14:55 Thurles

Thursday 21 October 2021

All13:1513:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:40

Leugh Handicap Hurdle (80-95)

Off time: 14:56 | Winning time: 3m 52.20s

Aubretia^t⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Shane Fitzgerald⁽⁵⁾| T: Colm Murphy| OR: 95

13/2

13/2, creditable third of 13 in novice hurdle at Down Royal (16.9f, good to soft) 55 days ago. Should remain competitive now sights are set on handicaps.

Form: U2-4383

Berliet Express^t³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 94| D

14/1

Winner in hurdle at Kilbeggan (2m) in August. Pulled up in novice chase at Downpatrick (17.8f) in September, not always fluent and always behind. Return to hurdling rates a likely plus.

Form: 70015P

Frisco Queen⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: S Crawley| OR: 93

9/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 13/2, possibly needed the run when sixth of 16 in handicap hurdle at Cork (18.8f) in August. Still early days but she's been absent again since.

Form: F060-6

Sweet Justice⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: T G McCourt| OR: 94

25/1

Modest maiden on the Flat. Thrice-raced maiden over hurdles. Sixth of 12 in novice hurdle (40/1) at Wexford (16.7f, good) 47 days ago. Needs to prove her stamina on handicap debut in this sphere

Form: 0-56

Secret Sea^t⁶⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Donagh Meyler| T: E Doyle| OR: 93

14/1

8/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, ninth of 12 in handicap hurdle at Tramore (16f, soft) 67 days ago, underfoot conditions possibly against her. Not ruled out here.

Form: 0-86229

Sonny John¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Kevin Sexton| T: E Sheehy| OR: 91

33/1

28/1, ninth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (18f, good) 12 days ago, ridden home turn and weakening before last. Needs to step up to play a meaningful role here.

Form: 450-0P9

Mist On The Bog⁹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Flanagan| T: L Casey| OR: 90

18/1

Eleventh of 14 in handicap hurdle (9/1) at Killarney (17f, good) 97 days ago, no threat from 3 out. Previous Kilbeggan fourth was more like it if a break has positive effect here.

Form: PF-0640

Arch Melody¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: I J Power| T: J Morrison| OR: 88| D

40/1

Fourteen runs since last win in 2019. 13/2, respectable fifth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (18f, good) 12 days ago. Mark continues to fall so not ruled out.

Form: 077U35

Downthecellar^p,t⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Mark Walsh| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 87| D

8/11

4 wins from 7 runs this season. 2/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, creditable second of 15 in handicap hurdle at Tramore (16f, good) 7 days ago. Expected to be bang there.

Form: 1111R2

Ellaat²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: J S McGarvey| T: N C Kelly| OR: 86

6/1

Doubled tally on the Flat at Fairyhouse (12f) in June and best effort for some time over hurdles when third at Gowran (2m) 3 weeks ago, keeping on gradually straight. Possibilities.

Form: 058-073

Bushtucker Trial³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: A W Short| T: L Breen| OR: 86

50/1

Multiple 5f winner on Flat. Not achieved a great deal in trio of maiden hurdles this summer and jolt of improvement required if he's to feature on handicap debut.

Form: 970

Corrigaleen^b1,t¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny Mullins| T: E Sheehy| OR: 82

33/1

18/1, produced a laboured effort when eighth of 9 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (18f, good) 12 days ago, going in snatches. Blinkers need to perk her up now.

Form: 7-07078

Global Mayhem¹⁸⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Slevin| T: S Ryan| OR: 82

22/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 80/1, fifth of 16 on handicap hurdle debut at Limerick (19.2f) in April, plugging on. However, that only amounts to poor form and more needed to figure following a break.

Form: PF/0765-

Baby Bellini^p,t⁴⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: J B Foley⁽⁵⁾| T: I Madden| OR: 80

50/1

One win from 31 NH runs. 50/1, eleventh of 16 in handicap hurdle at Galway (21.4f, good) 45 days ago. Down in trip. Tongue strap back on but others arrive with more compelling claims.

Form: U57-000

Fintown Boy¹²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: R P Treacy| T: Miss J M Lee| OR: 80| CD

40/1

C&D winner. Fourth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (18f, good, 50/1) 12 days ago. Operating 8 lb below last winning mark but he needs to step up on recent efforts to feature.

Form: 5/0PF-04

Titan Jack^t1¹⁵²

Age: 13| Weight: 10-13| J: A M King⁽⁷⁾| T: Gearoid Brouder| OR: 80

100/1

Veteran who showed little under Rules for a number of connections earlier in career. Similar story between the flags subsequently, pulled up when last seen in May. Yard debut.

Form: 087P/RP

Non-Runners

Killinure Lass¹¹

Weight: 11-11| Age: 4

T: J F Gleeson J: Reserve 1

Shantou Warrior⁷

Weight: 12-0| Age: 7

T: Mrs P Dobbs J: Reserve 2

Hitchcock⁷

Weight: 10-13| Age: 7

T: R Donohoe J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Downthecellar (8/11), Ellaat (6/1), Aubretia (13/2), Frisco Queen (9/1), Shantou Warrior (10/1), Secret Sea (14/1), Berliet Express (14/1), Mist On The Bog (18/1), Global Mayhem (22/1), Sweet Justice (25/1), Sonny John (33/1), Corrigaleen (33/1), Killinure Lass (33/1), Fintown Boy (40/1), Arch Melody (40/1), Baby Bellini (50/1), Hitchcock (50/1), Bushtucker Trial (50/1), Titan Jack (100/1)

A rapid improver over fences this year, DOWNTHECELLAR was unlucky to bump in to such a well-treated rival when runner-up in this sphere at Tramore 7 days ago and, from the same mark, he looks sure to be a big player again. Ellaat, Aubretia and Secret Sea are a trio of others fancied to be in the mix.