14:40 Thurles

Saturday 21 March 2020

All13:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:40

BetVictor Handicap Hurdle (80-95)

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 6m 3.40s

Goulane Jessie⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: S Spillane| OR: 93| BF

9/1

Campaigned over fences and hurdles of late, good second at Fairyhouse (3m) returned to this discipline last time. Won over 2m7f there a few starts earlier. High in the weights but could go well.

Form: 141502

Ballea Fox^t⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Gary Noonan⁽⁷⁾| T: S Spillane| OR: 92

7/1

Finished second here in early February then went one better at Punchestown (3m). Likely player on those performances but his form has dipped in two runs since.

Form: 952167

Johnny Little Legs¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: M M McDonagh⁽⁷⁾| T: S O O'Brien| OR: 93

5/2

Short-head second (clear of remainder) in 2m handicap here 16 days ago, showing improved form. Has low mileage and looks open to further progress at this sort of level. Major contender if he stays this longer trip.

Form: 900U2

Fourina^b1²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Ricky Doyle⁽³⁾| T: M Fahey| OR: 91

12/1

Sole win came almost two years ago and consistency isn't her strong suit. However, has been placed twice in 2020 and has each-way hopes if bouncing back from a bad run last time. Change of headgear.

Form: P-9363P

Cousin Pascal^b1⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr J G Murphy⁽⁷⁾| T: D G Murphy| OR: 90

20/1

Point-to-point winner who is 0-9 over hurdles, remote fourth at Limerick most recently. Chance partly depends on how well he reacts to the change of equipment (blinkers replace cheekpieces).

Form: 4-55794

Duhallow Paddy^t⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr W T Cronin⁽⁷⁾| T: William Cronin| OR: 86| BF

8/1

Chase winner off this mark at Galway in October and ran creditably returned to hurdling on New Year's Day. Disappointing favourite over fences later in January but may be best fresh nowadays and looks interesting back from a break.

Form: 42-6128

Hide Out^t³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 87

16/1

Signs of improvement on handicap debut at Punchestown last month, despite apparent issues (reportedly gurgled in the latter stages). Gave impression this longer trip will suit. One to consider.

Form: 950707

Shantelle⁸⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: R Donohoe| OR: 86

50/1

Veteran mare who isn't exactly well handicapped, having gained both wins off 6lb lower. Absent since December and looks vulnerable on return.

Form: 025050

Sporty Yankee^b,t⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 86

10/1

Flat/hurdle winner in Britain in 2016. Record of 0-7 since joining Gordon Elliott (well held back on Flat last time) but was runner-up twice under this code during midwinter and has a chance if back to form.

Form: 008224

Stellar Stow¹²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: A McCurtin⁽⁵⁾| T: T Doyle| OR: 86

100/1

Just faint glimmers of promise without troubling the judge in maiden hurdles. However, looks open to improvement now handicapping off a modest mark, and market support should be noted.

Form: 0-060

Railway Tommy^t²³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-3| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: P McCreery| OR: 84

33/1

Veteran who hasn't made a great impact in two starts since returning from lengthy absence and still needs to prove that he retains all of his ability. Last success was five years ago.

Form: 664P/05

Memory Of Youth²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: M A Enright| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 83

15/2

Has got better with each run since moving into handicap company, third over 3m at Clonmel on latest occasion (the first time she's been placed). Heading in the right direction and enters calculations.

Form: 789053

My Newbrook Rose²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: J M Moore| T: A Murray| OR: 83

20/1

Point-to-point winner who showed her best hurdles form when fifth over 2m4f at Clonmel on penultimate outing (handicap debut). Needs to pull out more.

Form: 07P950

Our Majella^p⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny Mullins| T: G Ahern| OR: 83

12/1

Maiden who was pulled up at Limerick in January. Made the frame twice over C&D in the autumn (first two handicap starts) and has each-way claims on that encouraging form.

Form: 07843P

I Will Walk^t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: G Bourke⁽⁷⁾| T: A McNamara| OR: 80

100/1

Best effort when 24L fifth in C&D handicap on penultimate start (debut for this yard). Pulled up last time and still needs a fair amount of improvement to get off the mark.

Form: 98005P

Hilltop Supreme¹¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Reserve 1| T: D E Fitzgerald| OR: 88

28/1

Well beaten over hurdles in 2018 but has an each-way shout on the pick of last year's chase form. Fell three times over fences, including final appearance, and now returns to the smaller obstacles (First reserve).

Form: 72F42F

Non-Runners

Need For Gold¹⁸

Weight: 11-5| Age: 7

T: E Cawley J: C D Timmons

Wade Harper⁴⁴⁸

Weight: 11-9| Age: 10

T: P J Rothwell J: Reserve 2

Feagreen Native³⁴

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: P McCreery J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Johnny Little Legs (5/2), Ballea Fox (7/1), Memory Of Youth (15/2), Duhallow Paddy (8/1), Need For Gold (8/1), Goulane Jessie (9/1), Sporty Yankee (10/1), Fourina (12/1), Our Majella (12/1), Hide Out (16/1), My Newbrook Rose (20/1), Cousin Pascal (20/1), Hilltop Supreme (28/1), Railway Tommy (33/1), Wade Harper (33/1), Feagreen Native (33/1), Shantelle (50/1), I Will Walk (100/1), Stellar Stow (100/1)

Having shown his best recent form when fresh, DUHALLOW PADDY is worth another chance on his return from a two-month break. Johnny Little Legs and Memory Of Youth are open to further progress at this level, while Our Majella could go well returned to this venue. A few others also have possibilities in an open contest.