14:35 Leopardstown

Saturday 28 December 2019

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

Irish Daily Star Christmas Handicap Hurdle (80-116)

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 5m 19.90s

Visioman⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 116| D

10/1

Enjoyed a fine spell over fences and well treated in comparison to his rating in that sphere but he wouldn't want too much rain to get into the ground and top weight does him no favours. (Fifth in this race last year from a 2lb lower mark.)

Form: 013115

The Church Gate^t⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Keith Donoghue| T: M J Smith| OR: 114| CD

8/1

Won this race last year from an 11lb lower mark but only raced four times since. Wasn't disgraced by any means when fourth last time out and the run will have set him up nicely for this; yard's form a concern, though.

Form: 114R2-4

Rapid Response³⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 112

16/1

Has experience of this trip; although he ran well when tried over slightly shorter last time out; interesting contender on his handicap debut. One to monitor closely.

Form: 494-

Bua Boy³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: P J Cawley⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 115

25/1

Won well on his racecourse debut but been regressive in two starts since; a late mistake scuppered his chances last time out and won't get away with the same liberties here either.

Form: 1-38

Dalton Highway⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Kennedy| T: D K Weld| OR: 111

9/2

Runner up in the Irish Cesarewitch and also ran well in a valuable handicap on the Flat at Naas last month; 0-4 over hurdles but is a proven stayer and has fewer questions to answer than a good number of the rest.

Form: 675-5

Thegoaheadman^p³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: P D Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 111

25/1

Needs to run with more purpose than he did at Navan last month and very possible the yard has a stronger chance with the unexposed stablemate Rapid Response on this occasion.

Form: 2P-1P48

Bold Emperor¹⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: K J Brouder⁽³⁾| T: T Gibney| OR: 110

50/1

Managed to win a modest maiden when with his former yard back in 2017 but it's been lean picking since and two starts for his current trainer have been uninspiring performances. Other more appealing this time.

Form: P7/2-5FP

Whatucallher⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Donagh Meyler| T: E P Harty| OR: 110| BF| D

11/1

Showed lots of promise before winning a mares only maiden hurdle at Clonmel in October but reported to be coughing when virtually pulled up last time. Good chance of bouncing back if she's over what was troubling her; the market will have to guide.

Form: 233-410

Encore Lui³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Mark Walsh| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 109| BF

5/1

Steadily getting the hang of things but undone by a slight mistake when well backed at Navan last month; still finished second and ran with a lot of zest; and possible this extra distance will help. Might be more to come.

Form: 506F-22

Goodbye Someday²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: D F O'Regan| T: J E Kiely| OR: 109| BF

6/1

Consistent without setting the world on fire so far; but it was a decent effort when second last time out and enough to give him the benefit of the doubt as to whether he can improve. A market move could be significant.

Form: 46-3462

Iknowwhereiamnow³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 109| D

16/1

Won on heavy ground at Gowran Park last month but more to do from a 7lb higher mark over this longer trip. Hasn't been the most consistent performer and a career highest mark leaves the mare with a stern test in front of her.

Form: 1P-2F61

Punitive²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 109

8/1

Not fully exposed and showed guts to justify the support he received when winning at Limerick last month. A mark of 109 isn't too harsh for his handicap debut but more still needed in what looks a tougher race.

Form: R40-541

King's War^t³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: M F Mooney| T: Mrs A Mooney| OR: 105| D

50/1

Got his first win on the board when he sprung a bit of a surprise by landing a modest chase at Wexford (2m4f, good to yielding) in June; rated 4lb lower over hurdles and well held over timber last time out; but should be suited by returning to 2m4f.

Form: 079-155

Tashman²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 104

33/1

0-19 under both codes of racing before this and has already had a few chances; 0-11 over hurdles and runs from the same mark as when fifth of nine at Limerick last month. The longer trip is a concern.

Form: 4U9-075

Electricitywork⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: K Brogan⁽⁷⁾| T: Gary McGill| OR: 98

16/1

Finished 1¾L in front of Cherif De L'isle at Navan in November and was doing all his best work at the finish that day. However, he's now 2lb higher and a drops a couple of furlongs, so is not certain to uphold the form this time.

