12:50 Leopardstown

Saturday 28 December 2019

All12:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:40

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier)

Off time: 12:51 | Winning time: 6m 12.10s

Sire Du Berlais^p,t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: B J Geraghty| T: G Elliott| OR: 150| D

20/1

All roads lead to Cheltenham for this fellow but he returns for a crack at bettering his finishing position of sixth in last year's renewal of this race. He's 8lb higher and has top weight to shoulder, so faces a very stiff task again.

Form: 8/8618-4

Ronald Pump^h,t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Keith Donoghue| T: M J Smith| OR: 145| D

9/1

Done well over fences at Fairyhouse lately and making good strides. Reverts to timber from 9lb above his winning mark in a novice hurdle (also at Fairyhouse) in April but still going the right way. Faces his stiffest test to date, though.

Form: 1411-12

The Storyteller²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 142| D

11/1

Gained a confidence booster over hurdles at Clonmel last month and bonus that he's reunited with the same experienced jockey this time; still has potential from this mark over hurdles (rated much higher over fences) so dangerous to rule out.

Form: P2-3881

A Great View⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: M A Enright| T: D Cullen| OR: 136| D

11/1

Seen just the once since finishing ninth in this race last year but should be sharper for the outing (last month) and is still on a reasonably competitive handicap mark. Worth remembering he was second in the 2017 renewal of this; betting can help.

Form: 2561/9-4

Cuneo^b1³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 136| CD

16/1

Won last year's renewal (10lb lower) with a gritty display but was only fourth behind Sire Du Berlais in the final of this race at the Cheltenham Festival in March; below par twice over fences since. Needs a lot to go his way in first-time blinkers.

Form: 154-007

Eight And Bob³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136| C| D

28/1

Enjoyed a win on the Flat in the summer before a further success back over hurdles at Gowran Park in October; was clobbered by the handicapper after that race and arguably put in his place in a Grade 1 last time. This easier; the betting can guide.

Form: 110-P10

Great White Shark⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 134| BF| D

20/1

Stablemate of Eight And Bob and Defy De Mee and a little bit to find on face value. Does have scope and is 2-7 over hurdles but does need to bounce back from a poor effort last time out.

Form: 221-133

Thermistocles^b1³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: P D Kennedy| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 132| D

25/1

Third in this race last year and meets a few old rivals on a 4lb higher mark. Fell on his return to action over fences last month and might just need a confidence boosting round of jumping. The blinkers being applied can help on that score.

Form: 31378-F

Noble Endeavor^p³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 131| CD

50/1

Lightly raced over the last couple of years and recent completion rate is poor; but still worth remembering that he's won - albeit over fences - at the Christmas meeting here before. Capable but risk attached, too.

Form: 6/90P-PP

Scoir Mear²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: T Mullins| OR: 130| D

50/1

Closely matched with Cuneo judging by their encounter over fences at Punchestown last month but it's been a good while since this fellow was last seen over timber and plenty has to be taken on trust.

Form: 1-B7666

High Sparrow^b⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: O R Brown⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 129| D

20/1

Won well at Clonmel in October but was on the retreat when he slipped up on the bend turning for home last time out and and this looks looks a much stiffer ask. (Seventh in the 2018 renewal of this race.)

Form: 536P1S

Court Maid²⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: B J Cooper| T: T Mullins| OR: 128| D

33/1

In the form of his life last winter but struggled when asked to take on stiffer company and again looks likely to be found out at this level.

Form: 110066-

Presented Well²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: R M Power| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 128

14/1

Has plenty of ability but just a solitary win over hurdles to his name so far; unexposed at the trip but never yet raced this far under rules and has a bit to prove stamina-wise.

Form: 2F18-35

Defy De Mee²⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: D F O'Regan| T: W P Mullins| OR: 127| BF

33/1

0-7 over hurdles so far and yet to be tried over a trip this far; been expensive to follow the last twice and has a bit to find in this company even though he represents a prestigious yard.

Form: 5/252F6-

Mon Lino^b²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: N P Madden| T: P Nolan| OR: 127| D

33/1

Mixed form over hurdles and fences but comes here on the back of one of his better efforts (second in a valuable handicap chase at Fairyhouse at the start of December). Not much to find on the best of his hurdles form; could be good each-way value.

