15:20 Naas

Sunday 5 January 2020

All12:5013:2013:5014:2014:5015:2015:50

Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (80-116)

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 4m 54.6s

Our Boy Boru⁷⁰⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: D J Hand⁽⁴⁾| T: J Woods| OR: 114

14/1

Ended a winless streak when scoring over 2m3½f at Down Royal two years ago but hasn't been sighted since. Races from an unchanged mark but possibly best watched given the absence.

Form: 324631/

Tara Dylan⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: K J Brouder| T: T Mullins| OR: 114

16/1

Winner of a Kilbeggan maiden hurdle (2m2f, good to yielding; 7-4f) in August, her only success in 25 starts over timber. Tailed off in three runs since November and overlooked on current form.

Form: 4P4600

Rapid Response⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: O R Brown⁽⁴⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 112

10/1

Some promise in maidens hurdles and sent off 16-1 in a Leopardstown handicap over 2m4½f at the Christmas Festival on first start in this sphere. Didn't get beyond the third, so still plenty to be revealed.

Form: 494-U

Something Sweet⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: M Hamill| T: R J McGrath| OR: 106| BF| D

8/1

Very consistent hurdler through 2019, earning two wins and seven placed efforts in 13 starts. Most recent success at Thurles in November (2m4f, yielding to soft) and placed back there since from 1lb lower mark than this.

Form: 232213

Volatile Lady^b¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: C A Landers⁽²⁾| T: B W Duke| OR: 108

33/1

Good third at Galway (2m½f) in July in a handicap off 109 and then awarded Sligo maiden soon after having finished 9L second. Poor both starts since however, including at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day in first-time blinkers (retained).

Form: 2-43100

British Art⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁴⁾| T: R K Watson| OR: 105

14/1

Promising effort at Navan (2m, soft; 25-1) in November after five months off; remains 12lb clear of previous win-mark and is 1-21 over timber. Could harbour place claims if building on that previous effort.

Form: 254697

Abraham^p,t¹⁵⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: C Brassil⁽²⁾| T: M Brassil| OR: 104

14/1

Just the seven starts over timber and won a maiden at Cork in 2017; good effort at Clonmel (2m2½f, good; 14-1) in June when last sighted in this sphere and has run well off a break in the past so worth market check.

Form: 17/0P-54

Mc Alpine³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: H Morgan⁽⁴⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 99

8/1

Lightly-raced hurdler has shown definite promise in five starts in this sphere, with best efforts coming on softer going. On a workable mark and no major shock if he's able to lay down a challenge.

Form: 76-4266

Ice Cool⁶⁵⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-9| J: A W Short| T: V T O'Brien| OR: 97

50/1

Won three times over timber back in 2015/16 but missed a chunk of time after and showed very little when returned to the track in 2017/18 season. Another extended absence to defy here and hard to make a case for.

Form: 1330P7/

Lusis Naturea⁷¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: C J Orr⁽²⁾| T: Paul Traynor| OR: 95

6/1

Three-time winner on the Flat, also boasts win one success from 10 starts over hurdles. Mostly consistent on the level after joining this trainer, including Down Royal win in July. Back from a break and could have place claims.

Form: 731520-

Fox Le Bel³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽²⁾| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 95

9/4

Improved nicely for switch to handicaps when third at Clonmel (2m½f, soft; 20-1) last month; up 3lb on that effort but every chance there is a bit more to come so worth considering.

Form: 8-493

Major Fawcett^t⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Shane O'Callaghan⁽⁴⁾| T: T M Walsh| OR: 86

33/1

Maiden of 14 races under rules and positives few and far between recently. Tailed off at Punchestown (2m, yielding; 20-1) on New Year's Eve returning from a layoff. Plenty more needed.

Form: 460790

Lady Maureen^p1²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Dylan Johnston⁽⁴⁾| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 85

33/1

Mare is unplaced in six starts so far, including when tailed off over C&D on handicap bow last month (50-1) and she's got it all to prove again.

Form: 440000

Our Big Red^p1,t1⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: C P McNamara⁽²⁾| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 85

6/1

Stowaway gelding has achieved nothing of note in eight starts under rules, including three runs over fences this season. Switches to hurdles again with array of headgear added; others readily preferred.

Form: 00P-27P

Olive D'Haguenet^t⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁴⁾| T: I Madden| OR: 82

14/1

Flat winner in France in 2017 but few positives since arriving on these shores. Third in 25-runner C&D handicap last month (66-1) but trailed home last of eight since at Limerick (2m3f, soft to heavy; 8-1).

Form: PP8U38

Forecasts

Fox Le Bel (9/4), Lusis Naturea (6/1), Our Big Red (6/1), Mc Alpine (8/1), Something Sweet (8/1), Rapid Response (10/1), Abraham (14/1), Our Boy Boru (14/1), British Art (14/1), Olive D'Haguenet (14/1), Tara Dylan (16/1), Major Fawcett (33/1), Lady Maureen (33/1), Volatile Lady (33/1), Ice Cool (50/1)

Fox Le Bel showed plenty improvement for the switch to handicaps last time at Clonmel and can be given decent prospects from this 3lb higher mark while it's hard to knock the consistency of Something Sweet; who is as likely as any in this field to give a solid account. Olive D'Haguenet was third here last month at a big price but bombed since at Limerick. Rapid Response is a possible improver but MC ALPINE has displayed enough promise in his short hurdling career to suggest he'll get his head in front before long and he gets the vote.