Form: P-80D22

Manomine²⁰⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Ricky Doyle⁽³⁾| T: R K Watson| OR: 98

50/1

Likes to make the running; made every yard to win at Downpatrick back in May but was pulled-up in his only subsequent start; runs from the same mark but would probably prefer a faster racing surface than he'll encounter this time.

Form: 0P-161P

Pat Coyne¹²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: M A Enright| T: J W Nicholson| OR: 98| D

40/1

Won a maiden hurdle over this trip at Kilbeggan in the summer but nowhere near as effective in two handicaps since. The step up in trip will help but the balance of form leaves him with a bit to find.

Form: 607198

Bythesametoken^t³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 96

12/1

Ridden clear in the closing stages last time and didn't mind the application of a tongue tie. That was his best effort to date but a 6lb higher mark won't make it easy here; has stayed this trip before so there is hope that he'll be a contender.

Form: 637401

Emily Square³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: B J Cooper| T: T Mullins| OR: 96| D

25/1

Posted a couple of solid efforts lately and on a reasonable mark just now; her sole previous win was gained over 2m4f but further deterioration in the ground might be detrimental.

Form: 150-984

Youngnedofthehill^h,t⁹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-4| J: J J Slevin| T: S Nolan| OR: 94| BF

25/1

Set to race from 4lb lower than when he was fourth behind The Church Gate in this race last year (Visioman fifth) and the trip and ground ought to be to his liking. Been off since September but no surprise to see him go close in this company.

Form: U58223

Shantelle¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 9-13| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: R Donohoe| OR: 89| D

33/1

Respectable effort at Cork at the start of last month but well below par three times since; hard to recommend as one capable of getting back to winning ways in her current form.

Form: 102505

Nomanbehind^t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: C D Maxwell| T: Anthony Curran| OR: 88

50/1

Was entitled to need the run when he was pulled up at Fairyhouse earlier this month (first start since April) but the gelding wasn't fluent in the race and made too many mistakes to merit following this time.

Form: P5756-P

Balaclava⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: Ms M Kelly| OR: 83

50/1

The gelding is of modest ability under both codes of racing and he makes little appeal from 3lb out of the handicap this time.

Form: 000/0-

Non-Runners

Miracle In Medinah²⁰

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: G Elliott J: B J Geraghty

Cherif De L'Isle³⁴

Weight: 11-4| Age: 7

T: G Elliott J: D N Russell

Important Message¹⁴

Weight: 10-0| Age: 7

T: D P Dunne J: Gearoid Brouder

Unchago¹⁹

Weight: 10-0| Age: 7

T: M M McNiff J: D R Fox

Brave Love⁴⁶¹

Weight: 9-10| Age: 10

T: L Whitmore J: Mike O'Connor

Forecasts

Dalton Highway (9/2), Encore Lui (5/1), Goodbye Someday (6/1), Cherif De L'Isle (7/1), The Church Gate (8/1), Punitive (8/1), Visioman (10/1), Whatucallher (11/1), Bythesametoken (12/1), Electricitywork (16/1), Rapid Response (16/1), Iknowwhereiamnow (16/1), Brave Love (16/1), Youngnedofthehill (25/1), Thegoaheadman (25/1), Bua Boy (25/1), Emily Square (25/1), Tashman (33/1), Shantelle (33/1), Unchago (33/1), Important Message (33/1), Miracle In Medinah (33/1), Pat Coyne (40/1), King's War (50/1), Bold Emperor (50/1), Nomanbehind (50/1), Balaclava (50/1), Manomine (50/1)

The first time cheekpieces could be the ingredient that's been missing for CHERIF DE L'ISLE, who can reverse recent placings with Electricitywork over this more appropriate trip. The selection isn't the first to improve since joining Gordon Elliott and the combination of heargear and a lesser test of stamina all look part of a good plan today. Last year's winner The Church Gate is respected once more although there was a lot to like about the latest effort from Bythesametoken and he too gets a solid mention. Whatucallher and Youngnedofthehill are a couple of other suggestions for the shortlist.