14:45 Limerick

Friday 29 November 2019

All12:3013:0513:4014:1014:4515:2015:55

Mr Binman Christmas Racing Festival 26th-29th December (Q.R.) Handicap Hurdle (80-102)

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 5m 45.30s

Citizen Al¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-4| J: Miss M O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: E M O'Sullivan| OR: 100

16/1

Just the one win from 12 starts over hurdles and the daughter of Milan has been struggling to complete in a number of starts since March. Chance on best form but more needed with a couple of better handicapped sorts lurking.

Form: 32U-0F0

Young Dev⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 12-4| J: Mr D Skehan⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 100| C

4/1

Has been chasing of late to little effect; capable hurdler on his day and last victory came at this track over slightly further; possibly needs to drop a few more pounds in the handicap to get competitive again.

Form: 3-006P6

Lagenod^p¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-3| J: Mr E P O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: R Sweeney| OR: 99

4/1

Excellent and deserved victory last time out at Fairyhouse earlier this month when winning easily over 2m4f; up plenty in the weights but manner of victory suggested there would be more to come.

Form: 22-0521

My First Symphony^t⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-1| J: Mr M C O'Donovan⁽⁷⁾| T: Patrick Cronin| OR: 97

20/1

Pulled up on handicap debut last time out at Listowel following two fair placed efforts in maiden hurdles; much more needed here and still not the best jumper; others preferred.

Form: 89522P

Magic Sea¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P A King⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S Dawson| OR: 100

12/1

11-race maiden yet to hit the frame on any occasion showing little aptitude for the game; hard to make any realistic case for him suddenly showing improved form.

Form: 99B894

Cousin Pascal³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr J G Murphy⁽⁷⁾| T: D G Murphy| OR: 95

8/1

Not beaten too far last time out at Wexford over a similar trip on heavy ground; tends to be a bit weak in a finish and may need to drop a few more pounds in the weights.

Form: B/1074-5

Kayf Thou^p¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr R James⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 94

7/2

Showed very little in the way of ability in three maiden hurdles in 2018 but has proved himself to be a useful chaser; hard to assess returning to the smaller obstacles but market may be a good guide.

Form: 06136-3

Viscount Wilson²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr N Moore⁽⁷⁾| T: S M Duffy| OR: 97

50/1

Still a maiden over hurdles and on the Flat; has shown some ability and looks to have been given a chance by the handicapper but not the most reliable and not one to get heavily involved with.

Form: 0P-6473

Charle's River¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr D G Whelan⁽⁷⁾| T: P Fenton| OR: 95

14/1

Handicap debut; well beaten on all his starts to date; hard to recommend on basis of racecourse form and does not look particularly well treated.

Form: 0608

Cloudybackwest^p⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Gary Noonan⁽⁷⁾| T: P Neville| OR: 91

10/1

Has shown bits and pieces of form in maiden hurdles but has struggled when competing in handicaps; no real reason why he can improve on what he has shown so far.

Form: 1P2030

Frankincense^b²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr D N O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: J Halley| OR: 95

33/1

Promising second on first run over hurdles but hasn't progressed on that including when running in a handicap for the first time at the end of October; hard to assess but probably best left alone on balance of evidence.

Form: 24969

Whoyakodding^p³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Jodie Townend⁽⁷⁾| T: G Ahern| OR: 90| D

25/1

Infrequent winner who is much better over fences these days; nothing in his past hurdles form to suggest he can win off his current mark but not easy to totally rule out.

Form: 1904P7

Western Rambler⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr C M Healy⁽⁷⁾| T: E Doyle| OR: 93

28/1

Well down the pack in five career starts over hurdles; needs to step up on previous efforts to get involved in this contest.

Form: 7-0079

Northern Emperor^p,t⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr P J O'Neill⁽⁷⁾| T: V T O'Brien| OR: 87

12/1

Took advantage of lenient handicap mark to score well at Ballinrobe in August; struggled slightly next time out off revised mark; fair chance on best of his form but recent absence a slight concern.

Form: 445716

Non-Runners

Drumconnor Girl²⁸

Weight: 11-4| Age: 7

T: J J Lambe J: Reserve 1

Farranreigh⁸⁰

Weight: 11-3| Age: 5

T: J P Ryan J: Reserve 2

All About Alfie²⁹

Weight: 11-3| Age: 11

T: T Foley J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Kayf Thou (7/2), Young Dev (4/1), Lagenod (4/1), Cousin Pascal (8/1), Cloudybackwest (10/1), Magic Sea (12/1), Northern Emperor (12/1), Farranreigh (12/1), Charle's River (14/1), Citizen Al (16/1), My First Symphony (20/1), All About Alfie (20/1), Drumconnor Girl (20/1), Whoyakodding (25/1), Western Rambler (28/1), Frankincense (33/1), Viscount Wilson (50/1)

LAGENOD has been given a hefty weights rise for his success at Fairyhouse earlier this month but the manner of that success (won easily) suggested that there could be more to come: Strong market support would augur well for his chances. Young Dev has been chasing of late but he has some useful hurdles form in the locker. Arguably weighted up to his best, he should still be able to give a good account of himself in a race not blessed with well handicapped rivals. If Northern Emperor is fit from a recent short break then he may be capable of putting in a decent effort despite another who looks in the handicapper's grip.