12:25 Limerick

Monday 28 December 2020

All11:5512:2513:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:55

Lyons Of Limerick Jaguar Land Rover Novice Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 12:28 | Winning time: 6m 47.20s

Baptism Of Fire⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Donagh Meyler| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 135

12/1

Made winning hurdling debut at Punchestown in October and progressed from that when 6 lengths third of 5 to Fury Road in Celebration Hurdle there (21.6f, heavy) 6 weeks ago. Shortlist material.

Form: 1/55-13

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Costalotmore²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: M P Fogarty| T: R P O'Keeffe| OR: 135| C

11/4

Bumper winner who relished conditions when winning 13-runner novice hurdle at this course (21f, heavy, 5/2) on hurdles bow 27 days ago, pushed out. Should have more to offer with this trip no issue.

Form: 112/161

Farouk D'Alene³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: J S McGarvey| T: G Elliott| BF

2/1

Successful in 3 bumpers/maiden hurdle but proved a let-down when 5½ lengths fourth of 7 to Fakiera in Monksfield Novices' Hurdle at Navan (20f, heavy) 36 days ago. Worth a chance to bounce back.

Form: 1/11-14

Vanillier^t³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: C D Maxwell| T: G P Cromwell

9/2

Twice-raced winner over hurdles. Won 20-runner novice hurdle (10/3) at Naas (19f, heavy) 37 days ago, staying on well. Up in trip. Yard in good form. Likely to improve.

Form: P/1-21

Young Ted⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: N P Madden| T: N Meade| OR: 128

18/1

Fairly useful hurdler. 3/1, ran respectably when 10½ lengths fourth of 7 to Darrens Hope in listed hurdle at Cork (24f, heavy) 57 days ago, unsuited by way race developed. Trainer going well.

Form: 4/243-14

Carrolls Cottage²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Robbie Colgan| T: P Fenton| C

11/1

Twice-raced winner over hurdles. 5/6, confirmed debut promise when won 18-runner novice hurdle at this course (19f, heavy) 27 days ago. Up in trip. Should improve but this is a difficult ask.

Form: 4-121

Darrens Hope²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: K J Brouder| T: R Murphy| OR: 127| BF

6/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Possibly amiss when pulled up in Kerry Group Stayers Novices' Hurdle at Cork (24f, heavy, 11/8) 22 days ago won by Sayce Gold. Must bounce back to feature.

Form: 33-211P

Pepite De Belle^t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Phillip Enright| T: S Curling

80/1

Fair hurdler. 40/1, took a huge step forward from debut when winning 12-runner novice hurdle at Clonmel (19f, heavy) 25 days ago. Up in trip. Likely to improve but faces an uphill task here.

Form: 7-37401

Non-Runners

Ragnar Lodbrok²²

Weight: 11-5| Age: 5

T: G Elliott J: C J Orr

Forecasts

Farouk D'Alene (2/1), Costalotmore (11/4), Vanillier (9/2), Darrens Hope (6/1), Ragnar Lodbrok (7/1), Carrolls Cottage (11/1), Baptism Of Fire (12/1), Young Ted (18/1), Pepite De Belle (80/1)

BAPTISM OF FIRE progressed from his winning debut when finishing third (behind last year's winner of this contest) at Punchestown 6 weeks ago. This slight step up in trip holds no fears and he can make it 2 wins from 3 starts in this sphere. Farouk d'Alene proved a let-down at Navan 5 weeks ago but is feared most judged on previous efforts, ahead of Vanillier.