14:50 Limerick

Saturday 28 December 2019

All12:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:2515:55

Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase (0-150) (Grade B)

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 5m 28.10s

Articulum^t²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Phillip Enright| T: T O'Brien| OR: 148| C

5/1

One from five over the larger obstacles and ran a fine race in defeat at the Cheltenham festival in the Grade 1 Arkle trophy to finish third of 12 behind Duc Des Genievres. Tough ask off top weight but sure to be thereabouts.

Form: 213-P23

Goulane Chosen²⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: B J Foley⁽⁵⁾| T: S Spillane| OR: 145| C| D

33/1

Winner of four of his 28 starts over fences. Only runner in the race to compete in last years renewal finishing fourth of 16 beaten 5½L off an 8lb lower mark. Winner at this venue in March and looks to have been trained for this contest.

Form: U4221-7

Sumos Novios⁴¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: W J Burke| OR: 144| D

20/1

Distance winner the Flemensfirth gelding has been lightly campaigned this term. Notable jockey booking for a yard who won this contest in 2005 with Coolnahilla.

Form: 1P/5P-25

Moyhenna²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 142| C

12/1

Clear-cut winner of a Grade 2 novice chase at Limerick in March before winning again when landing a Punchestown 2m5f chase in May. Down the field on return to action at Navan earlier this month when headed two out over 3m½f. Worth a market check.

Form: 2FU1-18

Ministerforsport^t³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: D J McInerney| T: Noel O'Neill| OR: 138| C

9/1

Course winner that has also won over this trip. Mixed bag of efforts over fences this term with a promising run usually followed by a wretched performance. Others look more convincing.

Form: 1/F35-30

Glenloe²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: J S McGarvey| T: G Elliott| OR: 135

10/1

Improving chaser shaped with promise behind Minella Times in a Navan handicap over 2m4f earlier this month. Not disgraced behind Faugheen on seasonal reappearance last month but more needed here.

Form: 25/54-53

Woods Well^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: E O'Connell⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 134| D

20/1

Has failed to make his presence felt in a number of Grade B contests since last month, well beaten on each occasion. That said, cannot be underestimated representing leading connections and now 2lb lower than last winning mark.

Form: 157-P97

Hardback⁵⁷¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Mr T Hamilton⁽³⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 133| D

25/1

Usuful 129-rated handicap hurdler off the mark at just the second time of asking for connections over the larger obstacles when landing a Kilbeggan beginners contest over 2m4f when last seen in June 2018. Worth a check in the market on return.

Form: 4910/21-

Shady Operator^b1,t³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: S A Shortall| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 133| C

16/1

Well held behind A Plus Tard at Cheltenham, and failed to finish in Irish Grand National on final novice outing. Not disgraced in a couple of efforts this term but more needed in first-time blinkers.

Form: 147P-30

Redhotfillypeppers³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 130| C

6/1

Lightly raced mare in the last 12 months following a win at this meeting last year. Beaten 26L on most recent start at Navan last month but entitled to make the shortlist for respected connections.

Form: 7/113-P5

Drumacoo¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: T Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: M Hourigan| OR: 128

16/1

One from six over the larger obstacles. Running with credit in a number of starts this season over hurdles. requires a chunk of improvement to play a part in the finish on chasing return.

Form: 0P-5623

Minella Times^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 128| D

11/2

Off the mark at the fifth time of asking when landing a Navan 2m4f handicap off a 6lb lower mark on soft ground earlier this month. Ticks a lot of boxes and could be set for a big run.

Form: 3-92421

Beyond The Law^t²⁰⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: M F Morris| OR: 127| C| D

8/1

Ended a quite long losing run when opening his account over fences at Cork at the ninth time of asking for connections in April. Not seen since June but more likely than others to run their race.

Form: F521-48

Salty Boy²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: C J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: Ms M Mullins| OR: 127| D

7/1

Modest 134-rated handicap hurdler, the Stowaway gelding has look a little ponderous at some of his obstacles in three starts over fences since October. Remains easy to oppose in this contest.

Form: 189-474

Without Limites⁸⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 127| C| D

8/1

Won over hurdles on his first run for 12 months when landing a Gowran Park contest over 2m4f when last seen in October. Looks opposable on return over the larger obstacles.

Form: 23F6/9-1

Uisce Beatha^t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: I J McCarthy| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 126| BF

20/1

Winner over fences in January but has failed to add to the tally in four starts since, beaten favourite on the last two occasions. Could be on a lenient mark and capable of a bold bid.

Form: 5172-64

Non-Runners

Gwencily Berbas²¹

Weight: 10-1| Age: 8

T: E McNamara J: Reserve 1

Mount Hanover⁶²

Weight: 10-1| Age: 8

T: H De Bromhead J: Reserve 2

Ask Susan²⁷

Weight: 10-0| Age: 7

T: W P Mullins J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Articulum (5/1), Minella Times (11/2), Redhotfillypeppers (6/1), Salty Boy (7/1), Beyond The Law (8/1), Without Limites (8/1), Ministerforsport (9/1), Glenloe (10/1), Mount Hanover (10/1), Moyhenna (12/1), Ask Susan (14/1), Shady Operator (16/1), Drumacoo (16/1), Sumos Novios (20/1), Uisce Beatha (20/1), Woods Well (20/1), Gwencily Berbas (25/1), Hardback (25/1), Goulane Chosen (33/1)

Trainer Liam Burke and jockey Derek O'Connor can turn back time with the 11-year-old SUMOS NOVIOS. The pair won this race as far back as 2005 with Coolnahilla and can hold off a number of J P McManus pursuers in the closing stages in the shape of Glencoe for trainer Gordon Elliott and the Henry De Bromhead-trained Minella Times. Redhotfillypeppers is better than her recent start suggests and should not be underestimated while the Mouse Morris-trained Beyond The Law could go well at a price. Course winner Goulane Chosen finished fourth of 16 beaten 5½L off an 8lb lower mark in last years renewal and is capable of hitting the frame.