17:05 Cork

Thursday 25 March 2021

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0516:3517:0517:35

Blackwater (Q.R.) Handicap Hurdle (80-109)

Off time: 17:05 | Winning time: 5m 6.9s

Cregane Ned¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-4| J: Mr M C O'Donovan⁽⁷⁾| T: P O'Flynn| OR: 109

9/2

Career best when winning 14-runner novice hurdle (4/1) at Clonmel (18.8f, heavy) 16 days ago, suited by increase in trip. Makes handicap debut and well in the mix.

Form: 013931

Optum²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-4| J: M J M O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: E M O'Sullivan| OR: 109

14/1

20/1, modest sixth of 13 in novice chase at Clonmel (20f, heavy) 21 days ago. Back over hurdles with work to do.

Form: 420506

Union Gap^p1,t1⁷³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-4| J: Mr T D Geoghegan⁽⁷⁾| T: P W Flynn| OR: 109

150/1

18/1, first run since leaving Noel Meade when last of 13 in handicap at Dundalk (16f) 73 days ago. Switches to hurdles with tongue strap/cheekpieces on and needs to bounce back.

Form: 2/3007-0

Fierami^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-3| J: Mr J J Codd| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 108

5/1

Navan handicap winner before good fourth of 19 there (20f, soft) 19 days ago, running on late. On a decent mark so sure to go well again.

Form: 596514

Chenery¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr R J Kiely⁽⁵⁾| T: P Kiely| OR: 107| D

9/1

20/1, career best when winning 16-runner handicap hurdle at Gowran (20f, heavy) 13 days ago. Not discounted despite 7 lb rise.

Form: 563291

Hilltop Supreme¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: Miss R Murphy⁽⁷⁾| T: D E Fitzgerald| OR: 107| D

9/1

Already three-time winner in 2021, and posted career best when landing handicap (7/2) at Clonmel (18.8f) 16 days ago, responding well. Up another 6 lb but still weighted to go close.

Form: 461B11

Rocky's Howya¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr J W Hannon⁽⁷⁾| T: J Dullea| OR: 108

16/1

Pulled up in handicap hurdle (16/1) at Gowran (20f, heavy) 13 days ago. Lot more needed now if he's to gain a first win.

Form: 53750P

Royal Aide¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr J Hogan⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 108

66/1

66/1, last of 19 in handicap hurdle at Navan (20f, soft) 19 days ago. Needs to get back on track.

Form: 314580

Colditz Castle^p1,t1¹⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: Mr Turlough O'connor⁽⁷⁾| T: T O'Connor| OR: 106

100/1

7/2, pulled up in handicap chase at Wincanton (20.2f, good) on debut over fences 151 days ago on final run for Alan King. Lots to prove back in this sphere for new yard.

Form: 62397-P

Master Artist¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-1| J: Mr D Kiely⁽⁷⁾| T: J E Kiely| OR: 106

13/2

Below-par sixth of 9 in handicap hurdle at Thurles (23.2f, 15/2) 14 days ago. Has plenty to find to gain a first win.

Form: 223906

Minella On Line^p¹⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Alex Harvey⁽⁷⁾| T: D Harvey| OR: 105| D

50/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2017. Seventh of 13 in handicap chase (50/1) at Navan (24f, soft) 19 days ago and back over hurdles with work to do.

Form: 242407

Shar Whats Therush^t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: D Hassett| OR: 104| D

9/2

Thirteen runs since last win in 2017. 10/1, creditable third of 13 in novice chase at Thurles (20.6f) 14 days ago. Not taken lightly back in this sphere.

Form: 80-23P3

Frere Fontaine^p¹⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr Darragh Allen⁽⁷⁾| T: T O'Brien| OR: 102

16/1

9/1, off 8 months before fading ninth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Clonmel (19.8f, soft) 147 days ago. Should strip fitter now.

Form: 3212F-9

Paper Lantern^b,t³⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr J C Barry⁽⁵⁾| T: K Thornton| OR: 102

80/1

80/1, off 34 months before pulled up in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (24f, heavy) 39 days ago. Very hard to fancy.

Form: 34135/P

Shes Some Doll⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr J Dunne⁽⁷⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 101

17/2

Winner of hurdle at Limerick in December but below-form sixth of 14 in handicap at Clonmel (19.2f) 65 days ago. Yard going great guns so she could easily bounce back off decent mark.

Form: 645016

Non-Runners

Yabo²⁰⁸

Weight: 11-11| Age: 6

T: Miss E Doyle J: Mr F Maguire

Lessofdnegativity⁵⁶

Weight: 11-8| Age: 8

T: A J McNamara J: Reserve 1

Dedanann²⁶

Weight: 11-8| Age: 7

T: J P Ryan J: Reserve 2

Doldido¹⁶

Weight: 11-7| Age: 8

T: M Winters J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Shar Whats Therush (9/2), Cregane Ned (9/2), Fierami (5/1), Yabo (6/1), Master Artist (13/2), Doldido (15/2), Shes Some Doll (17/2), Hilltop Supreme (9/1), Chenery (9/1), Dedanann (10/1), Optum (14/1), Rocky's Howya (16/1), Frere Fontaine (16/1), Lessofdnegativity (16/1), Minella On Line (50/1), Royal Aide (66/1), Paper Lantern (80/1), Colditz Castle (100/1), Union Gap (150/1)

Lots with chances in a very open handicap but HILLTOP SUPREME is thriving since switched back to hurdles and is taken to rack up win number four of 2021 after showing himself to be better than ever with his recent Clonmel victory. In-form Fierami rates a big threat though, with handicap-debutant Cregane Ned and Shes Some Doll two others who need considering.