14:40 Leopardstown

Sunday 7 February 2021

All13:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:40

William Fry Handicap Hurdle (0-150) (Grade B)

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 6m 18.8s

City Island^t³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: M Brassil| OR: 147| C

33/1

Course winner. 9/2, last of 4 in minor event hurdle at Punchestown (19.6f, unknown) 38 days ago. Back up in trip. Makes handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 1/6P2P-4

Koshari³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 144

10/1

9-y-o who looked as good as ever when winning 8-runner handicap hurdle (4/1) at Cork (20f, heavy) on return 36 days ago. Havig the run of the race but impressing nevertheless. Respected under Townsend

Form: P1F02/1

The Jam Man⁷⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: D F O'Regan| T: R McNally| OR: 143| D

14/1

Versatile campaigner who added the Troytown Chase to his tally in November. Solid sixth in Grade 3 handicap hurdle at Haydock (3m) later that month and no surprise to see him give another good account

Form: 429-P16

Dandy Mag⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142| CD

18/1

1 win from 2 runs this season. 16/1, career best when winning 20-runner handicap hurdle at this C&D (soft) 41 days ago. Remains low-mileage over hurdles and he may yet have more to offer.

Form: 5450-81

Low Sun^p²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: R M Power| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142

33/1

17/2, second of 3 in minor event hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, heavy) 26 days ago. Significantly back up in trip. Stable in good form.

Form: 1451/02

Sayo^p⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: M P Fogarty| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141

50/1

1 win from 3 runs this season. Bit below form eighth of 20 in handicap hurdle at Navan (24.3f, heavy, 20/1) 64 days ago. Stable having good spell. Needs to keep the errors at bay.

Form: 300-818

Unexpected Depth⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: B Browne⁽³⁾| T: O McKiernan| OR: 141| BF| D

10/1

Promising sort. 1 win from 2 runs this season. 9/2, very good 2¾ lengths third of 20 to Dandy Mag in handicap hurdle at this C&D (soft) 41 days ago. Stable having good spell. Solid claims.

Form: 6112-13

Morosini⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: J S McGarvey| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 137

22/1

8/1, creditable 14¾ lengths sixth of 20 to Dandy Mag in handicap hurdle at this C&D (soft) 41 days ago, catching the eye in staying on gradually. One to monitor clsoely.

Form: 217-P46

Damalisque⁹^{(ex 12)}

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Mark Walsh| T: E P Harty| OR: 123

6/1

1 win from 2 runs this season. 5/1, career best when winning 20-runner handicap hurdle at Navan (20f, heavy) 9 days ago. Carries penalty. Can make presence felt.

Form: 1806/21

Downtown Getaway³³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135| BF

16/1

Fifteenth of 20 in handicap hurdle (3/1) at Kempton (21f) in March, clearly not 100% on the day. Had previously impressed at winning at that venue and he may bounce back for new stable.

Form: 217/P10-

Anything Will Do⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 133

28/1

28/1, good 13½ lengths fifth of 20 to Dandy Mag in handicap hurdle at this C&D (soft) 41 days ago. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 0-12365

Articulum^t⁴¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: K J Brouder| T: T O'Brien| OR: 133| D

25/1

Creditable second of 15 in handicap chase (13/2) at Limerick (19.7f, heavy) 41 days ago, faring best of those ridden prominently. Switches from chase to hurdles. Up in trip.

Form: FUF2-32

Ballyshannon Rose²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: P D Kennedy| T: P G Fahey| OR: 129| D

12/1

4 wins from 4 runs this season. Career best when winning 14-runner handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (23f, heavy, 9/4) 22 days ago, always holding on. Progressing recently.

Form: 85-1111

Walk To Freedom^p,t⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-3| J: C J Orr⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 129

66/1

Unseated rider in handicap hurdle (50/1) at Navan (20f, heavy) 9 days ago won by Damalisque. Previous Fairyhouse effort was a step back in the right direction and this should reveal more.

Form: U-38P8U

Frontal Assault^b1⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 128

17/2

2/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, career best when winning 10-runner novice hurdle at Thurles (23.5f, heavy) 49 days ago, keeping on well. Interesting handicap debutant with blinkers fitted.

Form: 35-2421

Pure Genius²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁵⁾| T: T M Walsh| OR: 127| D

5/1

1 win from 3 runs this season. Career best when winning 7-runner novice hurdle (4/1) at Punchestown (24.3f, heavy) 20 days ago, hard held. Makes handicap hurdle debut and likely more to come.

Form: 433-531

Chavi Artist⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: T Mullins| OR: 126

66/1

Latest win in chase at Punchestown in November. Pulled up in handicap hurdle at this C&D (soft, 28/1) 41 days ago won by Dandy Mag, weakening when not fluent 4 out.

Form: 2U21PP

Julies Stowaway²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-13| J: Phillip Enright| T: Ms M Mullins| OR: 125| BF

13/2

Good fourth of 13 in novice hurdle at Fairyhouse (20f, heavy, 5/4) 26 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 217-324

Maze Runner⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: C P McNamara⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 125

40/1

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. Bit below form tenth of 20 in handicap hurdle at Navan (24.3f, heavy, 40/1) 64 days ago. Needs to prove his effectiveness over this trip.

Form: 1725/0

Heroes Of Renown⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J Motherway| OR: 124

33/1

Bred to stay this far but shaped as if needing run when thirteenth of 20 to Dandy Mag in handicap hurdle over C&D (soft, 14/1) 41 days ago. This promises to reveal more and he's still low-mileage.

Form: 30/455-0

Arverne^p⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 123

16/1

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, career best when winning 15-runner handicap chase at Punchestown (25.7f) 58 days ago, driven out. Switches from chase to hurdles. Makes handicap hurdle debut. Reserve 1.

Form: 0084-21

Plinth^t⁷⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 9-12| J: T Joseph Kelly⁽⁷⁾| T: E Bolger| OR: 123| C

80/1

Course winner. Pulled up in minor event chase (14/1) at Punchestown (24f, heavy) 75 days ago, pulled up after halfway. Switches from chase to hurdles. Reserve 2.

Form: 2-6405P

Non-Runners

Cracking Smart⁴¹

Weight: 11-10| Age: 9

T: G Elliott J: J R Wildman

Sneaky Getaway⁴¹

Weight: 10-7| Age: 8

T: E Mullins J: Brian Hayes

Sullane Hill¹¹

Weight: 9-12| Age: 9

T: P C O'Connor J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Pure Genius (5/1), Damalisque (6/1), Julies Stowaway (13/2), Frontal Assault (17/2), Unexpected Depth (10/1), Koshari (10/1), Ballyshannon Rose (12/1), The Jam Man (14/1), Sneaky Getaway (14/1), Downtown Getaway (16/1), Arverne (16/1), Dandy Mag (18/1), Morosini (22/1), Articulum (25/1), Anything Will Do (28/1), City Island (33/1), Heroes Of Renown (33/1), Low Sun (33/1), Maze Runner (40/1), Sayo (50/1), Cracking Smart (50/1), Chavi Artist (66/1), Sullane Hill (66/1), Walk To Freedom (66/1), Plinth (80/1)

Claims can be made for many in this big-field handicap and it may pay to take a chance on Thurles novice winner FRONTAL ASSAULT. He improved for the fitting of cheekpieces that day and there may be more to come on that evidence at staying trips in first-time blinkers. Easy Navn winner Damalisque, Unexpected Depth, Pure Genius and Dandy Mag head up a long shortlist of dangers.