14:10 Listowel

Friday 24 September 2021

All13:4014:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0017:35

Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 3m 56.2s

Belfast Banter^t⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: K C Sexton| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 144| D

15/2

Won County Hurdle at Cheltenham and Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree in 2020/21. Run best excused in Galway Hurdle last time, saddle slipped after bad mistake 3 out.

Form: 56211-0

Ciel De Neige^b⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141| D

8/1

Shaped as if still in good form in first-time blinkers when respectable ninth of 20 in handicap hurdle (15/2) at Galway (16f, good) 57 days ago. Each-way claims.

Form: 51992-9

Annexation^t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: H Morgan⁽³⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 139| D

40/1

1 win from 3 runs this season. 4/1, respectable fourth of 8 in handicap at Clonmel (9.5f, good) 22 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Useful hurdler, poor on last hurdle run.

Form: 125-F10

Wonder Laish⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Mike O'Connor⁽⁵⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 139| CD

33/1

C&D winner who made hard work of landing the odds in 5-runner minor event hurdle at Kilbeggan (16f, good to soft) 48 days ago.

Form: 0330-31

Tudor City^t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Donagh Meyler| T: A J Martin| OR: 138| D

22/1

Useful hurdler who was below form when 14¾ lengths seventh of 12 to Wouldn't You Agree in handicap hurdle (12/1) at Killarney (17f, good to soft) 35 days ago.

Form: 0060-57

Magic Tricks⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Jordan Gainford⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 136| D

15/2

Useful form at best over hurdles but was well held in first-time cheekpieces in 2m handicap at Galway (good) 57 days ago.

Form: 16820-0

Hearts Are Trumps⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: J S McGarvey| T: D McDonogh| OR: 135| D

40/1

Latest win in hurdle at Fairyhouse in April but below form both starts this season.

Form: 0701-80

Nibblers Charm^p⁷⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: R Hackett| OR: 134| C

40/1

Didn't need to be at best when winning 6-runner minor event hurdle at Cork (20f, good to soft, 9/1) 77 days ago, driven out. More needed back in handicap company.

Form: 217/19-1

Dewcup^t⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: T M Walsh| OR: 133| D

12/1

9/4 and blinkered for 1st time, fourth of 6 in handicap at the Curragh (16f, good) 69 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Makes handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 112245-

Eskylane^t¹⁷⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 133| D

10/1

Wasn't disgraced when 11 lengths twelfth of 20 to Hearts Are Trumps in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, good to soft) 174 days ago, but found little. Returns with something to prove.

Form: 5/15500-

Politicise^p²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: L P Dempsey| T: A McGuinness| OR: 132| CD

50/1

C&D winner. 11/2, below form sixth of 10 in maiden chase at Downpatrick (19.2f, good) 25 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles.

Form: 0-03606

Winner Takes Itall³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Simon Torrens| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 132| CD

16/1

C&D winner who ran poorly for no obvious reason when 32½ lengths eleventh of 12 to Wouldn't You Agree in handicap hurdle at Killarney (17f, good to soft) 35 days ago.

Form: 20-0160

Dysart Diamond^t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Sean Flanagan| T: W P Mullins| OR: 131| D

12/1

7/1, followed a good run with a below-par one when 23½ lengths ninth of 12 to Wouldn't You Agree in handicap hurdle at Killarney (17f, good to soft) 35 days ago. Bounce back called for.

Form: 1000-29

Advanced Virgo^v1³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: J B Foley⁽⁷⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 130| D

16/1

28/1, respectable 12¼ lengths sixth of 12 to Wouldn't You Agree in handicap hurdle at Killarney (17f, good to soft) 35 days ago. Visor on 1st time.

Form: 53/18-06

The Little Yank³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: B J Cooper| T: J P Ryan| OR: 128| D

14/1

Respectable 11 lengths fourth of 12 to Wouldn't You Agree in handicap hurdle at Killarney (17f, good to soft, 11/2) 35 days ago.

Form: 321314

Bua Boy⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 127| D

6/1

10/1, very good second of 17 in handicap hurdle at Galway (16.7f, good) 56 days ago. Will continue to give a good account.

Form: 01139-2

Wouldn't You Agree³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: M M McDonagh⁽⁷⁾| T: E Griffin| OR: 126| CD

9/2

C&D winner. 2 wins from 5 runs this season. Career best when winning 12-runner handicap hurdle (5/1) at Killarney (17f, good to soft) 35 days ago. May do better still.

Form: P/12251

Mr Coldstone³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 124| D

18/1

Respectable eighth of 16 in handicap at Roscommon (12f) 39 days ago, running on. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Fairly useful hurdler, good effort on last hurdle run and still low mileage. RESERVE.

Form: 10F-05

Non-Runners

Whatsnotoknow³⁵

Weight: 10-2| Age: 6

T: M F Morris J: Reserve 1

Jiving Jerry⁵⁶

Weight: 9-12| Age: 6

T: J Barcoe J: Reserve 2

Forecasts

Wouldn't You Agree (9/2), Bua Boy (6/1), Magic Tricks (15/2), Belfast Banter (15/2), Ciel De Neige (8/1), Eskylane (10/1), Whatsnotoknow (10/1), Jiving Jerry (11/1), Dysart Diamond (12/1), Dewcup (12/1), The Little Yank (14/1), Advanced Virgo (16/1), Winner Takes Itall (16/1), Mr Coldstone (18/1), Tudor City (22/1), Wonder Laish (33/1), Nibblers Charm (40/1), Annexation (40/1), Hearts Are Trumps (40/1), Politicise (50/1)

BUA BOY found only another improved sort too good at Galway in July, and with the performance backed up by the timefigure, a 4-lb rise shouldn't prevent another bold bid. Wouldn't You Agree had a few of these behind when resuming winning ways at Killarney last month and should go well again. Grade 1 winner Belfast Banter completes the shortlist with his latest effort easily excused.