14:30 Thurles

Thursday 7 November 2019

All12:5013:2013:5514:3015:0015:3516:05

Ballagh Mares Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 5m 5.6s

Ellie Mac^p²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 121| D

9/1

Twice won over fences last season and her reappearance third at Punchestown (2m4f, good to yielding; 10-1) suggests she may be capable of taking advantage of lower hurdles rating in near future. Raised 1lb.

Form: 37-U3P3

Like An Open Book³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: M P Burke⁽⁷⁾| T: J M Burke| OR: 121| C

14/1

Exposed sort, last won over hurdles in 2017 rated 107 over 2m at this track. Tends to run good solid races without winning and, for that, remains high enough in the ratings.

Form: 553355

Biddy The Boss^t²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: C D Timmons⁽³⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 116| D

33/1

Exposed sort, last won over hurdles in 2017 rated 107 over 2m at this track. Tends to run good solid races without winning and, for that, remains high enough in the ratings.

Form: 15P-P59

Buttons And Bows^p³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mark Walsh| T: P J Flynn| OR: 115

11/1

2m good-ground Wexford winner in June and has run good races at Listowel (second) and Gowran Park (fourth) most recently over this trip. Retains cheekpieces sported last time and mark unchanged; competitive.

Form: 8-21024

Dolly Dancer^h,t³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Brian Hayes| T: E Mullins| OR: 115| D

10/1

Tipperary maiden hurdle winner in May (2m4f, good) and landed Tramore beginners' chase over further in August. Faller over fences last month at former venue and needs to show more to score from this perch back hurdling.

Form: 26613F

Ocean Voyage²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: M A Enright| T: G Elliott| OR: 117

25/1

Form: P8251-U

Rovetta^p¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 113

28/1

Hurdles winner at Galway in 2018 but lost his way on Flat and over jumps since and no sign of a change in fortune at Wexford (2m4f, heavy) 11 days ago.

Form: 5208-P4

Stucker Hill²³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Ricky Doyle⁽³⁾| T: W J Lanigan| OR: 110

16/1

Two-time winner of hurdles last season at 2m5f/2m6f, will go on any ground but hasn't previously shaped as though he'll defy this mark.

Form: 711F4P-

Whatucallher³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: E P Harty| OR: 109| D

3/1

Had proved consistent in maiden hurdles prior to winning one at Clonmel (2m4f, yielding) last month; handicapper has offered a chance to build on that now.

Form: 3233-41

Lill Smith^t³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 108

10/1

Had been running well at the turn of the year then given a break until September where she led for a long way before having to settle for minor honours at Roscommon over minimum trip. Fourth since at Tipperary over this trip, similar aspirations.

Form: 2644-24

Sand Fly^h⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Gary Noonan⁽⁷⁾| T: P Neville| OR: 103| D

4/1

Was finally rewarded for some consistent efforts in defeat when landing a handicap at Listowel in September over this trip; found Grade 3 novice too hot since over 2m but this is more realistic (8lb higher than Listowel win).

Form: 483214

Atalanta's Gold^t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 102

16/1

Form: 6/4128-8

Minx Tiara²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: J J Slevin| T: D M O'Brien| OR: 105| D

12/1

Can't exactly be labelled consistent, but she won over similar trip in a Wexford maiden in June and best of her form since would have her a chance.

Form: 510392

Something Sweet¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Phillip Enright| T: R J McGrath| OR: 98| BF

7/1

Finds winning illusive (1-23 over hurdles, placed 13 times) and once more settled for second-best over 2m6½f here last month. Gone up 2lb for her troubles.

Form: 652322

Forecasts

Whatucallher (3/1), Sand Fly (4/1), Something Sweet (7/1), Ellie Mac (9/1), Dolly Dancer (10/1), Lill Smith (10/1), Buttons And Bows (11/1), Minx Tiara (12/1), Like An Open Book (14/1), Stucker Hill (16/1), Atalanta's Gold (16/1), Ocean Voyage (25/1), Rovetta (28/1), Biddy The Boss (33/1)

Gordon Elliott's OCEAN VOYAGE was steadily improving last season over hurdles, culminating in a maiden success at Cork in March. She appeared to be mounting a challenge on reappearance at Limerick only to fall three out and, up in trip, can go well now having been given a chance to get over that mishap. Clonmel maiden winner Whatucallher has been given a chance by the handicapper while Like An Open Book is very consistent but doesn't win often enough. Ellie Mac along with Buttons And Bows complete the shortlist.