14:15 Thurles

Thursday 6 February 2020

All13:1513:4514:1514:4515:2015:5516:25

thurles.ie Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:16 | Winning time: 3m 58.50s

Alabaster¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan

20/1

76-rated handicapper for Sir Mark Prescott posting a number of solid and consistent starts last spring on the Flat. Struggling in a couple of hurdle starts to date and possibly more suited to handicaps next.

Form: 77

Rebellito²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

11/2

Winner of two of his six career starts on the Flat in France. Well held in a couple of runs over hurdles since November. Best watched unless market vibes suggest otherwise.

Form: 6P

Yarraman^h1³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Flynn| OR: 99

33/1

Three-race maiden over timber. Not seen over hurdles since finishing down the field over C&D in November 2018. Needs to improve significantly in first-time hood.

Form: 926-

Bobby Boy²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: L P Dempsey| T: A McNamara

66/1

Dual winner for Ger Lyons over a mile on the Flat. Not fluent on stable and hurdling debut at Punchestown last month. Looks a tall order.

Form: 0

Gendarme¹⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: C A Landers⁽⁵⁾| T: P Neville

100/1

75-rated handicapper on the Flat for trainer Alexandra Dunn winning three of his 21 starts on turf. Best watched on stable and hurdling debut.

Form:

Go Fox^h¹⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Gary Noonan⁽⁷⁾| T: P Neville

50/1

Winner of one of his 11 starts on turf for the 70-rated handicapper on the Flat for trainer Tom Clover. Best watched on first start over timber.

Form:

Midnight Wilde⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell

100/1

Useful staying handicapper on the Flat when with John Ryan. Well beaten in a couple of starts over hurdles last month sent off at big prices before running accordingly on each occasion.

Form: 00

Still Standing⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington

3/1

Campaigned in Listed and Group company this season on the Flat including a win at Naas in the spring. Improvement needed from dismal maiden hurdle debut at Leopardstown on St Stephens day.

Form: 0

The Broghie Man²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: B J Cooper| T: P Roche| OR: 116

9/2

Posted a career best effort finishing second of 22 beaten ½L in a Punchestown maiden hurdle over a similar trip last month. Needs to back that effort up here.

Form: 5702

Backsheesh⁴⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny Mullins| T: T Mullins| D

25/1

Off the mark at the fourth attempt in bumper company, winning a Tramore 2m contest in August 2018. Not seen since October of that year. Entitled to need the run on return to action.

Form: 3531-

Haggard Lad^t³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Donagh Meyler| T: Mrs G Callaghan

100/1

Morozov gelding. Down the field on hurdling debut in a Fairyhouse 2m4f maiden last month. Others hold stronger claims.

Form: P-0

My Lark¹³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss E Doyle

100/1

Basement 45-rated handicapper on the Flat. Hard to fancy on hurdling debut in this company for Co Wexford yard with a 9% strike rate with their hurdlers this term.

Form:

Sao Paulo⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: M Hourigan

100/1

Nothing of note in four starts for trainer Charles Byrnes before pulling up in a December point-to-point. May find this a tough assignment on stable debut.

Form: 9/P

Ekanse³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: S A Mulcahy⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan

66/1

Two-race maiden over hurdles. Sixth of 17 at Cork latest start last month, a step up on previous efforts but still short of what's required here.

Form: 8D

Henry Sellers²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: J G Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 101

50/1

Yet to hit the frame in five laboured starts over timber including a 28L reversal on his latest outing at Fairyhouse last month. Still looking no nearer to breakthrough success.

Form: 747757

Whatsnotoknow^t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: M F Morris

5/4

Posted a career best effort when finishing second of 10 beaten ½L last month over C&D. Another bold show looks to be on the cards.

Form: 44-2272

Kilcarry View^t⁶⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Liam Quinlan⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Ryan

40/1

Four-race maiden over timber. Pulled up on latest start when last seen in November at Limerick. not one to place a great deal of faith in.

Form: 60-D5P

Bluesea Storm

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Phillip Enright| T: G Ahern

150/1

Daughter of Fame And Glory out of a Milan mare. Closely related to bumper winner Peculiar Places. Others need to run below par for the mare to shine on racecourse debut.

Form:

Non-Runners

Western Run⁶²

Weight: 11-3| Age: 5

T: G P Cromwell J: Reserve 1

Jessica's Boy⁵³

Weight: 11-4| Age: 6

T: N Meade J: Reserve 2

Gold Des Bois²²

Weight: 11-4| Age: 6

T: Mrs J Harrington J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Whatsnotoknow (5/4), Still Standing (3/1), The Broghie Man (9/2), Rebellito (11/2), Gold Des Bois (8/1), Western Run (14/1), Alabaster (20/1), Backsheesh (25/1), Jessica's Boy (25/1), Yarraman (33/1), Kilcarry View (40/1), Go Fox (50/1), Henry Sellers (50/1), Ekanse (66/1), Bobby Boy (66/1), Haggard Lad (100/1), Midnight Wilde (100/1), Sao Paulo (100/1), Gendarme (100/1), My Lark (100/1), Bluesea Storm (150/1)

The Mouse Morris-trained WHATSNOTOKNOW can build on a career best effort when finishing second of 10 beaten ½L last month over C&D. The five-year-old under jockey Rachael Blackmore can get off the mark for connections over hurdles at the fourth time of asking holding off the attentions of The Broghie Man who finished second of 22 in a Punchestown maiden hurdle last month. Still Standing and Backsheesh can compete for remaining prize money while the Willie Mullins-trained Rebellito should not be taken lightly.