14:20 Leopardstown

Monday 2 March 2020

All13:1513:4514:2014:5515:2516:0016:30

TRI Equestrian Handicap Hurdle (80-109)

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 6m 23.30s

Cherif De L'Isle^b¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 109| BF

7/2

Has finished in third place on his last four outings and while his consistency is in his favour, the handicapper has been taking note; certainly solid place material but may struggle to win.

Form: 0P/3333

Fire Away^t⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: G T Hourigan| OR: 109

8/1

Won Wexford 2m4f bumper in March and second there in June in 3m maiden hurdle; has been struggling for consistency of late but certainly has a chance on the best of his form.

Form: 027086

Ballybrowney Jack^b,t⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 103

20/1

Inconsistent finisher over fences and returns to hurdles for the first time since 2018; did have some form over the smaller obstacles and this return may see a change of fortune but still difficult to make a strong case for.

Form: 4-6FP3U

Moscowsowhat^p1¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny Mullins| T: J Dullea| OR: 102

12/1

Six-race maiden. Run at Limerick in November, finishing second of 14 beaten a head over 2m3f appears to be a bit of a 'one-off' looking at overall profile of starts. Others preferred.

Form: 099279

Baily Thunder^p¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Phillip Enright| T: M F Morris| OR: 100

7/1

Seemed to appreciate the switch to handicap company last time when finishing runner-up at Gowran Park; has plenty of experience but rarely looks like winning and could be similar tale here.

Form: 665272

Peculiar Genius^b²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: P Nolan| OR: 98

20/1

Returns to hurdling after a spell over fences; has got some fair form over the smaller obstacles and is on the same mark when putting up a reasonable performance at Tramore at the start of 2019; reasonable chance on best of his form.

Form: 3PP-457

Nicole's Milan^b⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: E Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: S Aherne| OR: 97| D

11/2

Winner of two of his 17 starts over hurdles and ran a fine race last time out at Punchestown over an extended three miles; has been upped slightly in the weights but a repeat of that performance should see him go very close.

Form: 990842

Sweet Sting¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Brian Hayes| T: M J Bowe| OR: 99

12/1

Off the mark on hurdling debut in a Tramore maiden hurdle over 2m4f in August; has been below par since then and likely to need a little more help from the handicapper before getting back to winning ways.

Form: 91U076

Scotsman's Bay³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: C P McNamara⁽⁵⁾| T: E McNamara| OR: 94

16/1

Eight-race maiden well held in four starts over hurdles including a 57L reversal on first start for new connections at Limerick over Christmas and well beaten latest at Fairyhouse; plenty to prove on handicap debut.

Form: 60-0680

Diamond Grove⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: E Cawley| OR: 95

12/1

Point-to-point runner-up never really involved in maidens at Naas, Punchestown and Fairyhouse late last year and well beaten on handicap debut at Navan in January; still open to improvement but looks an unlikely winner.

Form: 2-0006

Punchers Path⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: D F O'Regan| T: N C Kelly| OR: 95

25/1

Son of Carlotamix finished fourth and third in two point-to-points but never competitive in four races under Rules and hard to fancy despite slight drop in the handicap.

Form: 3-45000

Ice Cool¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-9| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: V T O'Brien| OR: 92| D

10/1

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; bounced back to form last time at Punchestown and if able to maintain that form holds every chance.

Form: P7/0702

Highest Benefit³⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-6| J: T Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: W J Austin| OR: 89| D

11/1

In the form of his life at present evidenced by a battling win at Fairyhouse last time out over a similar trip; plenty more weight to contend with but should run his race and has a decent chance.

Form: 1P-1131

Lee Valley Legacy^p³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁷⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 89| BF| D

10/1

Got off the mark at Fairyhouse over three miles on his penultimate start but too many errors when pulled up on latest start; can be given another chance if hurdling improves.

Form: 70541P

Cepalo Delafayette^p1¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 88| D

33/1

Four-race maiden over hurdles; returned from long absence to run predictable lacklustre race at Thurles last month; should be fitter here and first-time cheekpieces may keep his mind on things.

Form: 10050/0

All Class³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Gary Noonan⁽⁷⁾| T: P Griffin| OR: 88

33/1

Daughter of Zanzibari out of a Okawango mare; dam won on the Flat in France over 1m4f; plenty to find on fourth start over hurdles in this contest.

Form: 008

Non-Runners

Hardy Man¹²

Weight: 11-8| Age: 6

T: D Hogan J: S A Mulcahy

Ahgetawayoutadat³⁷

Weight: 10-9| Age: 6

T: Miss E Doyle J: Simon Torrens

Mal De Mer³⁷

Weight: 10-7| Age: 6

T: M J Smith J: Dillon Maxwell

Olive D'Haguenet⁵⁷

Weight: 9-12| Age: 8

T: I Madden J: K J Brouder

Forecasts

Cherif De L'Isle (7/2), Nicole's Milan (11/2), Baily Thunder (7/1), Fire Away (8/1), Lee Valley Legacy (10/1), Ice Cool (10/1), Highest Benefit (11/1), Diamond Grove (12/1), Sweet Sting (12/1), Ahgetawayoutadat (12/1), Moscowsowhat (12/1), Scotsman's Bay (16/1), Peculiar Genius (20/1), Ballybrowney Jack (20/1), Hardy Man (20/1), Punchers Path (25/1), Mal De Mer (25/1), Cepalo Delafayette (33/1), All Class (33/1), Olive D'Haguenet (33/1)

Connections have been patient with ICE COOL and he rewarded them with some place prize money on his return from a long absence at Punchestown. If he can improve on that effort then he looks to have an excellent chance to get back to winning ways. Near veteran Highest Benefit is in the form of his life at present and showed a good deal of bravery to hold off challengers when winning last time out at Fairyhouse. If still in good heart then he can run well again. Lee Valley Legacy needs to improve his jumping but showed on his penultimate start he has ability and has a reasonable each-way chance.