12:45 Thurles

Saturday 21 December 2019

All12:1012:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

Molony Cup Handicap Chase (0-109)

5YO plus | 3m 154y | Soft (Yielding in Places) | 14 Runners | Turf

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: Ms M Mullins| OR: 108

Not disgraced in a couple of handicap hurdle appearances since October on soft/heavy ground. Second of 14 beaten 1½L behind Loch Luatha off a 2lb lower mark in this contest 12 months ago and could have had this contest as his target for sometime.

Form: P-74435

Thatbeatsbanagher^b1¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D J McInerney| T: E Bolger| OR: 108

Off the mark for connections at the 13th time of asking when landing a Killarney 2m5f handicap chase on yielding ground in August. Beaten favourite at Wexford since but worthy of consideration in first-time blinkers.

Form: 407148

Ballybrowney Jack^b,t⁸⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 107

Miserly return of a sole win from 17 national hunt starts with the Martaline gelding still looking for a breakthrough success over the larger obstacles in ten attempts. Third of nine when last seen in September and worth a check in the market.

Form: F4-6FP3

Mossy White^b²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: P J Cawley⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 102| C

Off the mark at the 13th time of asking when landing a handicap hurdle here on soft ground last month. Will be searching for the form that saw the Scorpion gelding finish second of nine beaten 2½L at Kilbeggan in August.

Form: 682P51

Sunchyme⁹⁷⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: Phillip Enright| T: J Hurley| OR: 102

Not seen on a racecourse since landing a Cork 3m maiden hurdle in April 2017. Hard to make a case for at his age on return to action over fences.

Form: 920351/

Young Dev²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr D Skehan⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 101

Won for the second time over hurdles when landing a Limerick 2m5f handicap hurdle last month on soft/heavy ground. Needs to transfer that form over fences where the gelding is yet to hit the frame in three starts.

Form: 006P61

Fleurys Fort^v⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: D P Holden⁽⁷⁾| T: L Young| OR: 94| C

Regressive over hurdles in 2019 and has been beaten 28L and 35L in a couple of starts over the larger obstacles since October and appears easy to oppose once again.

Form: 550077

Open To The World^p⁵⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁷⁾| T: P Roche| OR: 92

Winner over hurdles the daughter of Shantou is without a win in 11 starts over fences, though if she can repeat her run at Downpatrick over a similar trip on yielding ground in October she could have designs on prize money.

Form: 544205

Flynsini¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: Sean Flanagan| T: P M Cloke| OR: 90

Frustrating veteran who always runs his race against now quicker and more talented sorts. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 4858-46

Captain Cruiser³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: D F O'Regan| T: L P Cusack| OR: 88

Has failed to get involved in four career chase starts over a variety of trips including a dismal effort on his latest start to finish last of 14 at Fairyhouse last month. Will need to raise overall profile to play a role in the finish.

Form: 4F-59U0

Golanbrook^b³⁹

Age: 13| Weight: 10-6| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: T Foley| OR: 88

Miserly return of just the one win over fences from 18 starts. Beaten 44L at odds of 50/1 on his latest start at Fairyhouse last month on heavy ground and easily dismissed once again.

Form: R/0636-9

Witness Of Fashion^p¹³

Age: 13| Weight: 10-6| J: T Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: P Rooney| OR: 88| D

Admirable veteran who rolled back the years to land 3m1f Fairyhouse handicap chase last month. Beaten since off a revised mark and may need others to run below-par to have a chance in this.

Form: 34P-615

Loch Luatha^p³²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: L Young| OR: 87| CD

Sole win in 15 starts over the larger obstacles came in this contest 12 months ago off a 4lb higher mark. Out of form and well held since July but no surprise to witness a marked improvement.

Form: 44402P

Killisk Ben Rose²³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: R P Rath| OR: 83

Four race maiden over fences, the daughter of Beneficial produced an improved effort when last seen in April, finishing fourth of 16 beaten 39L. Needs to show more sparkle before any faith is placed in her.

Form: 22/F44-

Forecasts

Young Dev (5/1), Ballybrowney Jack (6/1), Gunfire Reef (13/2), Open To The World (7/1), Mossy White (7/1), Thatbeatsbanagher (7/1), Witness Of Fashion (10/1), Sunchyme (12/1), Loch Luatha (14/1), Flynsini (16/1), Golanbrook (20/1), Fleurys Fort (20/1), Captain Cruiser (20/1), Killisk Ben Rose (25/1)

YOUNG DEV won for the second time over hurdles when landing a Limerick 2m5f handicap hurdle last month in a facile victory to win by 15L the five-year-old can back that up on his return over the larger obstacles now the gelding has found the winning thread. Open To The World appears capable of hitting the frame on his chase form, while Gunfire Reef finished second of 14 beaten 1½L behind Loch Luatha off a 2lb lower mark in this contest 12 months ago and can go well again here. The Joseph O'Brien-trained Ballybrowney Jack should not be underestimated along with the winner of this race 12 last year Loch Luatha.