Form: F4-0702

Mortal^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 127

16/1

Lightly raced over hurdles and interesting to see him back over timber after a poor run over fences at Gowran Park last month. Rated 20lb lower in this discipline and set to encounter ideal conditions. Another who would be dangerous to overlook.

Form: 6/1265-5

Tout Est Permis²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 127| BF| D

7/2

Was a disappointing favourite when held by The Jam Man at Navan earlier in the month (beaten 3L on the day but is now 5lb better off at the weights). Feasible he can reverse the form; one to monitor closely.

Form: 118-342

Rock De Baune⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Mark Walsh| T: J E Kiely| OR: 125| BF

4/1

In good heart under both codes of racing and back for another crack at this race from a 5lb higher mark than when fifth in last year's running. Arrives after a solid effort at Navan last month even though he failed to justify favouritism on the day.

Form: 0565-02

Shanwalla²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Donagh Meyler| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 125

33/1

Was never competitive before unseating at Cork last time so a still has a stamina question to answer over this trip. Yet to win over hurdles and this is his stiffest test in a handicap to date.

Form: 12333U

Stacks Mountain^p¹⁰⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 123| D

33/1

Was in good form in the spring but soon went off the boil and was disappointing when last seen out. Nudged down 1lb since but this looks a lot tougher than the races he won last season.

Form: 2-11449

Ellie Mac^p²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Mike O'Connor⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 122| BF| C

25/1

The betting will be informative as to where this mare stands in the pecking order with her stablemates (the yard runs four). Recent form (latest over fences) suggests others will be more popular this time around.

Form: U3P33P

Turbojet²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-13| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 120

25/1

No match for the likes of The Jam Man, Tout Est Permis and Sire Du Berlais last time out and faces a stiff test in his attempt to reverse the Navan form. (Was forth in the 2017 renewal of this race, though.)

Form: 646/0-65

Agent Boru^b1,t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: J M Moore| T: T Gibney| OR: 119| D

50/1

Endured a fruitless 2019 so far and needs to considerably better recent efforts to get competitive in this sort of company. Not hard to overlook this time.

Form: 574-000

Treacysenniscorthy²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: K J Brouder⁽³⁾| T: Robert Widger| OR: 119| D

7/1

Won over fences (50/1 odds) in September but has justified strong support over hurdles the last twice (two handicap wins at Punchestown). A 9lb higher mark to contend with against a stiffer calibre of opponent might just find him out now.

Form: 3-51311

Mister Fogpatches³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: C D Maxwell| T: P A Fahy| OR: 116

22/1

Just out of the handicap but comes here after registering his career best effort to win at Navan last month. Up in both class and trip so another personal best required.

Form: 3-02521

Non-Runners

The Jam Man²¹

Weight: 11-3| Age: 6

T: R McNally J: Mr J J Codd

Royal Thief³⁷

Weight: 10-2| Age: 5

T: H De Bromhead J: Gavin Brouder

Forecasts

Tout Est Permis (7/2), Rock De Baune (4/1), Treacysenniscorthy (7/1), Ronald Pump (9/1), The Jam Man (10/1), The Storyteller (11/1), A Great View (11/1), Presented Well (14/1), Cuneo (16/1), Mortal (16/1), Royal Thief (16/1), High Sparrow (20/1), Sire Du Berlais (20/1), Great White Shark (20/1), Mister Fogpatches (22/1), Ellie Mac (25/1), Turbojet (25/1), Thermistocles (25/1), Eight And Bob (28/1), Stacks Mountain (33/1), Court Maid (33/1), Mon Lino (33/1), Shanwalla (33/1), Defy De Mee (33/1), Scoir Mear (50/1), Noble Endeavor (50/1), Agent Boru (50/1)

A tough one to call as last year's winner Cuneo tries blinkers in his bid to to fend off the likes of Thermistocles, Sire Du Berlais (reversed the from when he won the final of this race at Cheltenham in March), and Rock De Baune, who all chased him home in the 2018 renewal. However, this is a tougher race and THE JAM MAN, who has continued to impress as he learns his trade, might just have the edge this time around. Tout Est Permis doesn't have much to find with the selection and is also forwarded as a live contender. Mortal is very well handicapped in comparison to his chase form and is another to bear in mind.