15:00 Thurles

Thursday 7 November 2019

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

Two-Mile Borris Handicap Hurdle (80-109)

Off time: 15:02 | Winning time: 4m 2.2s

In A Pinch²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Slevin| T: S Slevin| OR: 106| D

12/1

Three wins from first nine starts over hurdles, found Listed company too strong at Limerick last month and requires more defy top-weight coming back to minimum trip.

Form: 7/11-136

Mick The Boyo²¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: T Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: J Grace| OR: 105| D

33/1

Twice won on testing ground at Naas over 2m in January, rated much lower at the time, has possibilities of being involved from this mark though record fresh isn't encouraging.

Form: 0P4049-

Morning Skye¹⁰¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: K C Sexton| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 108

10/1

Had been showing some promise over hurdles before disappointing last time out at Galway in handicap company. Needs to bounce back from that effort and, in all probability, improve with it for new trainer.

Form: P-22430

Stephenstown¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Mark Walsh| T: E Griffin| OR: 102

14/1

Unplaced and uncompetitive in five starts over timber so far, twice in handicaps either side of summer break. Will have to improve considerably to be in the scrap for honours.

Form: 040-00

Breesy Mountain^t¹³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Donagh Meyler| T: K Thornton| OR: 101| D

11/1

Failed to go on from winning a Punchestown handicap hurdle in December off a 16lb lower rating; now returns from summer recess representing new trainer.

Form: 815F-5P

Jazz Ranger^v¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J Fahey| OR: 100| D

14/1

Twice went close at Sligo in August over this trip (runner-up in both) but less effective on soft going at Galway latest hurdles start in September. Fair flat run since; others more likely on balance.

Form: 3-60220

Nameloc²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: C Brassil⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Fahy| OR: 100

10/1

Went close in a maiden hurdle at Clonmel over similar trip in September but trio of starts in handicaps since leave plenty to be desired.

Form: 502P70

Nam¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J M Moore| T: T Mullins| OR: 98

10/1

Fair winner on the Flat, has offered very little encouragement in four maiden hurdles previously and will have to improve now tackling a handicap back over jumps.

Form: 000-0

Cash In Mind²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: D E Browne⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 97

16/1

Yet to achieve better than tenth in four starts in handicap hurdles since joining this trainer. Gets another 2lb relief but remains one to be cautious about.

Form: 4F0000

Theatre Run²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: D P Holden⁽⁷⁾| T: M A Cahill| OR: 97| D

11/2

Narrowly beaten over fences at Tramore in May, but has been a little underwhelming since, last month's Fairyhouse hurdles run (2m, yielding; 12-1) his best in a while and possible place claims if building on that.

Form: 607744

Old Town Road^h¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss S J Harty| OR: 93

7/2

Vastly improved on handicap debut over C&D last month, finding only Arizengo too strong in 18-runner affair. Raised just 3lb and remains with possibilities now.

Form: 5602

Aileens Joy^h⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: M P Burke⁽⁷⁾| T: J M Burke| OR: 88

20/1

Modest eight-race maiden over timber, the switch to handicapping at Tramore (2m, good; 16-1) bringing about only minor improvement.

Form: 6RF509

King Con^t³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: N P Madden| T: A L T Moore| OR: 91

33/1

Sent off a big prices on three career starts over hurdles before running accordingly on each occasion. Would only become of interest on handicap bow should market speak positively.

Form: 760

Romella^t1²²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Phillip Enright| T: J J Walsh| OR: 87

13/2

Vast amount of improvement needed for the Milan mare following a trio of poor efforts so far over timber, including handicap bow at Clonmel in March. Tongue-tied on seasonal return.

Form: 0060-

Zinat³²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: R J McGrath| OR: 84

14/1

Unplaced in nine starts over timber for previous trainer, given 5lb relief starting out for new handler after an absence of 323 days.

Form: 600760-

Megara^p,t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 80| D

33/1

Fair on the Flat in Britain for Sir Mark Prescott but 0-11 over hurdles for this trainer and profile regressive; remains opposable.

Form: 8439/P0

Non-Runners

Pat's Pearl¹⁴⁵

Weight: 11-5| Age: 8

T: J C McConnell J: P J McGrath

Forecasts

Pat's Pearl (10/3), Old Town Road (7/2), Theatre Run (11/2), Romella (13/2), Morning Skye (10/1), Nameloc (10/1), Nam (10/1), Breesy Mountain (11/1), In A Pinch (12/1), Zinat (14/1), Stephenstown (14/1), Jazz Ranger (14/1), Cash In Mind (16/1), Aileens Joy (20/1), Megara (33/1), King Con (33/1), Mick The Boyo (33/1)

A much-improved showing on handicap debut over C&D brought a runner-up finish for OLD TOWN ROAD recently and, raised 3lb, there's every chance he'll build on that and go one better now. Pat's Pearl is on a workable mark but this trip looks short enough, with In A Pinch and Theatre Run others deemed likely to have something to offer in a race where plenty are hard to fancy.