14:55 Thurles

Thursday 19 November 2020

All12:5013:2013:5514:2514:5515:2515:55

ThurlesRaces.ie Handicap Hurdle (80-116)

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 5m 19.70s

Erins Benefit¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Jack Brendan Foley⁽⁷⁾| T: J E Kiely| OR: 114

9/2

Again shaped as if in need of stiffer test when third of 13 in novice hurdle at this course (16f, soft, 15/8) 14 days ago. Back up in trip. Makes handicap hurdle debut. Should have more to offer.

Form: 321323

Western Boy¹²

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: J S McGarvey| T: P A Fahy| OR: 114| C

25/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2017. Fairly useful winner at 16f on flat. Thirteenth of 16 in handicap (100/1) at Naas (14f, heavy) 12 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Not discounted.

Form: 504/025

Sullane Hill¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr J W Hannon⁽⁷⁾| T: P C O'Connor| OR: 113| C| D

11/2

Career best when winning 13-runner handicap hurdle at this course (16f, soft, 12/1) 14 days ago, staying on well. Back up in trip. Vulnerable now back up in the weights.

Form: 24-8P31

Danse Away⁶⁰⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Danny Mullins| T: T J Nagle-Jr| OR: 111| D

28/1

9/2, creditable third of 9 in handicap chase at Downpatrick (28.6f, good). Off 20 months. Switches from chase to hurdles. Down in trip. Has good chance if retaining all his ability.

Form: 121823/

Karen's Gift¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: M J Bolger| T: B Connell| OR: 111| BF

9/1

Followed winning hurdling debut at Roscommon with a good second in a handicap at Tipperary. Saddle slipped next time, so remains with potential.

Form: 31/12P

R'evelyn Pleasure¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Donagh Meyler| T: S O O'Brien| OR: 111| D

14/1

Sixth of 9 in handicap hurdle (14/1) at Cork (16f, heavy) 18 days ago. Back up in trip. Likely to come on for return and mark looks appealing.

Form: F407P-6

Room To Roam^b¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 111

16/1

One win from 24 NH runs. Eleven runs since last win in 2019. 40/1, twelfth of 18 in handicap hurdle at Navan (22f, soft) 11 days ago. Drop back in trip should help.

Form: 867270

Tikkanen Express³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Phillip Enright| T: J Dullea| OR: 110| C| D

11/2

Creditable fourth of 11 in handicap hurdle (25/1) at Tipperary (16f, heavy) 30 days ago. Up in trip. Remains well treated based on chasing exploits.

Form: 1/651P-4

Optum⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: D F O'Regan| T: E M O'Sullivan| OR: 109

10/3

Lightly-raced maiden. Good second of 14 in handicap hurdle (12/1) at Fairyhouse (19.5f, heavy) 9 days ago, having run of race. Likely to be thereabouts once again.

Form: 42-042

Thegoaheadman^p²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 109

33/1

17/2, pulled up in handicap chase at this course (18f, good to soft) 28 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Bit to prove.

Form: P-8556P

In A Pinch^b³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Slevin| T: S Slevin| OR: 107| D

33/1

Blinkered for 1st time, ninth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Tramore (21f, good to soft, 8/1) 35 days ago. Others make more appeal.

Form: 360-249

Fou Diligence^p⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 106

7/1

8/1, ninth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Roscommon (24.3f, good) 52 days ago, not knocked about. Should strip fitter for the run, so might get a good deal more competitive with cheekpieces back on.

Form: 3/2324-9

Insane Bolt^p,t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 110

22/1

Winner in hurdle at Downpatrick in July. 22/1 and tongue strap on for 1st time, tenth of 12 in handicap hurdle at Clonmel (24f, soft) 21 days ago. Type to bounce back quickly.

Form: 813230

Non-Runners

Port Rashid²¹

Weight: 11-6| Age: 9

T: T Townend J: Reserve 1

Live Every Day²¹

Weight: 11-5| Age: 7

T: J J Walsh J: Reserve 2

Chief Of Police⁵¹

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: O McKiernan J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Optum (10/3), Erins Benefit (9/2), Sullane Hill (11/2), Tikkanen Express (11/2), Live Every Day (6/1), Fou Diligence (7/1), Karen's Gift (9/1), R'evelyn Pleasure (14/1), Room To Roam (16/1), Insane Bolt (22/1), Western Boy (25/1), Port Rashid (25/1), Chief Of Police (25/1), Danse Away (28/1), Thegoaheadman (33/1), In A Pinch (33/1)

KARENS GIFT looked highly promising before an excusable run (saddle slipped) at this course last time, so she's taken to get back on the up and gain her first handicap success on just her fourth outing. Erins Benefit is a clear danger on handicap debut and Optum shouldn't be ruled out.