12:45 Leopardstown

Sunday 29 December 2019

All12:1012:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

Pigsback.com Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 12:46 | Winning time: 5m 1.4s

Aarons Day²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: O McKiernan

28/1

Has yet to hit the frame in four appearance on the track. He was seventh of 25 on his latest outing in a 25-runner maiden hurdle at Navan (2m4f). Needs to take a big step forward to be in the mix.

Form: 0/0-67

Biko²⁹

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

25/1

His two runs to date have come in bumpers where he has been well held on both occasions, including at Fairyhouse (2m) last time when he was seventh of nine. Needs to improve on hurdles debut.

Form: 57

Blueridgemountain^t1

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: C Brassil⁽⁵⁾| T: L Comer

100/1

Tale of Two Cities gelding whose dam was unraced. Will wear a tongue-tie on his opening start on the track. Likely to need this first run. Best to watch unless there is strong market confidence behind him.

Form:

Cobbler's Way^t⁴⁹

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

9/2

Scored on his debut under Rules at Limerick (2m) in a bumper in what was an impressive performance as the margin of success was 11L. He went close over hurdles last time as he was second of 18 at Navan (2m4f). Big player here.

Form: 2/1-2

Francin³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| BF

14/1

Made an encouraging start to his National Hunt career when he was third of 15 over hurdles at Leopardstown (2m4f) two years ago. Returned to action at Navan (2m4f) last month, finishing sixth of 19. Likely to build on his last start.

Form: 3/6

Heroes Of Renown³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: J Motherway

33/1

Finished fourth of 15 on his hurdles debut at Punchestown (2m5½f) last month, 20L off the winner. Failed to shine in three appearances in bumpers prior to that run. Will need to produce more.

Form: 530-4

January Jets²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: Mrs J Harrington

7/1

Point-to-point winner who showed a lot of promise on his Rules debut when he came back second of 25 at Fairyhouse (2m). Open to improvement still. One for the shortlist as he steps up in trip this time.

Form: F1-2

Kingston King¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: P Croke

100/1

Was pulled up on his debut in a point-to-point at Mainstown (3m). Did not fare much better on his opening appearance under Rules as he was tailed off, finishing 11th of 14 at Tramore (2m5f). Hard to fancy.

Form: P0

Lou Trek^h,t1⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Geraghty| T: P G Kelly

40/1

Point-to-point winner at Moig South (3m). Went close to his maiden success under Rules when he was second of six in a bumper at Roscommon (1m7½f). Tongue-tie is on for the first time. Needs to bounce back from latest effort at Punchestown.

Form: 1-527

Not So Simple⁵⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D F O'Regan| T: N Lee

66/1

Went very close to victory on his sole start to date in a point-to-point at Tralee (3m) as he was second of 13, beaten by just a head. Set for first appearance under Rules now. Best to watch for now.

Form: 2-

Scobies Gold²³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: P E Corbett| T: J H Black

100/1

Was a long way off the winner when he finished seventh of 14 at Ballinrobe (2m1½f) on his first outing back in May after going off at 66/1. Will need to take a big stride forward this time around.

Form: 7

Sempo^t²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| BF

7/2

Scored in a bumper at Thurles (2m) back in February. Finished a respectable third of 25 in a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse (2m) last time as the 6/4 favourite. Open to improvement still. Worth consideration.

Form: 4316-3

The Big Getaway⁴³

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

11/10

Prevailed for the first time under Rules on his latest run at Punchestown (2m½f) in a bumper where the margin of victory was 7L. Big player once again on his first appearance over hurdles here.

Form: 1/2-21

The Tack Room²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: J E Kiely

33/1

Made a modest start to his career when he was eighth of 25 at Fairyhouse (2m) in a maiden hurdle last month as a 100/1 shot. Will have to produce much more this time in order to be in contention at the finish.

Form: 8

Fizzlestick³⁸⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Ricky Doyle⁽³⁾| T: C O'Dwyer

66/1

Showed some promise when she finished second of 15 on her debut at Ballinrobe (2m4f). Has been unable to build upon that since. Set for her first run since coming back fifth of 21 at Navan (2m4f) 12 months ago. Best to watch.

Form: 235-

Twilight Girl¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: T N Brett⁽⁷⁾| T: Peter Fahey

66/1

Prevailed in a point-to-point at Stowlin (3m) two runs ago but seemed to struggle last time on her Rules debut as she was eighth of 23 in a maiden hurdle at Navan (2m). Needs to improve.

Form: F-18

Non-Runners

Hardcore¹⁴

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: S Nolan J: E O'Connell

Queens Boulevard²⁶⁶

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: Colm Murphy J: Liam McKenna

Forecasts

The Big Getaway (11/10), Sempo (7/2), Cobbler's Way (9/2), January Jets (7/1), Francin (14/1), Biko (25/1), Aarons Day (28/1), Heroes Of Renown (33/1), The Tack Room (33/1), Queens Boulevard (33/1), Lou Trek (40/1), Fizzlestick (66/1), Twilight Girl (66/1), Not So Simple (66/1), Kingston King (100/1), Scobies Gold (100/1), Blueridgemountain (100/1), Hardcore (150/1)

THE BIG GETAWAY was too good for his rivals in a bumper at Punchestown last month and he is the one to beat here on his first attempt at hurdles. Cobbler's Way has also scored in a bumper but found just one horse better than him last time out and that may be the case once again here, while January Jets ran well on his debut under Rules when he was second in a big runner field at Fairyhouse so include him in your calculations here.