14:55 Limerick

Sunday 29 December 2019

All12:0012:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

Racing Post Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 5m 21.2s

Duchess Ravenwaves^t³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: O R Brown⁽⁷⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 117| C

11/4

Dual Flat winner at up to 1m4½f on testing ground and came good over hurdles at the seventh attempt when scoring readily at Hexham (2m, heavy; first-time tongue-tie) last time. 6lb rise, but still looks well treated and a big player.

Form: 4470-61

Masterstonemason^p¹⁹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Flanagan| T: F Costello| OR: 110

25/1

1-16 over hurdles. Well treated based on his peak efforts, but was well below them on his last four runs in the spring. Plenty to prove on his return from a break.

Form: 04-0078

Sullane Hill³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: A McCurtin⁽⁵⁾| T: P C O'Connor| OR: 109

6/1

Won a Wexford maiden hurdle (2m4f, yielding) in the spring, but well held in handicaps from similar marks to this since. Better effort back against novices last time, but no doubting he has a bit to prove in this sphere.

Form: P51-092

Southerner^h²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Mr W T Cronin⁽⁷⁾| T: William Cronin| OR: 103

5/1

Has had less runs than his nine years and came good at the eighth attempt when springing a 33-1 surprise to defy a 615-day absence at Cork (2m4f, soft) recently. Well treated from 8lb higher if able to repeat that effort.

Form: 48844/1

Carnet De Stage³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Phillip Enright| T: E M O'Sullivan| OR: 104

8/1

Best effort remains his second on debut here over C&D (heavy) in March. Held from today's mark at Thurles last time, and has a fair bit to prove.

Form: F-49386

The Ballyboys^b³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: D J McInerney| T: R Hackett| OR: 96| CD

3/1

3-29 over hurdles, but arrives on a 17-race losing run. Went close over fences here last time (2m1½f, heavy), but not easy to fancy based on what we have seen of late in this discipline.

Form: P54792

Cahirdown Boy³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: C D Maxwell| T: E McNamara| OR: 93

8/1

Has shown glimpses of ability in his last two starts, but haven't really seen enough to convince that he can be a big player from this mark on his handicap debut.

Form: FP705

Olive D'Haguenet^t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: I Madden| OR: 82

8/1

Yet to win in 17 attempts under National Hunt rules, and although he produced a more encouraging effort last time, he is difficult to make a strong case for from 6lb out of the handicap.

Form: PPP8U3

Forecasts

Duchess Ravenwaves (11/4), The Ballyboys (3/1), Southerner (5/1), Sullane Hill (6/1), Carnet De Stage (8/1), Cahirdown Boy (8/1), Olive D'Haguenet (8/1), Masterstonemason (25/1)

Southerner did superbly to win after a huge absence last time The 'bounce' factor has to be a bit of a concern, but if he can reproduce that form he'd be a big player from 8lb higher. However, preference is for DUCHESS RAVENWAVES, who also won with something in hand last time and should be suited by this step up in trip. Little else makes much appeal, but perhaps Masterstonemason has what it takes to fill the frame.