12:40 Leopardstown

Thursday 26 December 2019

All12:1012:4013:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 12:42 | Winning time: 4m 7.8s

Buddy Rich^t³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: M Brassil

8/1

Tongue tied and shaped promisingly when ¾L second of 22 to Cavalry Master in a 2m maiden at Punchestown on hurdling debut. represents last year's winning connections, and merits respect with improvement to come.

Form: 20/2

Doyen Dancer^t¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: T Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan

100/1

Third of nine on bumper debut at Tipperary in May. Thrown in at the deep end in a Grade 3 on hurdles debut, but has since run poorly in a bumper, and makes little appeal here.

Form: 1-3037

Eagle Moon³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead

20/1

Placed in a bumper at Saumur in 2018, and shaped fairly well when fourth of 14 to Easywork in a 2m maiden at Gowran on hurdling bow. Will improve, but does have plenty to find.

Form: F2-4

Entoucas³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 130

9/4

Second-season hurdler who ran his best race in this sphere when neck second of 19 to Thatsy in a 2½m maiden at Navan last time. Stayed on well there, so return to 2m is a slight worry, but has solid place claims.

Form: 1/226-32

Exit Poll¹⁰⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| CD

12/1

Best bumper effort when winning at this fixture a year ago, and made a fairly promising start over hurdles when sixth of 12 to Jeremys Flame at Listowel in September. One of a pair representing last year's winning owner, and could improve markedly.

Form: 321-6

Exultation⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr F Maguire⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington

33/1

Quite well bred and offered plenty to work on when sixth of 17 to Envoi Allen in maiden at Down Royal on hurdling debut. Should progress, although is again facing strong opposition.

Form: 6

Glens Finale²⁰⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| BF

33/1

Homebred gelding from an excellent jumping family. Won a bumper at Sligo on racecourse bow, and presumably something amiss when tailed off at Listowel in June. Not dismissed now switching codes.

Form: 18

Mt Leinster^h³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| D

11/4

Useful bumper performer who made a promising start over hurdles despite errors when second to Easywork at Gowran last month. Will improve as jumping gets better, and shortlisted now.

Form: 2352-72

Shanroe^t1³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: K Thornton| BF| D

20/1

Made it a hat-trick of wins with 6L victory in 2m Perth bumper in June, and going well when brought down on hurdles debut at Catterick. This is a much deeper contest, but he can't be ruled out.

Form: 31-11B

Stadius¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: T N Brett⁽⁷⁾| T: S M Duffy

100/1

Long-standing maiden on the Flat, and has shown only a glimmer of promise in two starts over hurdles. Makes no appeal in this company.

Form: 80

The Very Man³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| BF| D

8/1

Bumper winner who would have gone close but for a late fall on hurdles bow, and showed similar form when third of 10 to Unexcepted in a 2m maiden at Fairyhouse last time. Has scope for improvement, especially over further.

Form: F/117-F3

Tonkinese^t¹³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| C

33/1

Showed fairly useful form when third in a 7f Flat handicap here in July for Mick Halford, and has form at up to 1½m in his time. Sire gets share of winners in this sphere, and worth a market check.

Form:

Botani¹³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁷⁾| T: Colm Murphy| D

40/1

Fairly useful bumper winner. Pulled too hard when a disappointing seventh of 18 to Mr Everest in maiden at Galway on hurdling debut, and likely to do better when settling better.

Form: 41-47

Concertista³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| BF

5/1

Beaten a short head on hurdles debut in Dawn Run Mares' Novice at Cheltenham in March after a long absence, and probably didn't stay 2m5f when only fourth on her return at Fairyhouse. Sets a tall standard on debut form.

Form: 2-4

Inneen Oscar¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: D E Splaine| T: Robert Widger

100/1

Out of a half-sister to smart chaser Days Hoel, but well held in a maiden at Navan on hurdling debut. One for further down the line.

Form: 0

Letitbeso⁹³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J S McGarvey| T: R O'Sullivan

100/1

Ask mare who has not been seen since winning on her third start in point-to-points in 2017. Should have a future over obstacles, but likely to need a stiffer test of stamina.

Form: 351/

Mystery Stowaway²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan| D

50/1

Exposed as a fair maiden in this sphere, and she is probably flattered by finishing 7L third of 6 to Elfile in a slowly-run event at Thurles last time.

Form: 102743

Smiths Girl

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: E O'Connell⁽⁷⁾| T: S Crawley

100/1

Getaway mare from family of bumper winner/fairly useful hurdler Asigh Pearl. Facing a daunting task on her hurdles debut, and easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form:

Non-Runners

Le Musigny

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: H De Bromhead J: Sean Flanagan

Forecasts

Entoucas (9/4), Mt Leinster (11/4), Concertista (5/1), The Very Man (8/1), Buddy Rich (8/1), Exit Poll (12/1), Shanroe (20/1), Eagle Moon (20/1), Le Musigny (20/1), Glens Finale (33/1), Tonkinese (33/1), Exultation (33/1), Botani (40/1), Mystery Stowaway (50/1), Smiths Girl (100/1), Stadius (100/1), Doyen Dancer (100/1), Inneen Oscar (100/1), Letitbeso (100/1)

She may have disappointed over further on her return, but it's wise to expect a much better performance from CONCERTISTA now, particularly bearing in mind the huge promise of her hurdles debut at Cheltenham. Stablemate Mt Leinster and Entoucas are the main dangers on paper, and can take advantage if the selection underperforms.