15:05 Thurles

Saturday 21 December 2019

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

Horse & Jockey Hotel Rated Novice Hurdle

4YO plus | 2m 7f 101y | Soft (Yielding in Places) | 10 Runners | Turf

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Danny Mullins| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 124| CD

Winner of two of his four hurdle starts including a success over C&D last month beating Allez Dancer 6½L. Entered for the Grade 2 Jaguar Land Rover Novice Hurdle at Limerick over Christmas.

Form: PP6411

Kalli's Quest³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Phillip Enright| T: T O'Brien| CD

Off the mark on just her second start over hurdles landing a 6k 18 runner maiden over C&D last month. May be capable of better still.

Form: 3153-51

Royal Thief³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 123| BF| CD

Improved on seasonal return to win a C&D maiden hurdle before finishing third of five beaten 13L behind Silver Sheen as the 13/8f last month. Needs to put that run behind him.

Form: 33-613

Fire Away^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: D F O'Regan| T: G T Hourigan| OR: 116

Has failed to build on a promising hurdling debut at Wexford in June producing a couple of wretched efforts at Cork and Fairyhouse last month. Faces a tough task in this company.

Form: 21-0270

Turbo^t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Kevin Sexton| T: J R Finn| OR: 116| BF

Lightly raced son of Getaway without a win in 10 national hunt starts including a number of below-par efforts over hurdles. Needs a chunk of improvement to play a role in this company.

Form: 44U9-U5

Kalanisi Og^h²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 115

Justified long odds-on favouritism with the minimum of fuss at Clonmel before tailing off in a Fairyhouse 2m4f novice hurdle on soft ground last month. No surprise to witness a return to form.

Form: 1-7217

Pat Coyne¹¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: M A Enright| T: J W Nicholson| OR: 98

Winner at the sixth time of asking when landing a Kilbeggan maiden hurdle in August. Well held in a couple of starts in handicap com[any since and appears to have a mountain to climb at this level.

Form: 607198

Rapid Response³⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: P D Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 112

Lightly raced daughter of Network. Hints of ability on her third and latest start in a Fairyhouse maiden over 2m2f on good ground when last seen in January. Best watched on return to action unless market vibes suggest otherwise.

Form: 494-

Thunder Down Under³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 112

Yet to get within 20L of the winner in his three starts over hurdles so far. Hasn't looked a winner in waiting over timber looking no nearer to breakthrough success.

Form: U315-48

Walking On Glass³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁷⁾| T: P Roche| OR: 109

Winner of one of his eight starts over timber, the Big Bad Bob gelding has been showing plenty of enthusiasm in a number of starts since September. Likable type who should be in the mix.

Form: 0-31262

Forecasts

Silver Sheen (11/4), Royal Thief (4/1), Walking On Glass (11/2), Kalli's Quest (13/2), Kalanisi Og (10/1), Turbo (10/1), Rapid Response (12/1), Thunder Down Under (12/1), Fire Away (12/1), Pat Coyne (25/1)

The Jessica Harrington-trained SILVER SHEEN can land a hat-rick of wins in this contest. The five-year-old has picked up a winning habit finding success at Wexford in October before a win over C&D last month beating Royal Thief 13L back in third. The Terence O'Brien-trained Kalli's Quest got off the mark on just her second start over hurdles landing an 18 runner maiden over C&D last month and the daughter of Kalanisi can provide stiff opposition here along with Walking On Glass, who has been running with plenty of credit in a couple of starts on the Flat and over hurdles recently. The Willie Mullins-trained Kalanisi Og should not be underestimated.