15:00 Thurles

Friday 10 January 2020

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3016:00

Jimmy Neville Memorial Rated Novice Hurdle

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 6m 8.1s

Royal Thief⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 123| BF| CD

7/2

Won maiden hurdle here over 2m6f penultimate start but disappointed at around this trip here last time when beaten favourite and only third of five. May benefit from stronger pace but has to give away weight all round for last year's winning yard.

Form: 33-613

Foxy Jacks^h¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Phillip Enright| T: M F Morris| OR: 118

7/2

Maiden but has some fair form including second over 3m at Cork in May and staying-on fourth in Leopardstown 2m4f handicap hurdle last time. Should stay and no reason he won't be right in the mix.

Form: 2-72774

Mister Fogpatches¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Danny Mullins| T: P A Fahy| OR: 116

3/1

Finished well to score in Navan 2m6f h'cap hurdle penultimate start and ran respectably last time when 8th of 25 in decent Leopardstown 3m h'cap hurdle. Should be there or thereabouts.

Form: 025218

Fire Away^t¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G T Hourigan| OR: 115

8/1

Won Wexford 2m4f bumper in March and second there in June in 3m maiden hurdle. Hasn't shone in trhee starts of late over shorter trip and hopes rest on stamina coming to bear at this distance.

Form: 1-02708

Allannahs Gold^h¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: B J Foley⁽⁵⁾| T: D Queally

25/1

Won Fairyhouse maiden hunter chase in 2018. Absent almost two years prior to two runs this winter where has struggled on both occassions. Appears out of his depth on that evidence.

Form: 2112/U4

Gun Merchant⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: K Brogan⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 109

11/2

Comfortably landed Punchestown bumper last summer and not disgraced in three runs so far over hurdles, notably when distant 4th of 18 to useful Andy Dufresne at Navan penultimate start. More needed, but is open to improvement.

Form: 3-21845

Turbo^t⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: K C Sexton| T: J R Finn| OR: 113

25/1

Only win came in Downpatrick bumper but had some solid hurdles form in 2018. Less progressive in last 12 months and has been struggling. Prominent until weakening to finish 6th of 8 at Fairyhouse last week but should strip fitter now.

Form: 4U9-U56

Walking On Glass⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁷⁾| T: P Roche| OR: 109

11/2

Good third on Flat in October in 1m6f Navan h'cap, and second of 21 last time at Punchestown in November in 3m handicap hurdle. Decent chance with good conditional taking off 7lb and has solid each-way chance.

Form: 0-31262

Forecasts

Mister Fogpatches (3/1), Royal Thief (7/2), Foxy Jacks (7/2), Gun Merchant (11/2), Walking On Glass (11/2), Fire Away (8/1), Turbo (25/1), Allannahs Gold (25/1)

A very tight-knit event in which very marginal preference is for GUN MERCHANT, whose run behind Andy Dufresne two starts back reads well in this company. Walking On Glass has a solid chance and has been knocking on the door of late, while top weight Royal Thief is a definite player, especially if bouncing back from a rather flat effort last time. Foxy Jacks and Turbo cannot be ruled out of the equation either, nor can Mister Fogpatches.