14:00 Leopardstown

Sunday 1 March 2020

All14:0014:3015:0515:3516:1016:4017:10

Anton O'Toole Memorial Mares Novice Hurdle

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 5m 14.20s

Barrington Court¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Mark Walsh| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 125

10/3

Has seemingly had his setbacks since winning a Listed Navan bumper in late 2018 and then running well on hurdles bow at Naas soon after; off the mark in heavy-ground Punchestown maiden 12 days ago and sound claims again up in trip.

Form: 2/130-31

Darrens Hope³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: M P Fogarty| T: R Murphy| D

9/2

Winner over this trip on hurdles bow at Punchestown (soft to heavy) last month and not a major shock coming up well short in Grade 3 at Fairyhouse since; may resume progress now.

Form: 576516

Larquebuse^p⁸⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| D

2/1

Point-to-point/bumper winner dead-heated with Lunch In Adare on second hurdles start at Fairyhouse (2m4½f, soft to heavy; 13-2) in November; solid showing in 3m graded novice at Cork next time and should be right in the mix here.

Form: 22-1414

Lunch In Adare⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Kevin Sexton| T: Peter Fahey| D

20/1

Behind Larquebuse in a bumper at Punchestown in October but dead-heated with Gordon Elliott's mare over hurdles at Fairyhouse (2m4½f, soft to heavy; 40-1) following month. In too deep in graded Limerick race since (pulled up) but more realistic now.

Form: 330-41P

Sand Fly¹¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Gary Noonan⁽⁷⁾| T: P Neville| OR: 103| D

33/1

Winner of a Listowel handicap hurdle in September over similar trip off a mark of 95; much more exposed than a few of these and a surprise should she prove good enough to take the spoils.

Form: 832148

Imperial View⁹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 117| D

16/1

Off the mark at the second attempt over hurdles when successful at Tipperary (2m4f; yielding) in October but disappointed next time on soft going at Fairyhouse; given a short break and too soon to be judging harshly.

Form: 2-618

Miss Cognac¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: E Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 114| D

5/1

Made a winning start in handicaps at Limerick (2m4f, heavy; 12-1) over Christmas but well held having gone up 10lb at Gowran Park this month; has to improve in this line-up to score.

Form: 145015

Mrs Milner²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: P Nolan| OR: 115

9/1

Landed a Thurles maiden hurdle in November over 2m on second attempt over jumps; has run in two big-field Leopardstown handicaps since and acquitted herself admirably well for one so inexperienced. Can go well.

Form: 5-5170

Forecasts

Larquebuse (2/1), Barrington Court (10/3), Darrens Hope (9/2), Miss Cognac (5/1), Mrs Milner (9/1), Imperial View (16/1), Lunch In Adare (20/1), Sand Fly (33/1)

LARQUEBUSE and Lunch In Adare dead-heated over this trip at Fairyhouse in November and the suspicion is the former has more scope. Both were since defeated in graded events but Gordon Elliott's charge offered plenty to work with in a 3m Cork race that probably wasn't run to suit him. Back down in trip, he looks the one to be with. Barrington Court may be on the upgrade for the in-form Jessica Harrington team while Darrens Hope is another with possible upside to come.