: 89

33/1

Difficult to take any positives from a number of career starts on the Flat and over hurdles since February. Out of sorts recently and hard to fancy against these rivals.

Form: 9FP-6

Frere Fontaine¹⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Phillip Enright| T: T O'Brien| OR: 88

16/1

Poor form in a number of dismal performances in three career starts over hurdles. Has not shown enough to be of interest on handicap debut.

Form: 80-8

Myladyrose²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: M F Mooney| T: Mrs A Mooney| OR: 84

25/1

Daughter of Jeremy appears flattered by her second of 15 beaten ½L in at Kilbeggan in August following a couple of below-par efforts since. Possibly best watched unless market vibes indicate otherwise.

Form: P64209

Musical Ava²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: M P Burke⁽⁷⁾| T: J M Burke| OR: 82

8/1

23-race maiden over hurdles but the daughter of Court Cave has shown a marked improvement in two of her last three starts running between 2m3f and 2m4f. Worth a market check dropping in trip.

Form: 3F5253

Miss Cassy¹⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: K C Sexton| T: D Cullen| OR: 81

50/1

10-race maiden yet to hit the frame in a number of bumper, Flat and hurdle starts so far. Not seen since finishing a well beaten 11th of 12 in May and hard to fancy until she shows signs of some ability.

Form: 000800-

Arizengo^b³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁷⁾| T: R K Watson| OR: 80

12/1

Nothing of note when failing to hit the frame in 10 hurdle starts to date. Others more appealing on the balance of overall career starts so far.

Form: 409900

Daring Decree^h,t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Ricky Doyle⁽³⁾| T: N Lee| OR: 80

7/1

16-race maiden, yet to hit the frame in 10 starts over hurdles. Career best effort at Fairyhouse over the larger obstacles earlier this month but may struggle here on return over timber.

Form: 6U65P2

Baronial Hall⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: N P Madden| T: D E Fitzgerald| OR: 82

25/1

Seven-race maiden yet to hit the frame in six starts over hurdles. Has looked overwhelmed in a number of starts since August and has plenty to find in this company.

Form: 065U80

Non-Runners

Dandy Sue²⁶

Weight: 10-10| Age: 4

T: S R B Crawford J: Reserve 1

King Con²⁴

Weight: 11-4| Age: 4

T: A L T Moore J: Reserve 2

Jiving Jerry²¹

Weight: 11-3| Age: 4

T: D A Kiely J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Fight For Love (11/4), Alice Johnston (11/2), Still Alive (7/1), Daring Decree (7/1), Musical Ava (8/1), Solar Heat (9/1), Sharg (10/1), Arizengo (12/1), No Way Jack (14/1), Dandy Sue (16/1), Frere Fontaine (16/1), Shedding (20/1), Friary Gold (20/1), King Con (20/1), Myladyrose (25/1), Baronial Hall (25/1), Jiving Jerry (25/1), Old Town Road (33/1), Cocoroco (33/1), Bannow Breeze (33/1), Miss Cassy (50/1)

A first-time tongue-tie appeared to be the reason for the marked improvement in performance of the Gordon Elliott-trained FIGHT FOR LOVE on his most recent start at Fairyhouse earlier this month. The gelding can get off the mark here under jockey Davy Russell with the potentially improving Alice Johnston possibly emerging as the biggest danger. C&D winner Still Alive, Musical Ava, who drops in trip here and Shedding should not be taken lightly.