15:40 Leopardstown

Saturday 28 December 2019

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

Midland Legal Solicitors Flat Race

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 4m 0.0s

Alko Rouge²⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr N McParlan⁽⁵⁾| T: T Gibney

16/1

Shown some sparkle in point-to-points even though he's fallen twice (he was clear both times and seemingly just lacked concentration). He finished second in his only completed start and looks a likely candidate to make the running. One to consider.

Form: F2-F

California Holiday

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P Byrnes⁽⁷⁾| T: C Byrnes

25/1

A Stowaway gelding who cost €24,000 as a foal; he's a half-brother to a bumper winner and Beneath The Radar, who was a decent 2m hurdler in his day. Yard can ready one; merits a betting check.

Form:

It Could Be You

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr H McOwan⁽⁷⁾| T: T Mullins

28/1

Cost €16.000 as a three-year-old, his dam is an unraced half-sister to Western Warrior, who was effective at 2m3f/3m. Bred to get a bit further in time.

Form:

Carrig Rock²⁷³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr B Lawless⁽⁷⁾| T: P Croke

50/1

Posted a modest effort in a point-to-point in March and looked very one paced when push came to shove; best watched here.

Form: 6-

Fakiera²⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr J J Codd| T: G Elliott

7/2

Finished fourth at Fairyhouse in a race that is working out well; the winner has gone in again since, while the runner up went on to win his next two starts in bloodless style. This €50,000 purchase is a big player here.

Form: 4-

Ferny Hollow²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| BF

8/13

Carries colours more associated with 'blue bloods' on the Flat but this fellow was no back number when he went for £300,000 at the Cheltenham sales in February; he was second on debut in a Fairyhouse bumper but is sure to have learned from the run.

Form: 1-2

Fidji Emery

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr P J Vaughan⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott

10/1

A half-brother to Cilaos Emery, who has recently won a couple Graded chases as a novice; this fellow cost €170,000 as a three-year-old and helps complete a strong hand for a powerful yard. The betting can guide.

Form:

Fierami²⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: H De Bromhead

10/1

Cost €80,000 as a three-year-old and is the first foal of an unraced half-sister to the high-class Lami and useful hurdler/chaser Kemali. Point-to-point form is ordinary but represents a yard that is very capable at this level. One for the future.

Form: F5-

Forged In Fire

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr N Bashford⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien

9/1

One of three in the same colours but all run for different yards; this one is a half-brother to Stellar Notion, who won a bumper and was also decent over hurdles as well as fences; cost €110,000, so another who merits a betting check.

Form:

Sadies Trix

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr S Perry⁽⁷⁾| T: Peter Fahey

50/1

Cost just €4,500 but there are winners in her pedigree; she'll do well to emulate them at the first time of asking given the expensive purchase tags associated with most of the rest.

Form:

Forecasts

Ferny Hollow (8/13), Fakiera (7/2), Forged In Fire (9/1), Fierami (10/1), Fidji Emery (10/1), Alko Rouge (16/1), California Holiday (25/1), It Could Be You (28/1), Carrig Rock (50/1), Sadies Trix (50/1)

The debut run from FAKIERA has worked out very well so far and looks worth following until the wheels fall off. All three horses who finished in front of the selection have won since and each has done so in a convincing manner. That is not to dismiss the rest lightly as the sales prices given to Fidji Emery (a stablemate of the selection), Forged In Fire, and Fierami were also eye-watering enough for them to merit close scrutiny for the prize money on offer in the finale.