15:30 Limerick

Sunday 29 December 2019

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

Irish Field Handicap Hurdle (80-102)

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 5m 16.1s

I'mstillyourbaby²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: O R Brown⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Fahy| OR: 101

4/1

Runner-up in a Tipperary bumper (2m4f, yielding) in October, and showed similar promise on his hurdles debut at Down Royal (2m6f) next time. Not as good since, but can't rule him out of the frame from this mark on handicap debut.

Form: 0724B0

Seskin Flyer⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: P Carey| OR: 99| C

13/2

Triple chase winner who is 1-10 over hurdles. Well treated on those chasing efforts, but was beaten a long way from this mark when last seen hurdling in January, so returns to this discipline with plenty to prove.

Form: 3P3356

Theophilus^t⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: M P Fogarty| T: D McDonogh| OR: 92

20/1

1-20 over hurdles, but his Fairyhouse third (2m4f, heavy; when 1lb higher) last month showed that he has the ability to make an impact. However, beaten a long way back there last time, and hard to have confidence in him.

Form: 00-P030

Costalita²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 88| D

6/1

Took advantage of a lowly mark when showing improved form to score easily at Clonmel (2m3f, soft) last time. Has gone up 8lb for that, but if she is able to match or better that effort, she has a big chance again.

Form: 06-0U41

High Viz¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: B J Cooper| T: P Nolan| OR: 88

14/1

Only real glimpse of ability to far came in a Galway mares' maiden hurdle (2m, soft) in October, but still well held there and has gone backwards since. Can only watch.

Form: 49-7090

Johanna Yeats^t1³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: A McCurtin⁽⁵⁾| T: J J Walsh| OR: 86

4/1

Steady improver whose best two efforts have come since resuming in the autumn. Best form was over C&D last time, when 11L fourth of 14, and looks capable of picking up some prize money from this mark. Tongue-tie goes on.

Form: 009-44

Northern Love³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: E McNamara| OR: 89

20/1

100-1 and well beaten in all three starts in maiden hurdles so far. Steps up in trip for handicap debut, but others readily preferred.

Form: 000

Feyan⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Tyner| OR: 88

6/1

Left some moderate form behind her on her last two starts, the best of them coming last time at Clonmel (2m3½f, soft/heavy). Has been nudged up 1lb as a result of that, but looks an each-way player.

Form: 000-033

Military Poet^p1¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Miss M O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: E M O'Sullivan| OR: 85

50/1

Has failed to make the frame in any of his seven starts under both codes. Pulled up in a point earlier in the month. Cheekpieces go on this time, but can only watch.

Form: 9800P

The Grey Guy³¹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-9| J: B J Foley⁽⁵⁾| T: B O'Keeffe| OR: 84| C

7/1

Won here over 2m5f (heavy) in 2017, when 3lb higher. Below that level in all six starts since, and needs to be much better than last month's reappearance after eight months off.

Form: 575/69-6

Lotus Hill^b1¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: K C Sexton| T: P Nolan| OR: 82

16/1

Showed promise when fourth on debut in a mares' bumper at Naas 13-months ago, but well below that level in all starts since, the last three over hurdles Blinkers now tried, but can only watch.

Form: 708-59P

Hughies Bay^t¹⁵⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: D J Howard| T: D Howard| OR: 81

16/1

0-31 over hurdles (placed nine times), and his best efforts came between 2015-2017, and also over shorter. Respectable run when fourth from today's mark here (2m4f, good) last time, but surely frame claims at best.

Form: 53-6744

Cadawill^p¹⁶⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Flanagan| T: R Sweeney| OR: 80| C

33/1

1-38 over hurdles, and well beaten both in this discipline and over fences in all of his last eight starts. Others preferred.

Form: 890P0-P

Non-Runners

Likable Chancer¹

Weight: 11-6| Age: 5

T: D Howard J: Miss C Daffy

Otzi¹³

Weight: 10-13| Age: 5

T: A J McNamara J: D J McInerney

Forecasts

I'mstillyourbaby (4/1), Johanna Yeats (4/1), Likable Chancer (5/1), Feyan (6/1), Costalita (6/1), Seskin Flyer (13/2), The Grey Guy (7/1), High Viz (14/1), Otzi (14/1), Lotus Hill (16/1), Hughies Bay (16/1), Northern Love (20/1), Theophilus (20/1), Cadawill (33/1), Military Poet (50/1)

I'mstillyourbaby could emerge as a player on his handicap debut, while Likable Chancer couldn't be ruled out if taking his chance. Johanna Yeats is going the right way and could have a say and Hughies Bay could also join battle for some prize money. Feyan is another possible contender, but COSTALITA looks to have an outstanding chance of following up an easy win last time.