15:05 Thurles

Thursday 28 November 2019

All12:1512:5013:2514:0014:3015:0515:35

Templemore Handicap Hurdle (80-102)

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 4m 0.80s

Guttural^t³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: O R Brown⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 102

9/1

Some pieces of worthy form in maiden hurdles but well beaten on latest start at Wexford in heavy ground: much more needed here on handicap debut and this looks a stiff test.

Form: P-423F4

Ard Na Carraig^p,t¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 101

25/1

Returns to hurdling after not really cutting it over fences; fell last time out at Punchestown and does not look particularly well handicapped on his return to hurdles.

Form: 4-2837F

Billy's Angel^h²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Dillon Maxwell⁽⁷⁾| T: A Murray| OR: 101

6/1

Likes to race prominently; took advantage of a tumbling handicap mark to score reasonably well at Clonmel in late October over a slightly further trip; may struggle off revised mark but clearly in good heart and should go well.

Form: 677751

Emily Square⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 97

14/1

Won over 2n4f at in February at Fairhouse but has failed to get really compettive since (including on the Flat); slowly drifting to a fair mark and should give a good account of herself.

Form: U150-98

Princess Mahler^t¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: A McCurtin⁽⁵⁾| T: J J Walsh| OR: 97| D

16/1

1-17, having scored at Limerick (2m, heavy) in March 2018 from a 10lb lower mark. Capable of being competitive on these terms if she can produce her best, but that is hard to predict.

Form: F04U-08

Best Not Argue²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: N C Kelly| OR: 96

50/1

Multiple Flat winner, but yet to translate that form to hurdles despite flashes of form. Last of 16 at Fairyhouse in October and pulled up latest at Down Royal; hard to trust but starting to look well handicapped.

Form: 50250P

Blue Templar⁸²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: E Bolger| OR: 95| BF

14/1

Has been chasing of late over much stiffer tests of stamina: not raced over hurdles for three years and hard to assess what his chances will be over this inadequate trip.

Form: 114745

Balkos¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Danny Mullins| T: D Hassett| OR: 92

20/1

Has shown little in the way of ability on all his racecourse starts and faces a pretty tough task here in his handicap debut.

Form: 0060

Blackyellowred^b,t⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: C J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: D J Barry| OR: 89| BF

6/1

Has shown much improved form on his latst two starts when finishing runner-up at Roscommon and Gowran Park; slightly up in the weights but is lightly-raced enough to suggest he can shrug that off; interesting contender.

Form: 0-44822

Cedar Hill⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Donagh Meyler| T: S Crawley| OR: 89

10/1

Nothing of note in three dismal efforts over hurdles so far and unlikely to be making a significant impact on hurdles debut.

Form: 085

Stormy Master^t1¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: D J McInerney| T: R Hackett| OR: 88

14/1

Has shown little in the way of ability in bumper and hurdle starts to date; hard to fancy on racecourse evidence; tongue-tied for the first time here.

Form: 759U00

Rock Samphire^v⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: M F Mooney| T: E D Delany| OR: 87

33/1

Fair form on the Flat but has failed to translate that over hurdles where she has been steadily disappointing on all her appearances.

Form: 00-97

Dressednblack²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: T Doyle| OR: 84

20/1

Long standing maiden under both codes though has been showing a little bit of promise on her latest two outings; not the likely winner but should run her race and could be challenging for minor honours.

Form: 0P056-6

Western Doyen⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Phillip Enright| T: V T O'Brien| OR: 84

2/1

Put up a career best performance last time out at this track over two miles last week; the manner of that run suggested he may want a little further but he still looks one of the more likely winners of this poor contest.

Form: 709-002

Wolfofallstreets^t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 84

12/1

13-race maiden has only managed to hit the frame in one of his 12 starts over hurdles. Needs to step up on recent form to play a role in this contest.

Form: 643506

Clouncerna^b²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Ricky Doyle⁽³⁾| T: J R Barry| OR: 80

20/1

Unplaced in 10 starts over timber, came in for some support at Tramore last month but never really threatened to deliver.

Form: 780058

Gotta Getaway^p,t⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: C P McNamara⁽⁷⁾| T: S Nolan| OR: 80

25/1

Disappointing mare, well held on all starts in bumpers and in six starts over hurdles so far; hard to see her getting competitive.

Form: 900-P90

Forecasts

Western Doyen (2/1), Billy's Angel (6/1), Blackyellowred (6/1), Guttural (9/1), Cedar Hill (10/1), Wolfofallstreets (12/1), Emily Square (14/1), Blue Templar (14/1), Stormy Master (14/1), Princess Mahler (16/1), Clouncerna (20/1), Dressednblack (20/1), Balkos (20/1), Ard Na Carraig (25/1), Gotta Getaway (25/1), Rock Samphire (33/1), Best Not Argue (50/1)

WESTERN DOYEN boasts some of the best recent form in the contest and if reproducing his recent effort at this track last week he may prove too strong for his rivals despite arguably needing a little bit further to show his best. Another in-form contestant is Billy's Angel who showed his well being when scoring at Clonmel last month. The gelding likes to front run and if given an easy lead may prove hard to peg back. Although still a maiden, Dressednblack has been running well of late and could take advantage if others fail to run their race.