15:35 Thurles

Thursday 28 November 2019

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

Horse & Jockey Handicap Hurdle (80-95)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 6m 0.7s

Double Windsor^b³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Sean Flanagan| T: D M O'Brien| OR: 94

12/1

Much better chaser these days but showed he still had a liking for hurdles when finishing runner-up at Cork last month; not helped by the handicapper and may struggle to get really competitive off his current mark.

Form: 420982

Mossy White^b⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 94

12/1

Not the most consistent but capable on his day despite still being a maiden; on the plus side, he has run well over this course and distance in the past so is no forlorn hope on the best of his form.

Form: 0-682P5

Beeper's Ruby^t¹³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁷⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 91| D

25/1

Has not really been competitive since winning at Fairyhouse in February; comes here on the back of a break and looks well handicapped; interesting especially if market support.

Form: 176-877

Johnny Sue¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr P A King⁽⁷⁾| T: William P Murphy| OR: 89

9/2

Has some reasonable point-to-point form but has yet to record a win or place in seven starts over hurdles; seems an unlikely winner.

Form: 8/6123-4

Letter Of Credit³³

Age: 14| Weight: 11-6| J: A M King⁽⁷⁾| T: V T O'Brien| OR: 89| C

33/1

Has some fair form in the past but this veteran has shown very little of late to suggest he would be capable of landing this contest despite tumbling down the weights.

Form: 5868P-0

The Reaping Race⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: C P McNamara⁽⁷⁾| T: E McNamara| OR: 89

5/2

Never a factor when returning from long absence at Gowran Park in October; never been placed in a hurdles race and no particular reason he will run well unless the market speaks in his favour.

Form: 0000-98

Aileens Joy^h²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: M P Burke⁽⁷⁾| T: J M Burke| OR: 87

33/1

Modest nine-race maiden over timber; returned from recent short absence with average performance at the track earlier this month; should finish closer but hard to see her troubling the judge.

Form: RF5098

Bitofalright³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: P Croke| OR: 87

8/1

Let down by a few mistakes but still managed to finish runner-up on her handicap debut at Wexford last month; up a couple of pounds but capable of running another good race.

Form: 1D0072

Stolen Moment^t1¹³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Ricky Doyle⁽³⁾| T: S Aherne| OR: 86

25/1

Produced a career best when finishing second of 16 beaten 10L in a Tipperary handicap hurdle in July before struggling later the same month at Killarney; back from long break here but hard to write off entirely.

Form: 57-0028

The Grey Guy²⁵⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: B O'Keeffe| OR: 86

20/1

Popular veteran but has been off the track since March; has won off a higher mark than this but that was back in 2015 and suspicion is that his best days are behind him.

Form: 1575/69-

Golden Symphony⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: Miss M M Gannon| OR: 85

12/1

Has shown precious little ability in six career starts to date and unlikely to be good enough off her current mark.

Form: 598U76

Sabichi²⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Donagh Meyler| T: P A Fahy| OR: 85

20/1

Will have disappointed connections in a series off desolate efforts on the level and over hurdles since December; beaten 86L in cheekpieces when last seen in March and is hard to fancy on return.

Form: 860008-

Daisy's Hollow¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: T N Brett⁽⁷⁾| T: Michael W O'Meara| OR: 84

12/1

Rarely beats many home and a mid-division finish last time out at Punchestown was one of her better efforts but still hard to see her being too competitive.

Form: 000-000

Frere Fontaine²⁸

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

6/1

Fell at this track in early October before putting in a better effort when stepped up in trip at Clonmel last time out when finishing third of 14; one of the more likely winners on that evidence and one for the shortlist.

Form: 80-8F3

Our Majella^p1,t³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny Mullins| T: G Ahern| OR: 84

12/1

Closely matched with Frere Fontaine on recent run at Clonmel; had previously shown very limited ability; a reproduction of that effort should see her run her race.

Form: U-70784

Dicey^t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: Miss D O'Shea| OR: 82

25/1

Nine-race maiden clearly flattered by her second of 15 beaten 3L at Ballinrobe in September. Not in good enough form to be considered here.

Form: 060720

Betterask Jj^p,t⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: A McCurtin⁽⁵⁾| T: J J Walsh| OR: 81

20/1

Ten-race maiden still looking to hit the frame in nine hurdle starts so far. Even his best form would probably leave him short of what is required in this contest.

Form: 0P6650

Megara^p,t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 80

33/1

Fair on the Flat in Britain for Sir Mark Prescott but 0-12 over hurdles for this trainer and profile regressive; remains opposable.

Form: 439/P07

Non-Runners

Sea Scorpion¹⁹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 8

T: Miss E Doyle J: Reserve 1

Goulane Jessie¹⁸

Weight: 11-1| Age: 7

T: S Spillane J: Reserve 2

Fourina¹²

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: M Fahey J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

The Reaping Race (5/2), Johnny Sue (9/2), Frere Fontaine (6/1), Bitofalright (8/1), Mossy White (12/1), Our Majella (12/1), Golden Symphony (12/1), Daisy's Hollow (12/1), Double Windsor (12/1), Goulane Jessie (12/1), The Grey Guy (20/1), Betterask Jj (20/1), Sabichi (20/1), Fourina (20/1), Sea Scorpion (20/1), Beeper's Ruby (25/1), Stolen Moment (25/1), Dicey (25/1), Letter Of Credit (33/1), Megara (33/1), Aileens Joy (33/1)

A pretty tough race to end the day at Thurles with the tentative selection being the four-year-old FRERE FONTAINE who showed his well being at the end of October when finishing a fair third at Clonmel having fallen at this track the time before. A reproduction of that effort should see him go close. Behind him that day was Our Majella who put up one of her better performances that day and if following it up she should run well. Bitofalright ran well enough on her handicap debut last time out to suggest she is capable of winning a race off and around her current mark.